This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
04/15/2018 12:00 AMGirls’ Lacrosse
The Branford girls’ lacrosse team continued its exceptional start to the 2018 season by recording three non-conference home victories last week to improve to 6-0 for the year. The Hornets defeated Old Lyme (16-5), East Lyme (15-3), and Pomperaug (13-8) in last week’s contests.
On April 10, Branford hosted Old Lyme and defeated the Wildcats 16-5 in a one-sided matchup. Sophie Spencer had a monster game by scoring four goals and dishing out four assists for the Hornets. Fellow senior Sabrina Torcellini also scored four goals, while senior Autumn McHenry had three goals with two assists. Senior LanLe Crotty, senior Erin O’Brien, and sophomore Brianna Shaw each scored two goals, plus senior Haley Maercklein added a goal.
Two days later, the Hornets had a home game against East Lyme and prevailed 15-3. Spencer doubled her goal total from the previous game by finding the back of the net eight times in this one. Torcellini had four goals, and McHenry scored two goals with two assists. Shaw scored a goal, Crotty and Spencer both had an assist, and senior keeper Daly Hynes made seven saves for Branford.
Then on April 17, Branford hosted Pomperaug in rematch of last year’s Class M state final and claimed a 13-8 victory. Branford led 6-3 at halftime and then outscored the Panthers 7-5 in the second half to get the win. Maercklein netted four goals for the Hornets, while Spencer, McHenry, and Torcellini each scored three goals. Crotty had two goals with an assist, and Hynes stopped 10 shots from the Panthers, who Branford defeated 15-8 to win the Class M state title last spring.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Hornets were victorious in all three of their games last week and now have a record of 3-2 this year. The Hornets posted a 17-2 blowout at Cross on April 9, routed Hamden 16-3 in another road game two days later, and then won a 6-5 decision in a home game against Amity on April 13.
Boys’ Tennis
The Branford boys’ tennis team improved to 2-2 this spring after claiming victory in two of its last three matches. The Hornets posted wins over Foran and North Haven, before taking a defeat against Guilford last week.
Branford earned its first win of the year by notching a 5-2 home victory versus Foran on April 9. Senior Bradley Stutzman prevailed 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in the No. 1 singles match, and junior Praneeth Ganedi won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles for the Hornets, who also saw all three of their doubles teams come out on top. Branford’s top tandem of senior Charles Hall and sophomore Eli Hanlon won a 6-1, 6-1 decision; the No. 2 duo of juniors Kurt Schalper and Dan McGuire won 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; and the No. 3 team of junior Paul Riccio and sophomore Jaden Anderson won 6-0, 6-0.
Two days later, the Hornets recorded a 7-0 win in North Haven. Stutzman (6-2, 6-2), Ganedi (6-0, 6-0), senior Will Benni (6-1, 6-4), and senior Chris DeLise (4-6, 6-2, 6-4) were victorious for Branford on the singles court. Meanwhile, the Hornets’ teams of Hall and Hanlon (6-3, 6-1), McGuire and Schalper (8-3), and Riccio and Anderson (8-1) won their doubles matches.
Then on April 13, Branford dropped a 7-0 contest to Guilford at home.
Girls’ Tennis
Branford two of its three matches last week and is now 3-2 on the season. The Hornets earned wins against Law and Sheehan, after which they lost to Guilford.
On April 9, the Hornets had a match at Law, where they prevailed 6-1. Senior Lauren Elmasry won her No. 1 singles match, 6-2, 6-3, for Branford. Freshman Alayna Boileau won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles, while sophomore Samantha Velardi was a 6-0, 6-0 winner in the No. 4 match. On the doubles court, Branford’s No. 1 team of seniors Keeley LePre and Tori Rudden won 6-1, 6-0; the No. 2 duo of sophomores Amanda Gage and Jessica King netted a 6-3, 6-1 victory; and the sophomore tandem of Ellie Bartlett and Sara Girardi posted a 6-3, 6-0 win in the No. 3 match.
Two days later, Branford was home for Sheehan and won by the final score of 4-3.
Branford closed the week with a 6-1 home loss versus Guilford on April 12. Bartlett and Girardi captured a 4-6, 6-1, 10-6 victory at No. 3 doubles for Branford.
Boys’ Golf
Branford defeated Cheshire last week before taking a pair of defeats in a tri-match. The Hornets now stand with a record of 2-2.
On April 9, Branford hosted Cheshire at Pine Orchard Country Club and posted a 172-176 victory. Senior Liam Deane earned medalist honors as the low scorer of the match by turning in a card of 36. Sophomore Minsok Lee recorded a score of 43, senior EJ Lee scored a 48, and junior Max Bunton totaled a score of 49 for the Hornets.
Two days later, the Hornets had a tri-match at Laurel View County Club, where they took a 180-188 defeat versus host Hamden and a 172-188 loss against Guilford.
Baseball
The Hornets had a busy week that saw the team play four games. Branford started the week with a win against West Haven, after which the Hornets lost their next three to move to 2-4.
Branford hosted West Haven on April 9 and notched a 12-2 win in a game that was called after five innings due to the newly instituted mercy rule. Seniors Alphonse Suppa pitched all five innings for the win, and he also went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Seniors Damien Maniscalco, DJ Caron, and Zane Kmietek all had two hits for the Hornets, who scored five runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth to end the game early.
The following day, Branford dropped a 5-4 decision at Foran when the Lions won it by plating a run in the bottom of the seventh.
The Hornets were right back on the field the next day when they had a game at Hand, which won the contest by the score of 6-3. Caron hit an RBI double for Branford.
Branford closed the week by hosting Cheshire and took a 4-2 defeat. Senior Carson Mendoza had a triple with an RBI, while Suppa doubled and had an RBI.
Softball
Branford took three defeats last week to drop to 1-4 on the young season.
On April 9, Branford hosted Hamden and lost by a 23-6 final.
Two days later, Branford dropped a 15-5 decision in Guilford. Senior Marisa Minore homered and had three RBI for the Hornets.
The Hornets closed the week by taking a 9-1 home loss versus East Haven on April 13.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
The Hornets stand at 3-1 after splitting a tri-meet in North Haven last week. Branford recorded a 130-20 victory versus non-conference opponent Platt Tech and took an 84-64 defeat against fellow SCC Oronoque Division foe North Haven on April 10.
Junior Marzio Mastroianni had another big meet for Branford by claiming first place in three events. Mastroianni won the 400-meter dash in 55.1 seconds to go with victories in the 800 (2:14) and 3,200 (10:37). Senior Kadir Sahin finished first in both hurdling events for Branford. Sahin won the 110 high hurdles in 17.8 seconds and took first place in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 46.7 seconds. Sahin also ran on the Hornets’ victorious 4x400 relay that clocked in 3:52 and additionally featured juniors Matt Alexander, Carlos McCaay, and Matt Daley.
“Kadir Sahin is a young man of tremendous character. He is an outstanding captain and a role model for the young athlete,” Head Coach Rich Biondi said. “Today was Kadir’s greatest meet in his four-year career. I am really proud of the way he competed today. He is proof that hard work and dedication always pays off.”
Branford’s 4x800 relay of senior Ryan McCarthy, sophomore Andrew Betzig, senior Harrison Troidle, and Daley finished first behind a time of 9:26. Sophomore Alec Solomine came in first place for the javelin by launching a throw of 115 feet-5 inches.
Additionally, freshman Mekhi Barnette placed second in the high jump (5-4), sophomore Sean Jansen finished third in the triple jump (32-4), and freshman Ryan Hanniford took third place in the 300 intermediate hurdles with a time of 50.7.
Girls’ Outdoor Track
Branford dropped a 109-41 home contest against Oronoque Division opponent North Haven on April 9. With the defeat, the Hornets have a record of 1-1 on the year.
Senior Bridget Wirtz prevailed in the pole vault by clearing a height of 9 feet for Branford, while junior Liante Claude won the 400-meter dash by timing in at 62.5 seconds. Claude also ran with junior Lily Milici, sophomore Kayla Pollard, and junior MaryBeth Nwagboli on Branford’s triumphant 4x100 relay that posted a time of 53.7 seconds.