WEST HARTFORD, CONN. - On Thursday, Hartford Baseball head coach Steve Malinowski announced his five team captains for the upcoming 2026 season. The five captains include junior JJ Romatzick, senior Jackson Ciccone (Danbury, Conn.), senior Ryan Knight (Peabody, Mass.), senior Joe Dooley (West Hartford, Conn.) and senior Michael Featherstone (Ramsey, N.J.).
"I'm excited to announce the five guys selected as captains for the upcoming season. This group has been tested throughout their time here and has helped shape the culture of Hartford Baseball every step of the way. Each captain brings a unique personality, yet all are fully committed to the core values we emphasize every day. I'm confident they will lead us with pride and purpose throughout the 2026 season. Four Bells!"
Romatzick started all 40 games he appeared in 2025, slashing .385/.485/.443 (AVG/SLG/OBP) with one home run, 36 RBIs, two triples, 10 doubles on 65 hits, to go along with 34 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. In the field, JJ recorded 26 putouts and one assist with a fielding percentage of .964. He also earned Conference of New England (CNE) All-Conference First Team honors and was selected to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region team.
Ciccone started 41 out of 42 games for the Hawks in the outfield during his junior season. He had a .335 batting average and a .891 OPS, accumulating 58 hits, including 11 doubles, two triples and five home runs. His performances earned him a spot on the CNE Third Team, and the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region Third Team. Jackson was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
Knight appeared in 35 games while starting 34 in a notable return to the field. He posted a career high .320 batting average and a .984 OPS, tailing 39 hits, 13 doubles and six home runs. Ryan was later named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
Dooley will be returning to the mound in the 2026 season after missing all of 2025 due to injury. In his Hartford career, Dooley has made 25 appearances with 12 starts and 54 strikeouts to his name.
Featherstone was a key reliever for the Hawks in his junior season. He went 2-3 across 16 relief appearances, posting a 5.06 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP over 26.2 innings. Featherstone also struck out 24 batters while issuing 10 walks. His performances earned him a spot on the Conference of New England (CNE) All-Conference Second Team and the CNE Community Service Team.
The Hawks finished 2025 with a 20-22 overall record including a 9-7 CNE record. They would eventually fall in the CNE Playoffs to Roger Williams. The 2026 schedule is yet to be announced.
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