Ken Bratina graduated from Berlin High School in 1998. He was a three-sport athlete in basketball, baseball and football. In basketball, Bratina played for three years but was unable to participate in his senior year due to an illness. In football, he played tight end and wide receiver. The 1995 team was the NWC champion and the 1996 team was the co-champion. As a senior, Bratina set three school records: most yards gained by a receiver with 620, most passes caught in a single game with 11 and most passes caught in a single season with 42. He was also All-NWC and a Redcoat Award winner.

During his four-year baseball career, Bratina was the starting right fielder in his junior year and starting center fielder as a senior. The 1997 team was co-champion in the NWC and runner-up in the Class M state tournament, while the 1998 team was also NWC co-champions. During the 1997 Class M state championship game, Bratina made a catch in right field and gunned down an East Catholic player trying to score from third. The play was featured on the 11 p.m. news that evening. He was an All-NWC selection and played a solid and consistent role on the Berlin Zone III American Legion team.

Bratina was recruited by several Division I and II schools to play football, but chose to pursue his baseball career, attending and playing two years at ECSU as an outfielder and pitcher before transferring to Teikyo Post University and playing there before completing his NCAA eligibility at which time he coached the JV team to a record of 9-1.

While in college and after, Bratina played in the Hartford Twilight League and was selected to the all-star team five times. During the 2009 season, he was second on the team in batting average at .342. He also received the Designated Hitter Award in 2001. He was part of three playoff championship teams playing with Ferguson Water Works.

Bratina received his B.S. degree in criminal justice from Teikyo Post and worked briefly as a private investigator, performing undercover and surveillance duties. He is currently employed by the Connecticut Junior Republic as a case manager and program administrator. His program mentors and assists at-risk youth.