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04/30/2017 12:00 AMBaseball
The Tigers’ baseball team won three of its four games last week to improve to 6-5 overall with a record of 2-2 in the SCC Hammonasset Division.
First up, Hand defeated division foe Law 9-2 on April 24. Julian Banerji had a two-run single, Robert Bordiere had two hits, including a double; Phoenix Billings had two hits, and Will Reiner earned an RBI single. EJ Mastronardi, James DeGrasse, and Tom Hobin also had RBI in the game. Kyle Schaefer got the win on the hill and improved to 3-1. Jake Crawford, Aaron Rubin, and Ryan McAneany all pitched a scoreless inning to close it out.
Law struck first by scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Hand answered in the bottom half with a run and then Law took a 2-1 lead in the second. Hand delivered with four-run innings in the fourth and fifth to break the game open with a 9-2 lead. Reiner, DeGrasse, and Bordiere crushed RBI doubles to spur the Tigers’ rally. Mastronardi, Hobin, and Billings also added clutch RBI. Billings had two hits in the game and Hobin was on base three times.
The Tigers then edged out West Haven 2-1 on April 27. McAneany improved to 1-0 after pitching six innings of one-hit ball in which he allowed just one unearned run. Banerji hit a clutch, go-ahead RBI single for Hand in the top of the seventh to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Degrasse doubled earlier in the game, Mastronardi had an RBI, plus Reiner and Hobin scored the Tigers’ runs in the seventh inning.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and the game stayed that way until the top of the seventh. Reiner led off with a walk, and then Billings executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to get the tying run to second base. After a West Haven balk, Reiner moved to third base, after which Hobin drew a walk in a gritty at-bat. With runners on first and third and one out, Mastronardi put down a perfect push bunt to score the tying run from third and move Hobin to second. With two outs, Banerji laced the go-ahead single to center to score Hobin. Spencer Oliver came on for his second save of the season by pitching a scoreless seventh, striking out the final batter of the game.
The Tigers then lost a 5-4 contest to East Haven on April 28, but rebounded with a 4-3 decision over Guilford on April 29.
Softball
Hand traveled to East Haven for a SCC Quinnipiac Division matchup on April 28. The Tigers scored a 6-2 final over the Yellowjackets to improve to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in division play. Hand has now won five straight and is one victory away from a bid in states.
Hand rallied in the fifth and sixth innings to erase 2-0 deficit. With two outs in the third, Lily Geshwind hit a solo home run to center field to put Hand on the scoreboard. In the top of the fifth with one down, Hollis Wivell singled, followed by a second homer by Geshwind that scored two runs and put the Tigers up by one. In the sixth, a leadoff walk for Abby Geshwind and a reach-on-error hit by Alyssa Pilla was followed by an RBI single by Kaitlyn Martin. A walk for Caroline O’Connor loaded the bases, when Wivell drew the next walk on a full count to extend the Tigers lead to 5-2. Lily Geshwind singled in Hand’s final run to make it 6-2. Abby Geshwind secured the win by retiring the Yellowjackets in order in the seventh. Geshwind struck out 11, giving up just two walks and four hits in the victory.
The Tigers’ offense was led by their three captains, who came up with six of the team’s seven hits. Lily Geshwind finished her big day at 3-for-4 with two round trippers, a single, and four RBI; Martin had a double and an RBI single; plus Wivell singled, had a stolen base, and an RBI walk. Taylor Leckey also singled in the victory. Hand’s runs were scored by Lily Geshwind (2), with one each from Wivell, Pilla, O’Connor, and pinch runner Gina Ciotti.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Tigers recorded two victories last week and now stand with a healthy mark of 8-2. Hand has qualified for the State Tournament.
On April 25, the Tigers started their week with a 14-10 victory over non-conference squad East Lyme. Dory Howard had four goals, Taylor Scully added four goals and three assists, Glenna-Kate Gies netted a trio of scores, and Riley Kokoruda was 20-of-26 on the draw. It was a good battle for a 6-6 first half, and then Hand opened up a 13-6 lead in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Hand then defeated North Haven 18-3 the next day. Scully led the way with six goals and three helpers, while Gies contributed four goals and two assists. Sophie Dickman scored two goals, had an assist, and also fared well in the face-off circle. Head Coach Kevin Siedlecki also noted the strong showings of Clarie Giles, who came up with a few ground balls and played great 1-on-1 defense; as well as Kenzie Larson.
The Tigers later took their second loss of the year by a 15-10 final against Greenwich on April 29. Scully had four goals and four assists, plus Harvey notched 11 saves. Hand was up 7-6 at halftime, but Greenwich started the second half with a 3-0 run on its way to the win.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Tigers split a pair of matchups last week and now stand at 7-3 with a state tourney berth in the bag.
On April 24, Hand took an 11-6 loss to Xavier. The Tigers then earned a 12-4 victory over Barlow on April 29. Nate Palumbo (4), Liam Gottlick (2), Matt Rubino (2), Teg Cosgriff, Tanner Garitta, Tom Swank, and Zach Santoemma were the Tigers’ goal scorers versus Barlow. Gottlick collected three assists, plus Palumbo and Santoemma added helpers. Griffin Fitzmaurice made six saves as Hand outshot Barlow, 32-22.
Girls’ Tennis
Hand posted victories over Guilford and North Haven last week to move to 6-0 this year.
The Tigers began their week by edging out rival Guilford 4-3 on April 26 and then defeated North Haven 6-1 on April 27. Multiple wins came on the week came from Ellie Weinstein and Annie Barrett in singles, plus Anna Lang, Sam Riordan, Nicki Goldfeder and Nell Karas in doubles. Single victories were delivered by Lee Jiaen and the doubles team of Grace Squitiero and Renee Tracy. A highlight of the week was the clinching match versus Guilford as the freshman doubles team of Anna Lang and Sam Riordan defeated Guilford’s previously unbeaten tandem to seal the 4-3 victory.
Girls’ Golf
Hand split a pair of matches last week to stand at 3-2.
The Tigers took a 218-227 defeat to Cheshire on April 24. Hand’s scores were posted by Emma Boey (50), Gabby Larizza (55), Angie Balzano (58), Josie Anderson (64), and Morgan Lipford (66).
Hand fought back with a 224-243 win over Morgan on April 27.
Boys’ Golf
The Tigers took a pair of SCC losses last week to move to 0-5 on the spring.
On April 24, Hand started its week with a 156-173 loss to Xavier. The Tigers then dropped a 163-166 decision to Notre Dame-West Haven on April 27.
The Tigers’ total against Notre Dame was their best of the season thus far, led by Michael McKeon, who shot a 39.
Boys’ Volleyball
Hand had three contests last week and notched one win for a mark of 2-7.
The Tigers started their week with a 3-2 loss to Norwich Free Academy on April 24. Hand later scored its second win of the year by a 3-1 final over Kolbe Cathedral on April 26. The Tigers then lost 3-0 to Xavier on April 28.