Sporting News CT – SNCTTV

By Paul Angilly Staff Writer Bristol Press

June 24, 2010 - A Bristol teen died Wednesday evening after a fall during the afternoon at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden.

Matthew Roche, 19, a 2009 graduate of Bristol Eastern High School and a player on the Bristol Legion baseball team, was found at about 1:30 p.m. after suffering injuries from a fall of about 40 feet from the Blue Trail at the park, according to reports.

[Bristol Eastern H.S. administrators were working thursday to set up counseling sessions for students affected by Roche's passing.]

After the accident, Roch was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he passed away at 6:19 p.m.

According to a state police report, Hamden fire/police dispatch received a 911 call from two hikers in the park, who reported that while hiking they had discovered a young male at the base of the stone tower who was suffering from a serious head wound.

Roche was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

State police major crime detectives responded to the park to conduct an investigation into the death.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim fell from the top of the stone tower located in the park, and there appears to be no criminal aspect in the case.

There was nothing suspicious found and no foul play is suspected. Investigation is continuing by the state police’s central district major crime squad.

A post mortem examination will be conducted today to determine the manner and cause of death.

Roche was a key player for this year’s Post 2 American Legion baseball team.

After playing one game last night after learning he was in surgery for serious injuries, the team canceled the second game of its scheduled doubleheader after learning that he had died.

The team also postponed its scheduled game tonight.

“I’m still in a state of shock. It’s devastating,” said Bristol Legion head coach Dave Nocera, who spoke with Roche’s father last night.

Nocera lost two boys of his own due to separate incidents three years ago.

“I can appreciate what his dad is going through,” he said.

“He was a kid that I really cared about,” Nocera added. “He was a very sensitive and caring young man who really wanted to do well for the team.”

While describing Roche as a young man who “had challenges to overcome in his life,” Nocera said he had an outstanding year this past season playing baseball as a freshman for Roger Williams University.

He started 33 games at first base, hitting .309 for the season and leading the team in RBI with 23.

But for the immediate future, Nocera said, the focus for Roche’s friends and teammates will not be on baseball.

“I miss him terribly already,” he said. “I feel for his family, and certainly I feel for his teammates.”

At their age, Roche’s friends and teammates are not used to dealing with such a loss, Nocera noted, and the Legion coaches will be helping them deal with their grief.

“For these guys, they’ve lost a brother,” he said. “Clearly after the game, when I told them the news, they were absolutely overwhelmed.”