Former Saint Bernard School baseball star Matt Pontbriant impressed scouts back in the 1990s enough that he became an eighth-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates. And now two of Pontbriant’s offspring, Griffin and Dominic, are taking after dad, but this time at Norwich Free Academy.

Matt Pontbriant, 48, known to some in the area as “Pont,” did some pretty big things on that Uncasville mound during his junior and senior years (1989 and 1990) at St. Bernard. Pontbriant was drafted initially by the Seattle Mariners almost immediately after turning his tassel at Saint Bernard in 1990.

But “Pont” decided to forgo a minor-league contract to attend Brevard Community College in Melbourne, Fla. Following that season, Pontbriant’s stock grew as he was then selected by the Pirates, where he would enjoy a decent minor league career that included a trip to an All Star game in 1994. Pontbriant would go as high as Pittsburgh’s Double-A team, the Carolina Mudcats, in 1996 before surgeries slowed him down.

Still, baseball and pitching remain very much alive within the Pontbriant family. “Dad-Matt” has taken his sons, Griffin “Griff” and Dominic “Nic” under his wing.

Griffin, a senior at NFA, transferred there after two solid seasons at Montville High School. Unfortunately, Griffin missed his junior year at NFA due to COVID-19 wiping out all sports competition.

But the Ponbriants weren’t about to let the virus dictate their summer of baseball, as they safely participated in 30-plus games and got Griff some looks by some Major League scouts. Griff was invited to play a Futures League game for the Northeast Yankees, run by Matt Hyde, a regional scout for the New York Yankees.

“It was really cool seeing him wear my old number 48, but weird seeing him in a Yankees jersey seeing that I’m a Sox fan,” said the elder Pontbriant.

The Futures Collegiate Baseball League consists of elite college athletes competing in a minor league style format. Griff and his Northeast Yankees took on the Brockton Rox. Tom Tracey, general manager of the Rox, played a part in setting up this opportunity for Griffin.

“I knew coming into the game that Griff had great stuff and his delivery is so unique that it creates difficult at-bats for the hitters,” said Tracey.

Griff was given the “closer role” in this game against Tracey’s Rox while facing some players who have attained the highest level of collegiate baseball.

“My first feeling for Griff when he was given the closer role was a little anxiety for him,” Tracey recalled. But the young Pontbriant stepped up on a pretty big stage. “He impressed me,” said Tracey. “He didn’t get caught up in the moment; he did what he came to do.”

Then there is the youngest of the Pontbriants, NFA freshman Dominic, also known as “Dom” “Nic,” “Dubs” (for wearing No. 22) and “Dominator” (he even goes by “D-Pont”). But his father refers to him as his “comedian.”

“He’s always out there laughing and having fun,” said Matt.

Dominic Pontbriant pitched and played this past summer with the Connecticut Crush. “Crush Baseball” is a premier Baseball Travel Organization in New England, featuring age groups of 13- to 14 year-olds and 15- to 18 year-olds. Dom’s older brother Griff also played with the Crush. “He had a great season in his first year with the Crush,” said Matt Pontbriant. D-Pont not only pitches like his older brother but also plays the outfield.

“These kids have been lucky to be coached by some great people such as Mike Wall and Chris Wojick (Eastern Connecticut State University baseball assistant),” said the elder Pontbriant.

The arms, the athleticism, the talent, the dedication and the future all look bright for the Pontbriant family. Matt Pontbriant’s baseball career is about to take off once again, and this time he’s steering the ship, paving the way, guiding not one but two younger “Ponts.”

And while 2020 has been undoubtedly a strange year, scary, uncertain, and at times off the rails, for the Pontbriants it’s been business as usual with nothing but more baseball ahead.