When the prep schools came calling, Gian Gamelli stuck with Hamilton-Wenham baseball. His next stop is Notre Dame. - The Boston Globe (2025)

Maidment naturally keeps an eye out for names in the program. When his career was in its infancy — he was hired in 2012 — there was a name that kept surfacing: Gian Gamelli.

“Being from the town, and having a nephew in the league before my kids, he was always that name,” Maidment said. “Everyone was like Gian, Gian, Gian.”

Gamelli quickly became a sensation in Hamilton-Wenham youth athletics circle. He started hearing from Catholic and prep programs as a middle schooler. They wanted to steer him away from his local public school.

The fact that he didn’t makes Gamelli different.

“The foundation was already here,” Gamelli said. “All those relationships were already built. We found absolutely nothing wrong with it, no reason to go anywhere.”

Four years later, as a University of Notre Dame-bound senior captain, Gamelli proved why staying paid off. He became the Generals’ No. 1 option from the jump, and that hasn’t changed.

“The fact that he was willing to allow us as coaches to help him in this process was one of the best things that happened to us as a staff,” Maidment said. “He’s probably, without a doubt, our best athlete we’ve had in this program.”

Through seven games, the lefthanded thrower/righthanded hitter is putting up impressive numbers for H-W (6-1) .

Entering Thursday’s 7-0 loss to Lowell Catholic in Cooperstown, N.Y., Gamelli had 10 hits in 20 at-bats, eight walks, an OPS of 1.450, 15 runs scored, eight RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and one strikeout.

While he isn’t pitching this season — Gamelli partially tore his Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) before his junior year and needed Tommy John surgery after he fully tore it last June — he plans to make a full return for fall ball in South Bend.

What matters most is being able to play alongside his best friends for one last hurrah. The Generals’ roster hasn’t changed since last year and is entirely composed of seniors and juniors.

“The home atmosphere was everything in that decision,” Gamelli said. “Hamilton-Wenham is such a tight-knit, close community. The same faces you played like little league with are the same faces that are cheering me on behind the fence today.”

That’s also part of the reason Gamelli chose Notre Dame.

The mix of a small-town vibe, academic excellence, campus culture, family influence — Gamelli’s father, Bill, is a Fighting Irish football fan — and the fact that Gamelli was recruited for his two-way ability made the decision simple.

“A lot of what he and his family were looking for aligned with Notre Dame, and what Notre Dame provides as a university, and what we provide as an athletic program,” Notre Dame baseball coach Shawn Stiffler said. “It was a home run for both of us.”

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Through Stiffler’s connections, Gamelli was fortunate to have Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the Yankees’ team physician, perform the surgery. Before Tommy John, Gamelli’s fastball reached 90 miles per hour. Maidment isn’t worried about Gamelli reaching — and exceeding — that velocity when he returns to the bump.

It’s not just the speed that jumps out, either.

It’s his three-quarters arm slot from the left side, the fact that he bats from the right, his 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound frame, and his ability to paint the corners which sparked the interest of Stiffler and his staff.

Furthermore, in a transactional world of high school and college sports, Gamelli’s commitment to his hometown is what struck Stiffler the most. It continues to impress Maidment.

“It’s becoming more and more rare to have a young person who can see beyond the next several years, or see into the future of ‘OK, what do I really want my experience to be about 15, 20 years from now?’” Stiffler said. “Do I want to be a guy that really has nowhere to call home, or do I want to have the ability to leave a legacy?”

It’s more than a personal legacy that Gamelli wants.

“Sophomore year, we made it to the Elite Eight,” Gamelli said. “That was a special run. The team was super close, like a family. The atmosphere was awesome. And I think this year has all that and more. I think the sky’s the limit for the team right now.”

Extra bases

▪ Needham has won two games — both via a walk-off from the bat of Alex Rufo, who came off the bench both times. The senior stepped up with the winning single for the Rockets (2-5) on Wednesday against No. 15 St. John’s Prep.

“He’s got an awesome arm out of the bullpen, and an awesome bat off the bench,” coach C.J. Golbranson said. “I tell Rufo all the time to just stay ready to go.”

▪ BC High senior Tommy O’Donnell’s walk-off single Wednesday against No. 3 Taunton in a 8-7 win was extra special, not just for the win, but given who was in attendance.

With the weather finally cooperating, his grandmother got to see him play for the first time this spring.

“I was really happy I could do that for her,” O’Donnell said.

And with the Babson College team waiting for their turn to play at Monan Park against host UMass Boston, O’Donnell’s uncle — Beavers head coach Matt Noone — got to see his nephew deliver in a big spot.

▪ A trio of coaching milestones arrived over the past week: Abington coach Steve Perakslis, who survived a brain tumor in January, became the school’s all-time winningest coach in any sport Monday afternoon with his 339th win in charge of the Green Wave . . . Xaverian coach Gerry Lambert earned his 300th career victory last Thursday. The Mass. Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer has led his alma mater to three state titles since taking over in 2002 . . . Blue Hills coach Matthew Manders earned his 100th career win Saturday as the Warriors (3-1) took down Cohasset, 12-2.

Games to watch

Friday, No. 7 Plymouth North at No. 4 Xaverian, 5 p.m. — The defending Division 2 champion Eagles hit the road to take on the Hawks in this Top 10 clash.

Monday, No. 6 St. Mary’s at English High, 4 p.m. — The reigning Division 5 champs host the Division 3 runners-up in this intriguing nonleague test.

Monday, No. 13 Wellesley at No. 12 Walpole, 4 p.m. — After a hot start, the Timberwolves have lost five straight. This could be the chance for the Bay State Carey Division-leading Warriors to make a statement.

Wednesday, No. 3 Taunton at No. 8 King Philip, 3:45 p.m. — With both undefeated in Hockomock play, this will be a battle for Kelley-Rex Division supremacy.

Wednesday, No. 17 Andover at No. 18 Chelmsford, 4 p.m. — Two of the Merrimack Valley Conference’s best go head-to-head in this Top 20 clash.

Correspondent Mike Puzzanghera contributed to this report.