Team Connecticut Blue  Jays 

Patrick Hall

patrickhall@tcbsouth.com

Pat is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services.  Pat captained the 1998 Purple Knight squad.  Pat was also the captain and All New England selection on the 1995 Housatonic Comm. College team that went to the JUCO World Series.  Pat is currently in his 4th year as the Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Fairfield University.  Prior to Fairfield, Pat spent four years as the Pitching Coach at the University of Bridgeport.  The 2001 season saw his pitching staff lead their conference in lowest team E.R.A. 

In 2000 he led the Connecticut Wolfpack 14-U squad to a second place finish in the nation.  In 2001 Pat served as the Head Coach of the 14-U Connecticut Blue Jays team that qualified and participated in the AAU National Tournament in Sarasota, FL.  Pat then took over as the 18-U Manager and watched his 2001 club finish #1 in New England in AABC play.
Hall was the Pitching Coach for the TCB 18-U American team that compiled a record of 32-14 and finished 5th nationally at the BEST Baseball World Championships in Fort Myers, FL.  They also won their seventh consecutive Super East Baseball League Championship and captured the Inaugural Connecticut Cup 2004.  Pat's 2006 15u Club was the #1 seed in the AAU National Tournament coming out of pool play and came in 16th after 2 1 run losses. 2007 Pat coached the 17u American Team to a 30-11 overall record and a 3rd place finish in the Blue Chip Prospects Tournament as well as a birth to the Perfect Game 18u BCS National Tournament.

Pat resides in Bristol, CT with his wife Beth Ellen and their two daughters, Kaylee and Ryleigh.

Adam Taraska 

adamtaraska@tcbsouth.com 

Coach Adam Taraska begins his first year as an assistant at Caldwell College in New Jersey in 2008. He will work with the hitters and infield/outfield defense and assist in recruiting for the Cougars, who participate in the Division II Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CACC).

Taraska was a four year starter at 2B/3B at the University of Bridgeport where he captained the Purple Knights squad in 2003 and earned a B.S. in Human Services.  Adam has been a coach with the AAU Team Connecticut Blue Jays for six summers and has been involved in coaching youth baseball since 1999.

In 2002, he was the assistant coach on the 15U Blue Jays team that earned a berth to the National Championship in Kingsport, TN. The following summer he assistant coached a 17U Blue Jays team that finished in the top 10 in the nation at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, FL and won a Triple Crown Connecticut State Championship.

He was the head coach of the 15U fall Blue Jays in 2003 and the 13U fall Blue Jays in 2004
that won the '04 Halloween Weekend Classic. In 2005, he was the head coach of the 13U South team that won both the RYO 4th of July tournament on Long Island and the Cerbo World Series in New Jersey . That team also finished 2nd in both the War at the Shore Memorial Day Weekend tournament in East Lyme, CT and the Beaver Valley Campground tournament in Cooperstown, NY.
Coach Taraska was the head coach of the 2006 14U South TCB Blue Jays that competed in the AAU National Tournament in Orlando, FL. That team finished 16th nationally in a field of over sixty.Most recently for the Jays, Adam coached the 2007 17U Nationals who won the Silver Consolation Championship at the Fletcher World Series in St. Petersburg, FL , and took home the gold medal at the Nutmeg State Games.

Coach Taraska also served in the high school ranks as he was the head varsity coach at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. 2006 marked the first time in the program's history there was an appearance in the post-season. In 2007, the Dragons broke the school record for wins in a season. Adam resides in Bridgeport, CT.

Mark Jurczak

Mark is entering his fifth year and tenth season coaching for the Blue Jays.  He has been coaching at the AAU level and instructing baseball for over 8 years.  Mark played his collegiate ball as a pitcher on a University of Bridgeport team that broke the school record for wins in a season.  Since joining the staff, he has coached both as a head and an assistant at the 13u, 14u, 15u, and 18u levels.  Mark is also entering his third year as varsity assistant and pitching coach at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, where that team also broke the school record for wins in a season and made it to its first ever New England Tournament.  Mark will manage the 13u south program in 2008. 

Joe Cantone

 Joe spent 2 years at CCRI where he was all Conference his freshman and sophomore years and 2^nd team NJCAA All America as a sophomore.  From there Joe went to University of New Haven where he set the single season hits and doubles records in 2003.  After UNH Joe played professionally for The Rimini Pirates in the Italian professional baseball league.   Joe has been a CT Blue Jay instructor for the past 2 years. Joe spent 2007 with the 17u Americans and 2006 with the 13u South team. 

Matt Ellis

Matt spent his playing days at Cortland State where he was a Catcher and DH.  Matt has been a Blue Jay coach since 2003, most recently with the 18u Nationals.  Matt is one of the catching coordinators for the entire program.  Matt has spent his time as a coach with the upper age levels.  Matt has a BS in sport managment from Cortland.

Steve Anagnostu

Coach Aggie has been with the program for 3 seasons.  He spent the 2007 summer season with the 13u South club.  Coach Aggie brings a true enthusiasm for the game and is a diligent young coach.  Steve spent the summer of 2006 with the Hartford 16u team.  Steve patrolled the outfield and the hot corner for the UB Purple Knights where he was the captain of the 2006 squad.  Steve is currently pursuing his MBA at UB.

Dan Hodgson

Dan Hodgson is in his 3^rd year with the GW baseball team.

Hodgson joined the Colonials after one season at Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA) where he was a graduate assistant with the baseball team for the 2005 season. During his time with the Bobcats, Hodgson was the hitting coach, assisted with recruiting and served as the junior varsity head coach.

Prior to GC&SU, Hodgson was the head assistant, for three seasons, at his alma mater (`01) Kenyon College (Gambier, OH). His responsibilities with the Lords included serving as hitting coach and a recruiter of student athletes. He also coordinated the team's day-to-day operations and served as the assistant sports information director.

Hodgson was a four-year letter winner at Kenyon College. He twice earned all-conference recognition, was twice named team most valuable player and was twice a team captain.

Over the last six summers, Hodgson has coached for Team Connecticut Blue Jays Amateur Athletic Union baseball teams. Under his guidance, those teams have qualified for the Junior Olympics, USA Nationals and AAU Nationals, with his 2005 team finishing 3^rd at the 15 and under AAU National Championships 2006 16’s placed 6^th. Coach Dan will work clinics and camp when he is in the area. 

Rob Giguere

A graduate of Albertus Magnus College, Rob was a key member to the 1999 League champion Falcons in both hold and close situations. Before an injury sidelined him for the season he had compiled a 2-0 record with 7 saves appearing in 12 of the Falcons first 24 games.  In 1998 Rob earned All GNAC honors as a pitcher for the Falcons. Rob was also teammates of fellow TCB member Pat Hall on the 1995 Housatonic Community College Hawks team that participated in the JUCO World Series that same year. In 1996 Rob earned All NJCAA honors for his pitching performance in that season with the Hawks.

Rob has ended his 3 year tenure with Joel Barlow High school as their Assistant Varsity/ Pitching Coach.  While there he helped the Falcons to a state bid as well as their first trip to league playoffs in school history. Along the way helping 3 players earn spots on the All-State roster  one of which was a member of his pitching staff as well as several All League placements over the three years. Rob will assume the same position with Hyde Leadership Academy in New Haven CT Spring 08.

Rob’s summer coaching service began in  2001 with the Dawgs as an assistant for a State title 12U team and continued through the fall of that year becoming the head coach. In the summer of 2002 Rob founded the CT Thunder. The program continued through the fall of 2004. Besides serving as the programs director he also remained as head coach of one of the programs teams for each of those years. During the three years the Thunder collected 2 State Titles, 6 TCS tournament championships, 1 ECTB Regional Tournament trophy and 2 top 10 National Rankings. The program also boasted 3 players listed in the top 200 players in the nation. Two of them were a part of the Thunders pitching staff. In summer of 2005 Rob was brought over to the TCB family and has been a part of an AAU State Title team, a top 10 National finish and 2 top 25 National finishes.

Rob continues his work off the field with children and young adults as well serving both as a Therapeutic Mentor for Behavioral Management.  Rob also holds a position at Yale New Haven Hospital on their premier inpatient psychiatric unit as a Milieu Counselor.

Brian Baltz

Brian has been with the program in some capacity every year since 2001.  Brian was an assistant on the 18u team that summer.  In 2002 Brian coached the 16u team with Coach Brian Huber and Coach Dan Hodgson.  2003-2005 Brian served as an advisor and pitching instructor at clinics and workouts.  2006 Brian was the pitching coach for the 16u south team that finished 6^th nationally. 

Brian played in college at Iona where he was a pitcher.  Brian is currently the editor in chief of the Vanderbilt Journal of entertainment and technology law while pursuing his law degree.

Brian played in college at Iona where he was a pitcher.  Brian is currently the editor in chief of the Vanderbilt Journal of entertainment and technology law while pursuing his law degree.

Tyler Kavanaugh

Tyler Kavanaugh enters his second season as an assistant at Purchase College. He is a graduate of Kenyon College, where he earned a bachelors degree in History. He is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Health and Physical Education. Coach Kavanaugh assists head coach Bill Guerrero in all facets of the program: planning and organization of practices, game day duties, recruiting, as well as handles the Panther strength and conditioning program.

He was a standout for the Lords, as he still ranks in several offensive categories in the school's record book. Kavanaugh was a three-time All-Conference selection and the team’s captain his junior and senior year.He also spent time as a player in Europe. He spent the 2006 summer with the Blansko Black Hill Club of the Czech Republic’s Baseball League. During the summer months Kavanaugh coaches with the Team Connecticut Blue Jays travel baseball program. Under his guidance, teams have competed in various state and national tournaments, with his 2005 team finishing 3rd at the 15 and under AAU National Championships.

JR Causa

 Jr has been with the Blue Jays since 2002 when he guided the 13u club to a FTB World Championship.  Coach JR coached the 2003 13's to a great overall record and help select many players that helped make the program what it is today.  Coach JR played his college baseball at UB where he was a 2 way player.  JR currently lives in Carmel NY with his wife Jacqueline and his children Caryse and Tristan. 

Bob Cote`

Bob has been with the Blue Jays since 2003.  In that time Bob has coached every level from 13-18. Bob was the pitching coach on the 15u 2005 club that placed 3rd nationaly. Bob pitched in college at UB where he was the teams frontline starter his last 2 seasons. Bob resides in Bridgeport. 

Eric August

Mike Siksay

Bob Rogers

Bob returns to TCB this year as a coach.  Bob spent 5 Years as a player with TCB and is currently pitching at the University of Hartford

Luke Cowan

Luke Returns to the Jays as a coach this summer.  Luke recently finished his collegiate playing career at Bryant where he won his last start against national power Franklin Pierce in the Division II northeast regional.  As a Blue Jay Luke logged innings as both a catcher and pitcher pulling double duty from 2001-2004.