Printer Friendly Version - Sullivan Throws No-No as Post 76 Juniors Blank New Haven, 1-0

Ryan Sullivan (pictured making a throw on the infield) threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts when the North Haven Junior Legion baseball team shut out New Haven 1-0 in the front end of a doubleheader sweep on July 15. North Haven moved to 11-7 in Zone 2 action and is playing well as the State Tournament approaches. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

The North Haven Junior Legion baseball team put four Zone 2 victories in the books last week and has locked up a berth in the State Tournament. Post 76 blanked Milford 5-0, edged Branford 6-5, and then swept a doubleheader against New Haven to improve to 11-7 in Zone 2 play with one regular season game remaining. After that, Post 76 is competing in the State Tournament that begins on Monday, July 17 and finishes on Sunday, July 30. Ryan Sullivan pitched a one-hitter for North Haven in a 1-0 victory in the first game of the New Haven doubleheader.

On July 9, North Haven claimed a 5-0 win at Milford as Leo Konopka pitched a one-hitter.

Three days later, North Haven scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to leave Branford on the field for a 6-5 win. Post 76 trailed 4-0 in the second inning, but chipped away at the deficit before winning it in the seventh, when Alex Page and Nick Martineau drew back-to-back walks to force home the tying and winning runs, respectively. John Gontarek started for Post 76, who saw Owen Silk pitched three scoreless innings in relief, after which Nick Rossi tossed a scoreless seventh to get the win. Gontarek had a single with two RBI, while Justin Shea and Mason Balmer both had two hits and scored a run for Head Coach Pete Katynski’s club.

Then on July 15, Post 76 took both ends of a home doubleheader against New Haven, prevailing by 1-0 and 11-1 margins. In the first game, Sullivan tossed a no-hitter with one walk and 10 strikeouts as North Haven came away with the one-run win. Post 76 plated the game’s only run in the third inning, when Dan Cannavaciolo doubled and scored on an error. Shea drew two walks and stole three bases for North Haven.

Cannavaciolo then took the mound in the second game and allowed just one unearned run in five innings for the win, after which Gontarek worked a scoreless frame. Shea went 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, two RBI, and four runs scored; Sullivan was 2-for-3, walked, and scored two runs; and Balmer had a single with two walks and two RBI for Post 76.

North Haven opens State Tournament play by hosting Oakville at DeMayo Ballfield at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 17.