Varsity Baseball’s motto, “Hotchkiss Baseball Versus Everyone,” or, for short, “HBVE”, runs deep into the attitude of the team, reflected in their pursuit to end this season as Founders League Champions. The team comes into the Spring season with a new head coach, Mr. Matthew Altieri at the helm, under his philosophy—“competing every game, learning how to get into a routine, and how to prepare.”

Coach Altieri comes to Hotchkiss as an incredibly experienced coach, working with teams at all levels of the game. Before coming to Hotchkiss, Altieri coached and taught for Sheehan High School in Wallingford, CT, winning five state championships. His coaching was recognized by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association as he was awarded the 2021 Coach of the Year. The prestigious award is, handed annually to only 25 coaches across boys and girls athletics, as well as one athletic director. He has worked with teams at many levels of the game, including at the collegiate level, as well as coaching first base for the Gastonia Honey Hunters, a North Carolina team that plays in the professional, MLB-affiliated Atlantic League. He explained the difference between past players he has coached and his roster at Hotchkiss, saying, “It’s a prep school, which makes coaching here different. I’m dealing with more academically accomplished kids than I have before, and the expectations are a little different here.”

Coach Altieri is not only looking forward to competing this season, but also to continue building relationships with his players. The knowledge he brings to the sport has helped improve the team beyond physicality with his mental strategies. Team captains, Henry Emswiler ’22 and Carlos Martinez ’22, reflected positively on their experience with Coach Alteri. Martinez said, “Not only has he helped me become a better player physically, he’s taught me things about the game that can only come through the experience of a veteran. His passion for the game matches mine and has led us to build a very strong connection.”

With an experienced coach, and a motivated team, the baseball team has high aspirations for the season. Emswiler expressed his regards when he said, “I’m looking forward to ending my Hotchkiss athletic career with a bang, hopefully the Founders League Championship. Aside from that, I’m pumped to spend days out on Hoyt with the team and enjoy my last few months here. I think we can surprise some people this season.”