Printer Friendly Version - Sparaco Throws One-Hitter, Fans 15 in Valley's Win Against Old Saybrook

Junior Colin Sparaco turned in a dominant outing on the mound when the Valley baseball team blanked Old Saybrook 5-0 last week. The Warriors split their two previous games are 2-1 thus far this year. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

The Valley Regional baseball team was triumphant in its first two games of the 2017 spring season last week. After dropping their season opener to Coginchaug, the Warriors came back to dispatch Hale-Ray and Old Saybrook to stand at 2-1 on the young campaign. Junior Colin Sparaco pitched a one-hit, 15-strikeout gem when Valley beat Old Saybrook to complete its week.

The Warriors hosted Coginchaug for their season opener and took a 6-4 defeat on April 3. Two days later, Head Coach Gary Marineau’s squad bounced back with a 13-4 home blowout over Hale-Ray on April 5.

In their final game of the week on April 7, the Warriors went to Old Saybrook and prevailed 5-0 behind the stellar pitching of Sparaco. At the plate, senior Matt Robida, senior Brett Camilleri, and junior Blair Allen had two base knocks apiece to lead the Warriors’ offense.

Valley opened the 2017 season with two matchups last week and won both of them, including the team’s first victory against Old Lyme since 2011, to own a record of 2-0.

In their first contest, the Warriors hosted Haddam-Killingworth and won 6-1 on April 3. In singles play, senior Ben Kilby scored a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 2 spot; senior Hal Jones won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3; junior Kevin Baldwin claimed a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 4; and senior Jack Liggett won 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 5 spot. In doubles, the new junior duo of Jake Decker and Matt Martinez won their first matchup, 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 1 position.

Two days later, the Warriors edged out Old Lyme by a score of 4-3. This victory ended a winless streak for Valley on Old Lyme’s court that dated back to 2009. Junior Jeff Riggio won 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot in singles. In the No. 2 spot, Kilby claimed a 6-4, 7-5 victory in an epic, two-hour match. In doubles play, Jack Liggett and Buddy Haydu prevailed 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 1 slot; plus Jake Decker and Nate Gagnon won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2.

The Warriors played two contests to begin the year, winning one for a mark of 1-1.

Valley’s first duel was against Haddam-Killingworth at home and the Warriors claimed victory 6-1 on April 3. Junior Emma Hunt won a 6-3, 6-4 match in the No. 2 spot; junior Isabelle Bowden grabbed a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win at the No. 3 spot; and freshman Myah Martinez won a 6-0, 8-6 decision at No. 4. In doubles, seniors Jenna Farley and Lindsey Lent scored a 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1; sophomore Allie Champion and freshman Caroline Baldwin earned a 6-1, 0-6, 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot; and sophomore Tori Adamczyk and junior Isabelle Hansen won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3.

Valley was at North Branford for its first game of the 2017 season last week. The Warriors prevailed by the final score of 18-10 on April 5 and are 1-0 to start the year.

The Warriors hosted North Branford in their opening matchup of the 2017 campaign on April 3. Valley took a 21-11 defeat versus the Thunderbirds in Deep River.