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04/30/2017 12:00 AMSoftball
The Haddam-Killingworth softball squad earned a trio of victories last week, including a combined perfect game in a mercy rule-shortened contest, to seal a spot in states with a record of 9-1.
The Cougars first ran past Old Lyme by a 13-0 final in five innings on April 24. H-K put up a seven-run third inning, with the highlight coming when Ali Halligan pounced on a 3-2 fastball and drilled it over the center field fence for a three-run homer. Halligan added a sacrifice fly in the following frame to finish the day with four RBI. Rachel Senechal (2-for-4), Faith Mauri (2-for-4), Ari Masotti (2-for-3), Shannon Nelson (2-for-3), and Riley Mroczka (2-for-3) each dominated the batter’s box, while Hannah Theriault commanded the circle to pick up the victory.
H-K then out-slugged East Hampton 11-10 on April 27. Senechal and Amanda Minervino singled to open the first inning, after which Masotti walked to load the bases. Ana Hale then drew a two-out walk to plate Senechal. On the mound, Theriault held the Bellringers to just two hits through the first two innings. Mauri walked to start the bottom of the third, Halligan singled to move Mauri to third, Hale plated Mauri on a fielder’s choice, and then Shannon Nelson (3-for-4, 3 RBI) singled sharply through the left side to bring in Halligan. East Hampton took advantage of a couple of Cougars’ miscues to claw out two unearned runs in the fourth. With one out in the bottom half, Senechal walked, stole both second and third, and scored when Minervino hit a sacrifice fly. Up to the plate stepped Mauri, who crushed a monster solo home run to left field.
The Bellringers’ bats rang loudly in the fifth as they plated five runs on six hits before Brooke LaTouche stepped into the circle to record the final out. Hale opened the bottom of the fifth with a double, Nelson followed with a single, and both crossed home plate. Adelle Biondi took the ball in relief for the remainder of the game, pitching a scoreless sixth inning. With H-K down 8-7 in the sixth, Mauri strode to the plate and sent the ball sailing deep to center for a triple. Masotti followed with an RBI double, Halligan walked, and Nelson singled them both home. Nelson later scored to put the Cougars up 11-8. East Hampton battled back in the seventh by cutting it to 11-10 and had runners on first and second and nobody out. Biondi bore down to record a strikeout for the first out of the inning. The Bellringers’ Rachel Vicker then hit a sharp, sinking line drive to center field that spelled trouble, but Olivia Whitehead made a sprinting grab and fired the ball to Senechal to double up the runner at second for the final out of the game.
Finally, the Cougars defeated Portland 14-0 in five innings on April 28. Faith Torrello made her debut on the mound in relief of winning pitcher LaTouche, and the two combined to throw a perfect game. LaTouche had three strikeouts and Torrello fanned four. Rachel Mauri lined a two-RBI double to highlight H-K’s big day at the plate.
Baseball
The Cougars moved to 10-3 after taking two of their three contests versus Shoreline Conference rivals last week.
H-K first knocked off East Hampton, 4-0, on April 23. Owen Marica threw a three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts to record his second win. Marica also had two hits, while Kyle Crandall hit a two-run single in the first to give the Cougars all the runs they needed.
H-K took a 9-3 defeat to North Branford the next day. Tyler Popp had hit with a RBI for the Cougars.
Haddam-Killingworth then defeated Westbrook 14-2 on April 28. Jon Civiello, Popp, and Ross Meglin each had two hits to lead the Cougars’ 14-hit attack. Jon Grasso homered in the second inning. Luke Bauer scattered six hits and struck out six to give the Cougars their 10th win.
Golf
The Cougars went 2-for-2 last week to improve to 4-1 on the year.
H-K started things off on a winning note by defeating North Branford 176-208 on April 24. Alex Segaline was the match medalist with his score of 35, and following him were Johnny Maio (45), Oliver Artus (47), and Ethan Campbell (49).
The Cougars then edged Old Saybrook 178-179 on April 27. Artus was medalist with a 38, Segaline shot a 41, Maio had a 45, and Andrew Kuehn turned in a 54.
Boys’ and Girls’ Outdoor Track
On April 27, the H-K outdoor track program competed in its last home meet of the season when it faced Westbrook, Hale-Ray, and Portland. The boys and the girls both went 3-0 on the afternoon to improve their dual-meet records to 6-1. The boys’ team defeated Hale-Ray 136-12, beat Portland 123-26, and won 96-53 against Westbrook. Leading the way for the Cougars were the following event winners: Kurt Sodergren in the 1,600 (4:54), Seth Freeman in the 800 (2:07.9), Doug Brown for the 3,200 (11:16), Nick Formica in the long jump (19-0), Tyler Knapp in the pole vault (11-6), and Nate Parker in the triple jump (37-6). H-K’s 4x800 and 4x400 relay squads were also victorious.
The H-K girls’ team defeated Hale Ray by a score of 136-13, defeated Portland 123-26, and bested Westbrook 91-59. The Cougars were boosted by victories from Veronica Chrzanowski with the 200 (28.1), the long jump (15-6), and the triple jump (30-9); Sadie Strom for the 100 hurdles (17.3) and 300 hurdles (50.4), Ashley Duncanson in the 400 (65.5), Emma Anziano for the 3,200 (12:48), and Rachel Coady for the high jump (4-6). The girls’ 4x400 and 4x100 relays also came out on top.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Cougars took two of three this past week to improve to 7-2 and qualify for the State Tournament.
H-K started its week with a 14-3 non-conference win over Lyman Hall on April 26. The Cougars next took down Cross by a 20-5 final on April 27. After that, they lost by a 12-7 final against Valley Regional on April 29.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Cougars split a pair of contests last week to move their mark to 3-5.
H-K hosted Branford on April 28 and lost 15-11. The Cougars then edged out Avon 13-12 on April 29.
Boys’ Tennis
The Cougars competed in three matches last week, grabbing their first victory of the spring to stand with an 1-8-1 record.
The Cougars lost 5-2 to Cromwell on April 24 to begin the week. Giacomo Volpicelli remained undefeated at No. 1 singles by prevailing 6-1, 6-1. Nick VonFeldt won at No. 3 singles with a hard-fought 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 decision for his first varsity victory.
H-K next took a 6-1 loss to Valley Regional on April 28. Volpicelli continued his excellent play by winning 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
The Cougars’ first win of the year came against North Branford on April 29 with a 6-0 final. Volpicelli improved to 7-0 by winning 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. H-K’s captain Ben McLaughlin prevailed at No. 2 singles by default. Nick Von Feldt, Nicholas Luneau, and Tim Luneau all won by forfeit at No. 3, 4, and 5 singles, respectively. In doubles, H-K’s Simon Brown and Simon N. Brown were also declared winners by forfeit.
Girls’ Tennis
The Cougars moved to 3-6 after a pair of losses last week and then a win over North Branford.
H-K first lost a 5-2 decision to Cromwell on April 24 before taking a 7-0 loss to Valley Regional on April 28. The Cougars then closed the week with a 4-3 decision over North Branford on April 29.