RHAM Baseball’s “Teammate of the Year”

RHAM’s baseball star Chase Melzen was named the first annual Allan D. Garray Teammate of the Year. Melzen (center) is pictured with head coach, Bill Eller, and father, John Melzen to his right, and mother, Sarah Melzen, and assistant coach, Evan Chamberlain to his left.  

RHAM center fielder Chase Melzen was the 2022 recipient of the first annual Allan D. Garray Teammate of the Year award. The award was presented to Melzen at the RHAM baseball Awards Night ceremony on June 9, by Pat and Dave Morency, of Country Lane in Hebron, who wanted to honor their dear friend and the Garray Family.  
           
Garray was the catcher on the 1979 University of Connecticut World Series team before going on to play for the Kansas City Royals organization. After his playing days, he became an assistant coach for RHAM baseball and was part of the team’s 2004 state championship season, coaching future major leaguer A.J .Pollock as well as his own son, Cody Garray. Allan passed away suddenly in 2021.
           
“It’s a huge honor,” said Melzen. “Being a good teammate is something that everyone can be regardless of skill or talent.”
           
Melzen was also selected as the team’s Golden Glove winner for his outstanding work in the outfield. He hit .348 from the plate, connecting on 24 hits and scoring 23 runs, while driving in 11 others. The versatile Melzen was also 100% on stolen base attempts, stealing nine bags in nine attempts.  
           
The departing senior said the team had no idea about the “Teammate of the Year” honor coming into the awards ceremony and that he was “shocked” when they announced his name.  
           
“The teammates award is more meaningful because regardless of what you do out on the field, being a good teammate should always be top priority,” he added.
           
Melzen was one of a half dozen seniors that helped the Raptors transition to a new head coach this spring. Longtime coach Paul Steiner stepped down following the 2021 season and the team welcomed back former assistant coach Bill Eller, who led the team to 15 wins in the regular season this spring.
           
Eller praised Melzen for his work on the field, calling him “one of the best defensive outfielders I’ve ever coached at the high school level”, and for his willingness to do anything for the team, saying he’s leaving “some big shoes to fill next year.”  
           
“He came to practice every day with a positive attitude, always willing to help make the team better. He was always willing to help and include the younger players to make sure they knew how important they were to the team,” added Eller. “He was the first guy to grab a rake, move the battling turtle or help the team set up or break down for practice.”
           
Whether it was a coaching change or the canceled season in 2020, Melzen said the departing seniors became like brothers over the years, adding that it is bitter sweet to be moving on. 
           
“I’ve known all these guys for an extremely long time. Just being able to grow with a team and play with each other just makes at the whole experience that much better.” said Melzen, who added that he has played with close friend and Quinnipiac baseball commit Mike Poncini since the first grade.  
           
The team welcomed in Eller, who last was an assistant with the team in 2018, when the current group of graduating seniors were in the 8th grade.
           
Melzen said it was a smooth transition to Eller and the success spoke for itself as the team started the season with eight straight wins.
           
After hitting a skid, Melzen said the turning point was when Eller and assistant coach Evan Chamberlain decided to shave off their normally full facial hair in an attempt to break a three-game losing streak.
           
It worked as the Raptors hammered Bristol Central 14-4 the following game and won four of five to close out the season. Melzen called it the highlight of the season, adding, “It was nice to get a fresh start.”
           
Melzen, who was born and raised in Hebron, also played soccer for the school in the fall and basketball for the town in the winter. He was also part of the student-run Ping Pong Club that played every Monday at the school. 
           
After graduated on June 18, he quickly turned the page to his next challenge where he will follow in the footsteps of Garray by attending the University of Connecticut-Avery Point. 
           
Despite getting multiple inquiries from various schools and coaches to continue playing baseball, he had decided to hang up his cleats for now. 
           
Melzen said he wanted to “focus more on my degree” as he studies mechanical engineering at Avery Point and will be part of the Air Force ROTC on the Storrs campus.