Printer Friendly Version - Both Indians’ Track Teams Earn Victories; Several Other Clubs Keep Winning Early

Will Smith took second place in the 800 to help the Indians’ boys’ outdoor track team split a tri-meet on April 10. Guilford lost to Hand, but defeated Career for its first win of the season. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

The Guilford boys’ outdoor track team took a defeat against Hand last week, but the Indians also earned a win versus Career in the same meet. Guilford dropped a 105-45 decision to the host Tigers and bested Career 122-14 to improve to 1-2 this spring.

Connor Rose won the shot put (36-2) and the discus (117-0), Elijah Dillon took first in the 3,200 at 10:43.20, and Ryan Costanzo was first in the high jump (5-8) to help Guilford split the meet and get its first win of the year.

The Indians’ second-place finishers included Mark McNamara in the pole vault, Corey Sondak in the 100, Brennan Kaisen in the 1,600 and 3,200, Will Smith in the 800, and James Petritz in the shot put.

Third-place finishers were Reese Puchalski in the 1,600, McKenzie Eschinger in the 800, Ryan Costanzo in the long jump, and Bailey Meyers in the pole vault. The Indians’ 4x400 relay team of Eschinger, Joe Walters, Cameron Hubbard, and Smith qualified for the Class MM State Championship.

“The team continues to round into shape as we proceed to the heart of the dual-meet schedule,” said Head Coach George Cooksey. “Though they’re not showing up in the scoring, our younger athletes are making the kinds of improvements that will make a difference in the championships later in the year.”

The Indians faced off with rival Hand last week and secured their second win of the season. Guilford traveled to Madison and defeated the host Tigers by a 90-56 final on April 10. With the win, the Indians improved to 2-1 on the dual-meet season.

Guilford’s 4x800 relay of Elissa Strand, Chloe Shaw, Julia Esposito, and Kelsi Putnam took first place with a time of 10:09, while the 4x400 relay of Putnam, Strand, Sofia Migani, and Shaw was first at 4:27.10. Also placing first for Guilford were Migani in the long jump (14-6), triple jump (31-8), and high jump; Christina Nault in the 100 (19.3) and the 300 hurdles (53.8), Jacqueline Guerra in the 1,600 (5:18) and 3,200 (12:18), Strand for the 400 (65.10), Shaw in the 800 (2:30.2), Sabrina Koff in the shot put (20-8.5), and Julia Hyman in the javelin (73-5).

Following a loss to Hand, Guilford stormed back by rattling off three straight wins last week and is now 4-2 this year.

After taking a 9-1 defeat against Hand on April 9, the Indians defeated West Haven 8-0 on April 11. Noah Rubino threw a complete game one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts for Guilford. Kam Miles led the way on offense by going 3-for-3 with four RBI. Logan Driscoll added a triple and two runs scored, while Gray Stephens grabbed a hit and an RBI.

“Noah was outstanding today. After losing two games in a row, we handed the ball to our ace, and he delivered for us,” said Head Coach Brian Hayden. “Offensively, we’ve been working hard on our approach, and things are starting to come together. Kam was outstanding today, hitting the ball to all fields, Logan showed how strong he is by hitting opposite field to the right-center warning track for a triple. Evan Song stole two bases today, so our guys are trusting the process and having it translate into the game.”

Guilford then notched a 9-2 victory over non-conference foe Morgan on April 13. Driscoll went 3-for-3 with two RBI; Song added two hits, two runs scored, and two stolen bases; and Tom Cattaneo pitched four scoreless innings to earn the win on the mound.

“Logan set the tone for us offensively, and our lineup kept the pressure on all game,” said Hayden. “We ran the bases well, which I thought helped our offense. Tommy made some big pitches for us early to keep momentum on our side.”

The Indians finished the week with a 15-4 drubbing of East Lyme on April 14. Driscoll went 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, plus Miles added two hits and three RBI, and John Luke Cianciolo hit a three-run home run. Matt McGrath pitched five innings to get the win.

“We had a relentless offensive approach today. Our guys did a great job of making all their pitchers work hard on every pitch. Logan had a great day with the bat and made a great throw from left that most guys can’t make. He was outstanding today,” Hayden said. “Matt McGrath was efficient on the mound and always keeps his cool, and we feed off that, even when we were making mistakes defensively.”

Guilford traveled to Laurel View Country Club to take on host Hamden and Branford on April 11. The Indians posted a score of 172 to defeat the both the host Green Dragons (180), as well as Branford (188) to move to 3-0 this year.

The Indians first defeated Amity 5-2 on April 8. The Indians’ singles wins came from Faren Roth (6-3, 6-4), Charlotte Babbin (6-2, 6-1), Molly Babbin (6-3, 6-2), and Acadia Hall (6-3, 6-2), while the team of Emma Rand and Annabelle Wang (6-0, 6-1) also prevailed.

Guilford then swept Sacred Heart Academy by a 7-0 score the next day. Roth (6-0, 6-0), Molly Babbin (6-1, 6-2), Kiera Stankewich (6-2, 6-4), and Hannah Dietzko (6-0, 6-0) won their singles matches for the Indians. The doubles tandems of Sam Stofflet and Emily Dietzko (6-0, 6-1), Elaina Griffiths and Allie Stankewich (6-1, 6-1), and Charlotte Zimmer and Morgan Mancuso (6-1, 6-1) were also victorious.

The Indians blanked Law 7-0 on April 11. Both Babbin sisters, Hall, and the teams of Stofflet and Emily Dietzko (6-2, 6-4), Griffiths and Stankewich (6-1, 6-0), and Summer Heckler and Olivia Chiu (6-1, 6-0) were all triumphant on the afternoon.

Guilford closed the week with a 6-1 win over Branford on April 12. Winning on the day were Roth (6-2, 6-4), Charlotte Babbin (6-0, 6-0), Hall (6-0, 6-0), Kiera Stankewich (6-2, 6-3), plus the duos of Stofflet and Emily Dietzko (6-2, 6-0), along with Griffiths and Stankewich (6-0, 6-0).

Guilford is now 4-0 on the season after recording wins against SCC rivals West Haven, Hamden, and Branford last week.

First, the Indians defeated West Haven 6-1 on April 9. Guilford then swept Hamden by a 7-0 final on April 11. The Indians came back to post another shutout with a 7-0 win over Branford on April 13.

The Indians were on both sides of one-goal decisions last week and now hold a record of 2-2.

Guilford edged Shelton 7-6 on April 10. The Indians then lost a 15-14 contest against Simsbury on April 12.

Guilford is now 4-2 after grabbing a victory and losing two contests this past week.

The Indians defeated Lauralton Hall 13-7 on April 10. They then took a 12-5 loss to Fairfield Ludlowe on April 12 and later dropped a 17-4 contest against McMahon on April 14.