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07/10/2016 12:00 AMSenior American Legion Baseball
Things have been interesting for the Branford Senior Legion baseball team in recent weeks. Post 83 went through a six-game losing streak in Zone 2 that ended the club’s chances of winning the title for the seventh-straight year, but Head Coach Rich Balzano’s squad bounced back to take two of three from a solid Hamden squad and bring some momentum into the final week of the regular season. At 14-9, Branford is in fourth place in the zone. The top-five teams make it and Post 83 is in great shape to qualify with four games left.
In its recent stretch, Branford lost both ends of a doubleheader at Zone 2 front-runner Stratford by final scores of 3-2 and 1-0 on July 2, after which Balzano’s club took an 8-0 home loss to Stratford the next day. Following that, Branford split a home doubleheader against New Haven on July 8 by winning 7-6 and losing 6-3 in two games that went eight innings. Post 83 wrapped up things on a high note by taking a three-game set from a Hamden team that’s in third place in the zone. Branford split a home doubleheader on July 9 with a 4-0 loss and a 1-0 walk-off win and then won the rubber match on the road in a 3-2 thriller on July 10.
In the first game of the Stratford doubleheader, Alphonse Suppa pitched six solid innings, although Branford couldn’t get the bats going and lost 3-2. Tyler Criscuolo singled and scored on Ben LaCroix’s single to put Branford up 1-0 in the first before Stratford scored a run in each of the next three frames. DJ Caron doubled and scored in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough for Post 83 to complete the comeback.
Nick Candelora pitched a spectacular game in the nightcap by allowing just three hits and striking out five. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when Stratford scored the winning run on a two-out double.
Stratford swept Branford by winning the series finale 8-0. Mike Keinz struggled on the mound as Stratford scored five runs between the first two innings. Devon Lawson came on in relief and held Stratford scoreless until it scored three in the sixth. Devin DeRenzo pitched the seventh.
Branford snapped its six-game losing streak by earning a 7-6 win over New Haven in a game that was completed on July 8 after being suspended with the score tied at 6 the previous day. In the top of the eighth inning, Criscuolo blasted a monster home run into the parking lot to put Branford up 7-6, after which Candelora pitched a scoreless frame to slam the door. Jack Spencer, Lawson, and Suppa also pitched for Branford. One of the big plays in the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Post 83 right fielder Brandon Kilfeather threw out the would-be winning run at home plate.
Branford then lost to New Haven 6-3 later that day. Candelora started on the mound and was hampered by some untimely errors from his defense. Branford trailed 3-0, but stormed back as Caron singled and scored on Kilfeather’s hit in the second, Will Coleman singled and scored on a Jordan Botte single in the third, and Candelora walked and came home on another Botte single in the fifth. However, New Haven scored three off Suppa in the top of the eighth to win the game.
Post 83 faced Hamden for a doubleheader on July 9 and dropped the opener 4-0. Suppa, Caron, and TJ Beaudin pitched for Branford.
Keinz dominated the nightcap by striking out 10 and allowing just two hits and two walks in a 1-0 victory. Branford scored the game’s only run in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh. Kilfeather singled, took second on Robbie Barbash’s sacrifice bunt, and scored when Coleman lashed two-out single down the left field line to win it.
Branford won the series with a 3-2 victory in Hamden the following day. Starting pitcher Lawson developed arm trouble in the first inning, so Spencer came in and escaped a bases loaded jam. Branford scored two runs in the third as Candelora walked and scored on a single by Criscuolo, who later came around on Caron’s base hit. After Hamden tied the game at 2, Post 83 pulled ahead for good by plating a run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Coleman walked, advanced to second on Candelora’s sacrifice bunt, and scored the go-ahead run when Criscuolo singled him in.
“Spencer not only pitched a great game, but was twice hit by line drives and remained in the game. He really toughed this one out and battled all game. Tyler Criscuolo was great, getting us the winning hit to put us on top,” Coach Balzano said. “Winning two of three from a good Hamden team will really help us down the stretch. Good series for our confidence.”
Junior American Legion Baseball
Branford came roaring back in the Zone 2 standings by reeling off five-consecutive victories last week. The top-five teams in the zone make the State Tournament and Post 83 was in sixth place with a record of 10-12 at week’s end—a game behind Hamden (11-11) for fifth with two zone games remaining.
After taking four-straight losses to Stratford and a lopsided defeat against Milford, things were looking down for Post 83. Stratford defeated Branford 12-2 and 15-5 on June 30 and later topped Post 83 twice on July 2 by finals of 13-7 and 11-5. Milford then defeated Branford 10-2 on July 3 before something clicked for Branford after the holiday.
On July 6, Branford put a halt to its eight-game losing streak with a 6-5 victory over Milford. Eddie Zanor got the win on the mound, allowing three hits and five unearned runs, while striking out five, walking three, and hitting a batter. Jake Judd earned the save as he struck out a batter. At the plate, Nick Mancini was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored, Dan Lear had two hits and two RBI, Anthony Burzynski had a hit and an RBI, Colin Baxter had a hit and a run scored; and Jason Rysczyk had a hit, an RBI, and a run. It was a confidence-building win for Post 83, which had a pair of doubleheaders slated for last weekend.
On July 9, Branford defeated Hamden in both games of the first doubleheader. Branford won the opener 4-3 and claimed a 6-3 win in the nightcap. In the first game, Matt Judd earned the win after giving up the lead when he came in to relieve Jake Judd. Jake Judd allowed five hits and struck out one in his six innings of work. Matt Judd allowed three hits and three unearned runs in the seventh. Branford pushed the game-winning run across in the bottom of the inning to grab the win. Nick Mancini had three hits, including a triple, with two runs scored and an RBI. Lear had a hit and an RBI, plus Baxter finished with a pair of hits.
In the second game, Mason Traca earned the win on the mound, allowing three hits and two unearned runs. Matt Judd picked up the save, allowing an unearned run in two innings. Mancini strung together three hits and four RBI; Lear had two hits, an RBI, and a run; and Baxter finished with a hit, two walks, and a run scored.
On July 10, Branford was victorious in both ends of its doubleheader against Orange. Post 83 won the first game 6-3. Lear was the winning pitcher as he allowed three runs on five hits and struck out two. Zanor earned the save. At the plate, Mancini had a hit and two runs scored, Baxter had a hit and three RBI, and Aiden Riccardelli had two hits with a run scored.
For the second game, Branford won 7-1 behind a great performance by Zanor. He allowed three hits and struck out three, after which Matt Judd worked the final inning. Mancini had two hits, three runs scored, and three stolen bases; Lear had four hits, three RBI, and two runs scored; Traca had two hits and an RBI; and CJ Miller had a hit, a RBI, and a pair of walks.
Prep American Legion Baseball
Following a lengthy layoff, Post 83 was back on the field for a doubleheader at Central Division foe Meriden on July 9. Post 83 won the first game 5-2 and lost the second game 4-1 for a record of 5-7 in divisional play.
Justin Botte pitched a complete game for Branford in the victory over Meriden. Tyler Sibley had two RBI and Jake Binder singled with an RBI.
In the defeat, Jack Van Gelder pitched six strong innings for Branford, which scored its lone run on a single by Alex Barbour.