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05/14/2017 12:00 AMSoftball
The Guilford softball squad is now 12-4 on the spring with a record of 5-2 in the SCC Hammonasset Division after winning four of its five games last week, including a signature victory against powerhouse Cheshire.
The Indians blanked Sacred Heart Academy 14-0 on May 7. Jessica Smith hit a home run with two outs in the fourth to break up a close game. Amanda King struck out nine and gave up two hits for the win. Megan Zampano had two hits and Emily Torre hit a grand slam for the Indians.
Guilford then recorded a huge 3-1 divisional win over previously unbeaten and defending Class LL state champion Cheshire on May 8, ending the Rams’ 39-game winning streak. Cheshire was ranked No. 1 in The GameTimeCT/Register Top 10 Softball Poll at the time of the defeat.
Cheshire took a 1-0 lead in the sixth on a double by Abby Abramson and an RBI single by Hannah Salvetti. With runners on first and second base after Sara Mulligan’s third hit of the day, King settled down and struck the next two batters to end the inning with the Indians only down 1-0. Guilford loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, and Mary Evans came through with a two-out, two-run single up the middle to score King and Torre, giving Guilford the eventual winning run with a 2-1 lead. Charlotte Young had a double for Guilford, while King struck out nine for the win.
The Indians raced past Lyman Hall 8-1 on May 9, but lost to Foran 2-1 in a divisional contest on May 10. Guilford then defeated Career 7-2 on May 12.
Against Lyman Hall, Jordyn Goldstein had the big hit in the six-run second inning with a two-run triple. Later in the game, she hit a long home run to center field. King and Torre each had two hits for Guilford. King was impressive in the circle, striking out 14 Lyman Hall batters in the game.
Facing Foran, Guilford’s five-game winning streak came to an end as the Lions used a two-out sixth inning RBI triple to break the 1-1 tie. Evans had singled and scored on Ava Gladwin’s single in the top of the inning. King took the loss for Guilford, despite striking out seven and scattering just five hits.
In the Career win, Torre led the Guilford offense by going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Evans had two hits, including a double for the Indians. King struck out 12 to earn the victory.
Baseball
The Indians finished last week with an overall record of 12-5, plus a mark of 5-2 in the SCC Oronoque Division after plating a pair of victories.
Guilford took a 12-5 loss to Fairfield Prep on May 8. The Indians scored divisional win with a 3-2 final over Shelton on May 10. Guilford finished the week with a 4-2 triumph against Cross on May 12.
Logan Hitchcock and Sean Kellaher each had two hits for the Indians in the loss against Prep.
In the Shelton victory, Hitchcock went 2-for-3 at the plate, and Jack Strand hit 2-for-3 with an RBI, as did Kellaher.
“This was a great win for us tonight. Shelton is a very tough place to play, especially at night, but our guys battled through some adversity tonight, and showed why they are a very good team,” said Coach Brian Hayden. “I can’t say enough about the job our senior captains did tonight. Logan Hitchcock had the big double in the sixth and scored the go-ahead run. He picked up the win on the mound with 2.1 innings of gutsy relief. He made big pitches for us and kept his focus during a crazy seventh. Sean Kellaher had a big two-out RBI single, as well. We also got a big night from Jack Strand, who’s starting for injured left fielder Logan Driscoll. Jack made a big adjustment from his first at-bat and, as a result, doubled and singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the sixth.”
Guilford committed five errors against Cross, but John Luke Cianciolo pitched 6.1 innings with no earned runs, and he was also 2-for-3 with an RBI and two doubles. Noah Rubino recorded two RBI and worked out of a seventh inning jam to get the save.
“John Luke pitched great today and kept his composure all game, despite the uncharacteristic errors behind him in the field. Both runs he gave up were unearned, but he made big pitches to keep us in the game,” said Hayden. “In the sixth, we finally put together some good at-bats, starting with Matt Donlan’s double with one out. Logan Hitchcock worked a walk, and John Luke hit a double off the fence to tie the game. Noah came up with a big swing with two strikes, hitting a double to give us a 4-2 lead. Noah then came in with the tying runs on base and one out and struck two guys out on eight pitches for the save. John Luke and Noah were great today and really picked us up when we needed it.”
Girls’ Tennis
The Indians took two of three last week to move to 10-5, while earning a spot in states in the process.
Guilford notched a 5-2 win over North Haven on May 8. Faren Roth (7-5, 6-4), Charlotte Babbin (6-2, 6-3), as well as the tandems of Sam Stofflet and Emily Dietzko (6-1, 6-1), Elaina Griffiths and Annabelle Wang (7-5, 6-2), and Emma Rand and Allie Stankewich (6-4, 2-6, 6-0) emerged victorious.
The Indians took a 6-1 loss to Glastonbury the next day. Griffiths and Wang grabbed a victory for Guilford by a 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 score.
Guilford clinched a spot in states with its 5-2 decision over East Lyme on May 10. Victories came from Claire Dinauer (6-1, 6-0), Roth (6-0, 6-0) Stankewich (6-2, 6-3), along with the team of sisters Charlotte and Molly Babbin (6-0, 6-0), plus Stofflet and Dietzko (6-0, 6-0).
Boys’ Tennis
Guilford finished its week at 13-3 after recording three victories in four matches last week.
The Indians started the week with a 6-1 victory over Hamden on May 8. Guilford then lost 6-1 against Hand on May 9. The Indians beat Shelton 5-2 on May 11, and then defeated West Haven by the same score the following day.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Indians claimed a victory last week to clinch their spot in the Class M State Tournament with a 7-7 record.
Guilford began the week with a 16-3 loss to Hand on May 9. The Indians then sealed a State Tournament spot with a 16-5 win over Morgan on May 10. Guilford finished the week with a 12-11, double-overtime defeat to Newtown on May 13.
In the Hand loss, Guilford’s goals were scored by Olivia Clarke, Nicolette Spotlow, and Catherine Larrow. Molly McLaughlin made 10 saves in net.
In the states clincher versus Morgan, Spotlow scored five goals, plus Clarke added three, as did Nicole Tepley. Hannah McDermott netted a pair of goals, and Catherine Larrow tallied one. Clarke assisted twice, plus Spotlow and Larrow added helpers.
Against Newtown, Guilford’s goals came from Spotlow (4), Clarke (3), Larrow (2), along with one apiece by McDermott and Ireland. Clarke and Ireland also assisted on goals. McLaughlin made six saves.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Guilford split a pair of contests last week and is 6-8, needing one win to make states.
The Indians scored a 16-6 victory over Amity on May 8. Guilford then lost by a 13-11 final against Cheshire on May 10.
Crew
Guilford closed out the regular season with a pair of strong meets.
Guilford swept its final home race of the season against E. O. Smith on May 10, with every boat winning its respective race. The girls’ V1 (first varsity) boat finished the 1,400-meter course in 5:45, V2 finished in 5:36.30, V3 posted a time of 6:27.50, while the girls’ novice 1 boat finished in 6:02.70 and Novice 2 in 6:13.20.
The boys’ V1 won in 4:48, and the V2 completed the course in 4:58. The boys’ novice boat finished in 6:13.60. Although the eight-person boats raced for the majority of the day, the boys’ four-person race had two Guilford boats that finished in 6:09.30 and 6:33. A headwind slowed some of the earlier races of the day, affecting the girls’ V1, V3, and novice 2 races, although it let up shortly thereafter.
Previously, the Indians took part in a meet with Stonington and East Lyme at Mystic River on May 7. For the boys, first varsity posted a time of 5:19 and was second out of three boats, second varsity (5:03.10) placed second out of two, and novice (4:43.80) was second of two.
For the girls, first varsity finished second out of three with its time of 6:01.60, second varsity took first place among three boats at 5:45.90, third varsity (6:57.90) was third of three, and novice (4:59.60) finished second out of three.
Guilford’s record on the season is 2-2. Its final race of the year is the Connecticut Public Schools Rowing Association (CPSRA) State Championships on Sunday, May 21 at Lake Waramaug in New Preston.
Golf
The Indians had two matches last week, grabbing one triumph to improve to 3-7.
Guilford defeated Branford 191-207 on May 8. The Indians next took a 168-186 loss versus Hamden on May 10.
Girls’ Outdoor Track
The Indians split a tri-meet on May 9 at Law, losing to Law 92-58, while defeating Hamden 82-48.
Jacqui Guerra won the 1,600 in 5:16 with Meredith Bloss right behind her at 5:18. Julia Esposito took the 800 in 2:27 with teammate Ellie Wiesler taking second in 2:29. Rachel Lauzier finished second in the 200 in 27.7. Kelsi Putnam captured the 3,200 in 12:23, followed by Bloss in 12:24. Mallory Peters took second in the discus (101-6), plus Sofia Migani was second in the high jump (4-6).
On May 13, Guilford competed in the Connecticut Relays at South Windsor. The 4x800 relay of Guerra, Bloss, Chloe Shaw, and Elissa Strand won in 9:53, establishing a new meet record. The 4x200 of Jess Bohan, Paige White, Peggy Wagner, and Lauzier took second in 1:53. The distance medley relay featuring Putnam, Ellie Wiesler, Julia Esposito, and Clara Wiesler won in 13:46.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
Guilford dropped to 4-9 after losing to Law and Hamden in a tri-meet on May 9.
Corey Gambardella was part of three victories at the meet as he won the 800 in 2:01.60, anchored the 4x800 relay with its victorious time of 8:38, and then came from behind to anchor the 4x400 relay to a win in 3:37.80. The 4x800 also featured Joseph Walters, William Smith, and Rhys Kalama, while Walters, Caleb Benedict, and Smith ran on the 4x400.
Additionaly scoring points for the Indians were Corey Sondak in the 100 (11.3) and high jump (5-4), Smith in the 400 (53.3), Jacob Sabol-Low in the long jump (17-06), Clay Huffman in the pole vault (11-0), Connor Rose in the discus (88-6), Ryan Costanzo in the high jump (5-4), and Brennan Kaisen in the 3,200 (10:59.00). Senior Garrett Hughes set a career-best time of 2:17.80 in the 800.