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04/24/2016 12:00 AMBaseball
The Hornets claimed victory in both of their games last week and have now won four of their last five for a record of 4-4. Branford’s week began with a 3-2 victory in eight innings versus Hand at the MacVeigh Complex on April 20. Then on April 22, the Hornets hosted Oronoque foe Wilbur Cross and prevailed 5-2 to move to 3-0 in division duels.
Ross Prior brought home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth when the Hornets walked off against Hand for a 3-2 win. The Tigers had previously tied the game by a scoring a run in the seventh. Zane Kmietek allowed eight hits and just two runs in 6.2 innings. Greg Bradshaw came on in relief and picked up the win. Devin DeRenzo, Jordan Botte, and Damien Maniscalco all had two hits and DeRenzo also had two RBI.
Then against Cross, Carson Mendoza struck out 10 in five innings before being relieved by Bradshaw, who went on to collect his second win of the week out of the bullpen. The Hornets’ offense was led by Bryce Baker, Luke DiStasio, and Robbie Barbash, who each had two hits. Barbash got the go-ahead RBI when his double plated a run that put Branford in the lead for good in the sixth. Barbash finished the day with two RBI, while Botte, Maniscalco, and Tanner Giddings each added an RBI, as well.
Softball
Branford took a pair of defeats to division opponents at home last week and is now 0-7. On April 20, the Hornets hosted East Haven and lost 20-0. Two days later, Branford had a home game against another Oronoque squad in Career and dropped a 10-1 contest.
Against East Haven, the Hornets had just two hits. Branford pitcher Sophia Araneo only allowed three earned runs in the defeat.
Branford had five hits versus Career. Freshman Kaitlyn Kaczor’s pinch hit single in the sixth plated the Hornets’ only run.
Boys’ Tennis
It was another great week for Branford that featured three wins in three matches as the Hornets ran their record to 6-0. Branford opened play with a 5-2 win at Shelton on April 19 and then earned a 5-2 home victory over Hamden on April 20. The Hornets closed the week by winning 7-0 at Wilbur Cross on April 22 to stay unbeaten.
Girls’ Tennis
Branford prevailed in two of its three matches last week to improve to 4-1. First, the Hornets posted a 5-2 home win over Lyman Hall on April 18. Branford then took a 5-2 home defeat to Cheshire on April 19, but came back to win 7-0 at Career-Hillhouse-Hyde the next day. The Hornets closed the week by edging out Law by a 4-3 final at home on April 22.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Branford produced three victories in as many games last week and evened its record at 4-4. The Hornets’ surge began with an 18-2 victory over Cross in New Haven on April 18. Branford then hosted Lyman Hall on April 21 and blew out the Trojans 12-3. The Hornets capped the week with a home game against Foran on April 23 and won 10-4.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Hornets continued their great play last week by netting a pair of victories to improve to 5-1. Branford’s first game was in Guilford on April 19 and the Hornets won big, 17-4. Branford then took to the road on April 22 with a game at Amity and came out on top 21-11, marking the team’s fifth-straight victory.
Girls’ Outdoor Track
Branford competed in a quad-meet at Amity on April 20 and hit the trifecta by recording three victories to improve to 3-1. The Hornets defeated Amity 80-70, Guilford 91-59, and Hamden 88-61.
Claira Janover had a monster meet by claiming first place in four events. Janover won the 100 hurdles in 16.43 seconds, was first in the 300 hurdles with a time of 50.13, won the triple jump by reaching 33 feet-10 inches, and tied for first in the high jump at 4-10 with teammate Amanda Acquarulo. Branford received three more victories as Keira Integlia won the javelin with a personal record throw of 105-5, Etta Hanlon claimed first in the long jump (15-10), and Bridget Wirtz was best in the pole vault with a height of 8 feet. Integlia also placed second in the shot put (28-3.5), while Hanlon was third for both the pole vault (7-0) and triple jump (29-9). Other second-place finishes for Branford came from Issy Bysiewicz in the 300 hurdles (50.81), Liante Claude in the 400 (PR of 63.43), and Taylor Brown in the pole vault (7-6).
Boys’ Outdoor Track
Branford dropped to 2-4 after taking three defeats in a quad-meet at Amity on April 20. The Hornets lost to the host Spartans 120-30, to Xavier 94-56, and against Hand 91-61.
Kory King took second in a pair of events as he was the runner-up for both the triple jump (38 feet-9 inches) and the 300 intermediate hurdles. He also placed fourth in the 110 high hurdles (16.6). David Donnelly took second in the javelin (136-11), finished fifth in the 400 (54.0), and was sixth in the 100 (11.9). Seraphin Tala finished third in the high jump at 5-8 to go with fifth-place performances in the 110 hurdles (17.1) and long jump (17-8). Jake Roberts took fourth in the discus (109-11) and sixth in the shot put (36-4). Marzio Mastrioanni came in fourth place in the 800 (2:06.91) and Spencer Berty took fifth in the high jump with a height of 5-6. Mastrioanni’s time broke Branford’s freshman record for the 800-meter run. Also for the Hornets, Ricky Tratnyek completed the 1,600 in five minutes, while Kadir Sahin ran 2:21 in the 800.
Golf
The Hornets had a full plate with four matches in four days last week and dropped decisions in each of them to move to 2-4. The week started on April 18, when the Hornets were edged by Sheehan 176-177 on their home course of Pine Orchard Country Club. The next day, Branford faced Law at Orange Hills Country Club and took a 182-191 defeat. The Hornets then played Hamden at Laurel View Country Club on April 20 and lost 173-197. In its last contest of the stretch, Branford lost to Hand by a score of 162-183 at Madison Country Club on April 21.