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04/25/2016 12:00 AMSoftball
North Branford improved to 9-0 with three wins last week, already qualifying the team for the State Tournament.
The T-Birds started the week on April 18 with a 5-4, extra inning victory over East Haven. It was a comeback victory as East Haven scored the game’s first four runs before North Branford battled back with three in the fifth, one in the sixth, and then scored the game winner in the bottom of the eighth. Olivia Hemstock had two hits and two RBI, while Danielle Ramada had two hits and an RBI. Sabrina LeMere hit the game-tying solo home run in the sixth inning. On the mound, Lindsay Golia earned the victory, pitching eight innings and striking out five.
North Branford then defeated Old Saybrook 13-1 on April 20. Lindsay Golia struck out 11 as she earned the victory on the mound, while Sydney Senerchia, Haley Basil, and LeMere all had two hits. Basil knocked home a team-leading three runs and LeMere had a pair of RBI.
North Branford capped the week with a 9-0 victory over Portland on April 22. Senerchia tossed a no-hitter in which she walked three and struck out 15 batters during her first outing of the year. LeMere and freshman Kaylee Velez had three RBI each.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Thunderbirds won a pair of games last week to improve to 5-2 for the season.
North Branford started the week with a 20-5 victory over Morgan on April 19. Sydney Hogan recorded a team-high six goals and three assists to finish with nine points. Tara Lauro and MacKenzie MacGowan scored three times each, plus Stephanie Seymour and Emmy Norton both scored twice. Emilie Wilkinson, Rachel Sauro, Jessie Kilburn, and MacKenzie Kaiser all added a goal. In net, Katie Sobask made eight saves.
On April 21, North Branford topped Law 14-8 as Lauro, Hogan, and Wilkinson all recorded four points. Lauro scored a team-high four times, while Wilkinson score three goals and Hogan had two. Sauro, Kilburn, Seymour, and Norton also found the back of the net. Sobask made 12 saves to earn the victory.
On April 22, Old Saybrook got the better of North Branford with a 7-6 victory. Sobask made seven saves in the loss. Hogan scored two times and Kirsten Madoule, Kilburn, Lauro, and Norton also added goals.
Girls’ Tennis
The Thunderbirds won their second match of the season in a 7-0 victory over East Hampton on April 22. The win improved the T-Birds to 2-6 this season. Earlier in the week, North Branford lost to Valley 6-1, Coginchaug 6-1, and Morgan 4-3.
Against Valley on April 18, Gabby Augur was the lone winner at No. 4 singles as she won her match 6-0, 6-0.
Boys’ Tennis
Featuring just one varsity player, North Branford is 0-4 this spring. On April 21, Morgan took a 7-0 victory over the Thunderbirds, whose Antonio Pavic lost at No. 1 singles 6-1, 6-0. Pavic then earned his first victory of the season in a 6-1 loss to East Hampton on April 22.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
On April 13, North Branford hosted its lone home meet of the season against Portland, Valley, and Hale-Ray. Seniors Pat Fisher, along with captains Richard Hernandez and Frank Laudano, were honored prior to the meet since it was North Branford’s only home one of the season. The Thunderbirds ended the day with a pair of victories by beating Portland 98-43 and Hale-Ray 92-31. Valley defeated North Branford 82-61.
North Branford had plenty of success in the relays and won all three of them. The 4x800 team of Hernandez, Austin Gibilisco, Michael Madoul, and Parker Nadeau finished at 9:54; the 4x100 of Laudano, Jacob Marshall, Jason Alaska, and Michael Odell finished at 44.8; and the 4x400 of Madoule, Gibilisco, Odell, and Michael Rabuffo placed with a time of 4:00. Individual winners included Alaska in the 100 at 11.19; Madoule in the 400 at 56.0; Gibilisco in the 800 at 2:16.4; Marshall in the 200 at 24.8; and Rabuffo in the high jump at 5-foot-2. Other Thunderbirds with good showings included Hernandez in the 3,200 (11:18) and 1,600 (5:14.9); Sydney Franklin in the triple jump (29-2.5), high jump (5-0), and long jump (17-6); Rabuffo in the 400 (56.5); Fisher in the high jump (4-10); Marshall in the 100 (12.3) and pole vault (8-6); Zach Jamieson in the 400 (1:01.6) and 800 (2:35.9); Laudano in the 200 (25.5) and pole vault (10-0); Jared Jamieson in the 3200 (11:31); Nadeau in the 3200 (11:57); and Alaska in the javelin (91-3).