Printer Friendly Version - HK Baseball Makes Class M Semis; Boys’ Track Takes 1,600, 4x8 State Crowns

Aaron Skwarek and the HK baseball team are on their way to the Class M State Tournament semifinals after rallying for a 7-6 win versus Plainfield in the quarterfinal round.Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Source

The Haddam-Killingworth baseball team won its first three games in the Class M State Tournament, including a dramatic 7-6 walk-off victory versus Plainfield in the quarterfinals, to advance to the semifinal round.

The No. 4 seed Cougars first hosted No. 29 Norwich Tech in the first round of the Class M bracket on May 31 and emerged with a 4-1 victory. Ben Alonzo had two hits and an RBI, while Tyler Popp had a two-run single to lead HK’s offense. Luke Bauer scattered four hits over 6.1 innings to get the win.

Hosting No. 20 St. Joseph the next day in the second round, the Cougars advanced again with a 3-0 shutout. Ty Schuler and Kyle Crandall each had two hits to lead HK. Jack DiMatteo allowed just four hits over 6.1 innings to get the victory. Alonzo, Popp, and Jon Grasso each drove in a run for the Cougars.

In the quarterfinals against No. 12 Plainfield on June 4, HK advanced to the semis with a 7-6 win. Owen Marica and Popp each had two hits for HK and Gavin Figurelli picked up the win in relief. Trailing 6-5 going into the bottom of the seventh, Alonzo’s hit drove in Schuler, who had walked, with the tying run. Tyler Popp’s single then drove in Marica, who had singled, to win it for HK.

The Cougars will next play No. 8 Wolcott (18-7) in the semifinal round at Sage Park in Berlin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7. If the Cougars win, they will make their third state final appearance since 2012 versus either No. 14 Northwestern or No. 15 Sheehan at Palmer Field in Middletown on Friday, June 10 or Saturday, June 11.

Haddam-Killingworth finished fourth out of 30 teams with 53.5 points for the Class M State Championship on May 31 at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.

Cameron Garrelts took the 1,600 crown with a time of 4:24.89, beating out Windham’s Alexander Korczynski (4:26.89). Also, HK’s 4x800 relay of Ryan Argo, Andrew Meredith, Ben Rakowski, and Garrelts prevailed in 8:09.15—besting the team from Ellington (8:12.47).

Elsewhere, Rakowski was third for the 400 (50.87); Ryan Argo finished seventh in the 800 (2:02.23); the Cougars had a 3-4-5 finish in the 3,200 behind Dan Schumann (9:40.43), Meredith (9:50.69), and Garrelts (9:52.00); the 4x400 relay of Ryan Argo, Connor Argo, Lucian Afragola, and Rakowski was sixth (3:30.35); Jonathan Ellery tied for eighth with the pole vault (10-6); Paul Doherty was fourth in the javelin (153-1); and Stanley Chrzanowski was seventh for the discus (110-1).

The Cougars came in third out of 28 schools by scoring 50 points the Class M State Championship.

Jackie Stephens was runner-up for the 400 (in 59.64), finishing second to Julia Sprout of Tolland (58.27), plus Maddie Brandon finished second for the 1,600 in 5:12.16 as Tolland’s Caitlin Swanson prevailed at 5:09.76, while Veronica Chrzanowski was runner-up (16-3.25) to East Catholic’s Abby Gothers for the long jump (16-4.25). Additionally, Chrzanowski placed sixth in the 200 (27.06); Kelsey D’Amico (5:22.77) was sixth and Mary Coletti (5:26.79) seventh for the 1,600; Brandon finished seventh with the 3,200 (12:02.69); the 4x400 relay of Julianne Kelly, Megan Little, Andrea Roman, and Stephens was sixth (4:16.12); the 4x800 relay in D’Amico, Lexie Bouthillier, Lizzie Early, and Brandon was fourth (9:56.22); Adrienne Schultz finished sixth for the pole vault (9-0); and Carley Moyher threw to fourth in the javelin (104-11).

After defeating No. 4 Hale-Ray 9-6 in the quarterfinals of the Shoreline Conference Tournament on May 26, the Cougars lost 13-1 to eventual champion North Branford the next day in the semifinals.

Then playing at No. 12 Coginchaug in the first round of the Class M State Tournament on May 31, No. 21 seed HK lost by the final of 6-3. The Cougars finished the year with 13 wins.

Hannah Theriault pitched a complete game for the Cougars in states. Coginchaug’s first runs came in the bottom of the third. The Blue Devils put another three on the board in the bottom of the fourth on two hits, a walk, and an infield error. The Cougars clawed back two runs when Ana Hale (2-for-3) opened the top of the fifth inning with a single up the middle. Hannah Little followed with a single down the third base line. Olivia Whitehead sacrificed to move both runners into scoring position. With two outs, Faith Mauri singled to center to drive both runners home. Rachel Senechal started the top of the sixth with a single to left field and moved to second on a throwing error. Senechal tagged up to reach third when Meghan Cerino flew out to center and scored on Ari Masotti’s sacrifice fly to left for HK’s final run.

In a Class S State Tournament qualifying round matchup on May 28, No. 13 seed HK defeated No. 20 Valley Regional 12-7. HK’s goals came from Sam Purdy (5), Dan Civiello (3), Carter Steinhilper (2), and Nick Burger (2). Drew Burley made 13 saves.

Playing at No. 4 Granby Memorial on June 1, the Cougars lost by a 17-2 final to finish the year at 10-9.

The No. 18 seed Cougars took a 15-10 loss to No. 15 St. Joseph in the qualifying round of the Class S State Tournament on May 28. HK completed the year at 7-10 overall.

Johnny Maio competed for HK at the Shoreline Conference Championship on May 26. Maio finished his day with a score of 81.