AL HAMMELL BASEBALL VARSITY HEAD COACH

Al Hammell enters his first year at the helm of the Arlington Baseball program. A former catcher and professional player, Hammell brings with him baseball experience from all levels of the game. A life-long Pleasant Valley resident, Hammell participated in the Pleasant Valley Little League program and also played baseball for Arlington Middle School. Hammell attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie where he lettered in three sports for the Warriors including baseball. He was recruited by LeMoyne College (Syracuse, NY) and attended on a baseball scholarship.

Hammell was drafted by the New York Mets and left school after his junior season at LeMoyne in 1992. He went on to spend four years in the Mets organization as a catcher, reaching as high as AAA Norfolk, Virginia. Hammell was released by the Mets out of Spring Training in 1996 and decided to return the Hudson Valley to begin his coaching career and attend graduate school at Marist College. He served as the Assistant Coach for four years with the Red Foxes. While at Marist, Hammell oversaw the instruction of the pitchers and catchers. He played a vital role in building the program and leading Marist to it's first ever NCAA Div. I Regional Tournament appearance in 1997 where they faced the Florida Sate Seminoles in Tallahassee.

In 1999, Hammell moved on from the college level and returned to the ranks of professional baseball, accepting a position as a professional scout in the Anaheim Angels organization. In 2003, Hammell completed his degree in Elementary Education and began his teaching career. Prior to coming to Arlington, Hammell spent three seasons as the Head Coach at Millbrook High School. In 2006, Hammell was named the New York State Baseball Coach of the Year in Class C after leading the Blazers to the State Final Four.

Hammell holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Marist College. He currently teaches 6th Grade in the Millbrook Central School District. Hammell enjoys running camps and clinics teaching the game of baseball to young area players. He resides in his hometown of Pleasant Valley with his wife, Stacey, son Tyler (8), and daughters, Morgan (5), and Allie (4).