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04/27/2015 12:00 AMBaseball
The Warriors’ baseball team qualified for states with an 8-0 record to start its season, matching its total number of wins last year. Valley most recently recorded victories against Portland, 7-0, on April 21; Morgan, 3-2, on April 23; and Haddam-Killingworth, 13-1, on April 24. Valley’s 8-0 record puts it as the No. 2-ranked team in Class S and only behind Thomaston—the team it lost to in the first round of last season’s state playoffs. The Warriors are also two games ahead of North Branford for first place in the Shoreline Conference.
Versus Haddam-Killingworth, junior Nash Eppard gave up only one hit in five innings and added a triple and a double with two RBI. Freshman Colin Sparaco pitched the last two innings to seal the triumph over last year’s Class M runner-up. Senior Eric Jaillet is on a hot-streak and went 4-for-5 with four RBI, senior Ethan Petroka had two hits and two RBI. sophomore Matt Robida had two hits and scored three runs, and junior Eric Petroka added two hits.
Previously the road against the Huskies, sophomore pitcher Fletcher Suedmeier started and worked into the sixth inning, giving up just two runs to get the victory. Senior Tristan Suedmeier pitched out of a jam in the sixth and finished the game for a save. Jaillet went 3-for-4, scored a run, and stole a base. He also threw out the Morgan leadoff hitter attempting to advance on a ball that skipped away with one out in the final inning. Senior designated hitter Peter Jones added a double and a single, plus solid defensive plays made by infielder Robida and Eppard helped the Warriors.
In the Portland win, junior Arik Sypher pitched a complete game, allowing two hits and striking out eight batters in shutting out the Highlanders. Eric Petroka led the Warriors with two RBI and Eppard (3 runs scored) and Jalliet (1 run) each added an RBI.
Boys’ Tennis
The Warriors are now 6-1 after beating North Branford 4-1 and defeating Portland 6-1 on April 23. The North Branford match was halted due to rain and, even though Valley has clinched the win, the uncompleted matches will be finished on May 9.
For the season, the Warriors have defeated Westbrook 4-3, Morgan 7-0, Coginchaug 6-1, and Haddam-Killingworth by forfeit. The team’s lone loss was a 5-2 defeat to Old Saybrook.
As her team graduated captains Nate Joyce and AJ Pierson, Valley Head Coach Bunny Logan feels proud about the performances of both her returning athletes and new players throughout the opening matches of the season.
“All other varsity players returned with the addition of some wonderful new members of the team. A shining star is Jeff Riggio. A freshman and well-seasoned tennis player, he’s every coaches dream. I predict that when he’s a senior, nobody in the Shoreline Conference will beat him,” said Logan. “There were other good additions to the team. Hal Jones, a sophomore, played his first varsity match this week. He shows a lot of promise. Garrett Hines, who unfortunately waited till his Junior year to join the team, is an excellent athlete. He is improving daily. Nate Gagnon, a sophomore, is also an excellent athlete and a nice addition to the team. Kevin Baldwin, freshman; Jack Liggett, sophomore; and Matt O’Keefe all made the team this year and show great potential.”
Girls’ Tennis
After losing their first match of the season, the Warriors readjusted and have put together a promising start to 2015 after winning their fourth match with a 5-1 home win over North Branford that was halted due to rain.
Senior captain Abby Wolf (6-2, 6-0); junior Hannah Halsey (6-2, 6-1); and junior Caitlin Farley (6-1, 6-3) all won at No. 1, 2, and 4 singles, respectively, for Valley (4-1). No. 2 singles sophomore Callie Riggio is now 3-2 after losing to her North Branford opponent. Juniors Amanda Joyce and Maddy Ball won No. 1 doubles, 6-4, 6-2, and are 1-1 together. Freshmen Ellie Flynn and Emma Hunt won No. 2 doubles, 6-0, 6-0, and improved to 2-0 as a pair. The third doubles match that featured sophomores Jenna Farley and Lindsey Lent (1-2 as a duo) was rained out after the first set.
For the season, Valley junior Maggie Klin is 4-0 at singles with victories against opponents from Coginchaig, Old Saybrook, Morgan, and Westbrook; Wolf is 4-1; Halsey has a 4-1 record; and Caitlin Farley won her first match of the season at singles. Farley has also paired with senior captain Jenna Taylor in No. 3 doubles matches and they are 3-1.
Valley’s only loss has come against last season’s Shoreline Conference champion, Westbrook, by the score of 4-3. Klin won at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-3; Pairs Flynn and Hunt won No. 2 doubles, 6-0, 6-0; and Taylor and Caitlin Farley won No. 3 doubles, 6-1, 6-3, for Valley’s three points in the loss.