Shelton Resident To Receive Umpire Award From SCDC

Information via the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club

SHELTON, CT — A Shelton resident and a Derby native are among the honorees set to be honored by the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club, Inc., during its 16th annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony.

According to a news release provided by the SCDC, the ceremony is scheduled to be held Oct. 23 at The Woodwinds in Branford.

Shelton resident Frank Pallone will be honored with the Andrew Gassira Memorial Umpire Award.

Currently the chair of the Fairfield County Chapter of Approved Baseball Umpires' Better Officiating Committee, he is also a member of the Central Connecticut Baseball Umpires Association and the East Shore Travel League umpire board.

Pallone spent 30 years with the Greater New Haven Baseball Umpires Association and is among that group's past presidents.

While a GNHBUA member he worked several CIAC state tournament and Southern Connecticut Conference playoff games. He also earned postseason assignments with the American Legion state tournament, the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League, and the National Adult Baseball Association, according to SCDC.

Pallone is a graduate of Bunnell High School of Stratford. He got his start in umpiring in the Shelton Little League at age 13 in the late 1960's.

Derby native Joe Lizza was a four-year starting catcher and a two-time all-state selection for Derby High School.

As a freshman, he played a pivotal role in Derby's run to the 1992 CIAC Class S championship. He collected more than 80 hits, including 15 home runs, during his Red Raider career.

A 1995 Derby graduate, Lizza went on to a successful four-year career at the University of New Haven. He batted better than .300 as a Charger, and was a part of the 1998 UNH squad that captured the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Championship and advanced to the D-II World Series.

Lizza completed a bachelor's degree in management of sports industries from UNH in 1999 before earning a teaching certificate in physical education. A current resident of Southbury, he is the K-8 physical education and health coordinator for Danbury Public Schools and is a former assistant coach at both Newtown and Shelton High Schools.

The SCDC, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization whose stated mission is to foster and promote the game of baseball in the southern Connecticut region, will recognize eight individuals in the Class of 2024. SCDC Hall of Fame members are selected by the group's executive board.

Tickets to the 2024 SCDC Hall of Fame dinner are $60 per person and will only be sold in advance. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting Executive Director Rose Mentone via email at RMentone@comcast.net.

Also being honored this year are former Guilford High School coach Pete Civitello (North Haven HS ‘94), former Notre Dame High School and Wesleyan University standout Mark Consorte (Notre Dame HS-West Haven ‘88), former New York Mets draftee Michael Moras (Amity Regional HS ‘04), longtime Southern Connecticut State University head coach Tim Shea (Notre Dame HS-West Haven ‘82) and former Quinnipiac College slugger Vincent Siena Jr. (West Haven HS ‘82).

Matthew F. Mentone of Durham is the winner of the Tony Mentone Memorial Distinguished Service Award.