Hall of Fame Profiles: Danny Roberts

Dan Roberts (Class of 1967)

Dan Roberts was a four-year athlete in football, basketball and baseball at BHS. In football, he was selected to play in the Nutmeg All-Star game as a kicker. In baseball, he was named team captain as a senior, and in a game against Avon, struck out 20 batters in nine innings. Roberts also was a team captain in basketball his senior year, and was named team MVP. He was an all-conference performer in both baseball and basketball, and in 1967 received the distinguished Richard Patterson Award, given to the individual considered the best athlete in the school.

Roberts earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He played two seasons and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health.

After college, Roberts played basketball with Vin Clements’ All Star Team against New York Giants players to raise money for charity. He scored 42 points in one game against the likes of Spider Lockhart and Ron Johnson.

Roberts also played amateur softball, with the Casa Lorna Jets. He played with the nationally-ranked Gartenhaus team as well, from 1975 to 1986. The team was managed by New Britain High School and UConn star athlete Ron Noveck, and included players such as Plainville High and ECSU baseball coach Ron Jones, Plainville High and CCSU basketball coach Dave Rybczyk, CCSU basketball coach Howie Dickenman, and Berlin High baseball coach Leo Veleas. The team won the state and New England championship eight years in a row.

Roberts competed in 10 world championship softball games and was selected New England MVP three times. He tossed a no-hitter with his unlimited arc pitch in the New England championship.

Roberts was inducted into the Connecticut Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 2004.

This year's Hall of Fame class includes: Joseph Simeone (Class of 1936), Lino “Chick” Girone (1936), Paul Kornichuk (1949), Dan Roberts (1967), Tammy Borkowski (1989), Jennifer Baccaro (1991), Kyle Gallo (1993), Susan Church Zibell (1993) and Jesse Carlson (1999), coaches George Hall and Ken Parciak, contributor Bob Peckrul and the 1986 BHS wrestling team.

The Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held Sunday, April 29 at the Aqua Turf in Southington. For ticket information, contact Marie Siegal at (860) 828-1115; mvs7581@yahoo.com.