Printer Friendly Version - DeMayo Three Victories Away from No. 900; Girls’ Lacrosse Sets Program Record for Wins

In his 60th season as head coach of the North Haven baseball team, Head Coach Bob DeMayo is closing in on his 900th victory. DeMayo drew three wins closer to this milestone after his team defeated East Haven, Branford, and Shelton last week, and he now has 897 career wins. Pictured are DeMayo (left) and assistant coach Lou Elia. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

The North Haven baseball team posted victories versus East Haven, Branford, and Shelton last week to raise its record to 13-3 on the season. With these wins, Bob DeMayo now stands just three victories away from career win No. 900 as the Indians’ head coach. DeMayo is in his 60th season as North Haven’s skipper, a time during which he has guided the Indians to five state championships, the most recent which came in 2015.

As of press time, North Haven had four games remaining in the regular season. The Indians played at North Branford on May 14 and then had a home game against Xavier on May 16 (both after press time). North Haven is hosting Law at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 and will close the regular season by facing North Branford at home on Sunday, May 20 at 7 p.m. The Indians will be competing in the postseason after that.

In last week’s action, North Haven defeated SCC Quinnipiac Division opponent East Haven 4-3, earned a 3-1 win over Branford in a divisional duel, and then routed Shelton 8-1 for its sixth straight win. The Indians improved to 4-1 in the Quinnipiac by beating East Haven and Branford.

North Haven notched 4-3 home win over East Haven at DeMayo Ballfield on May 7. The Indians trailed 3-0, but then took the lead by scoring four runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, senior Andrew Laudano drove home three runs on a single to give North Haven the advantage. Sophomore Matt DeRosa went 2-for-3 and scored the tying run, while junior Matt Solomon singled in a run and scored the go-ahead run. Chris Ciarleglio allowed three runs in 5.1 innings to get the win, and fellow senior Zach Pincince recorded the save by throwing the final 1.2 innings.

Two days later, the Indians avenged an earlier loss to Branford by defeating the Hornets 3-1 on the road. North Haven scored all three of its runs in the first inning. Steven Erbe singled in the first run, and then fellow senior Kevin Lucey drove home two on a base hit. DeRosa hit a pair of doubles, while senior Peyton Farina went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, and a stolen base for the game. Pincince pitched the first 1.1 innings, after which senior Luca Lawrence threw the remaining 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on two hits to improve to 7-0.

North Haven finished off the week by posting an 8-1 home victory over Shelton on May 11. Ciarlegio picked up his fifth win by giving up one run in six innings. Senior Nate Zalegowski worked a scoreless seventh to close the shutters on the victory. North Haven scored six times in the first inning on its way to the lopsided win. Erbe had a huge performance at the plate by going 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Lucey also had a big day by going 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, a run, and three RBI. Sophomore Dave Christoforo hit a two-run triple, drew a walk, and scored a run; Farina went 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, and two stolen bases; and junior Hunter Garthwait singled in a run.

The Indians won all three of their games last week to raise their record to 14-3. North Haven defeated Sheehan, West Haven, and Lauralton Hall and has now won eight games in a row.

On May 7, the Indians posted a 2-1, nine-inning home victory versus Sheehan in an SCC Oronoque Division showdown. Junior Lauren Card pitched all nine innings to get the win, allowing just three hits and striking out 17 batters. Juniors Haylee Garthwait, Peyton Davis, and Carly Brown all had two hits, with Garthwait driving home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for the walk-off victory.

The next day, North Haven prevailed by a 5-0 score at West Haven in a game that saw Card strike out 13.

On May 11, North Haven hosted Oronoque opponent Lauralton Hall on Senior Night and won 4-0 to move to 5-1 in the division. Card struck out 10 for the Indians, who scored all four of their runs in the second inning. Davis went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Brown was 2-for-3, and senior Caroline Gabrielle had an RBI.

North Haven won all three of its games last week to improve to 10-5 this spring, setting a program record for wins in a season with No. 10. The Indians defeated Foran, Sacred Heart Academy, and Brookfield and have now eight of nine.

North Haven recorded a 15-9 home victory versus Foran on May 8. The Indians held an 8-7 halftime advantage, before outscoring Foran 7-2 in the second half. Junior Annie Uyeki scored eight goals to lead North Haven to the victory. Sophomore Callie Kessler netted three goals, senior Kylie Brandt had two goals and three assists, Erika Holle had a goal with an assist, fellow sophomore Madison Fredericks added a goal, and junior Molly Scarpa handed out two assists for the Indians, who saw sophomore Kyla Kennealy make 11 saves in net. North Haven’s defensive unit of Morgan Sullivan, fellow senior Bri Ferriola, senior Lindsey Rowland, and junior Mia Ortiz kept Foran at bay throughout the second half.

Two days later, the Indians edged Sacred Heart Academy, 12-11, on the road. North Haven trailed 8-6 at halftime, but then outscored the Sharks 6-3 in the latter stanza. Uyeki had three goals and two assists, junior Meg Christoforo scored three goals, Fredericks had two goals, and Brandt scored a goal to go with an assist. Holle, Scarpa, and senior Courtney Babbidge each added a goal. Junior Casey Kross made 13 saves in net.

North Haven wrapped up its week by hosting Brookfield for a non-conference game on May 12 and claimed a 12-9 victory versus the Bobcats. The Indians fell behind 3-0, but then scored four straight goals to take a 4-3 lead. The game went to halftime tied 6-6, and North Haven surged ahead in the second half by doubling up Brookfield, 6-3. Uyeki had four goals and two assists, Fredericks also scored four goals, Brandt scored two goals and had an assist, Christoforo netted a pair of goals, Kessler dished off three assists, and Holle added an assist. Kennealy played net and came up with nine saves for North Haven.

The Indians took a pair of defeats on the road last week to drop to 7-6 for the year.

On May 7, North Haven played a game at non-conference opponent Trumbull and dropped a 10-9 decision. Two days later, the Indians took a 14-4 loss at Hand.

North Haven collected a trio of victories last week to improve its record to 5-4. The Indians defeated Foran in a home match and then swept a tri-match on the road later in the week.

North Haven earned a 193-197 home victory against Foran at Wallingford Country Club on May 7. Junior captain Alex Kirtland scored a 45 to earn medalist honors for the Indians. Sophomore Julia Raposo finished with a 47, Ian Crowther totaled a score of 49, and fellow junior captain Andrew Johnson scored a 52. Freshman Anthony Rapuano finished with a score of 65.

Two days later, the Indians hit the course for a tri-match at Alling Memorial Golf Club and scored a 166 to defeat both Cross (199) and host East Haven (206). Kirtland and Crowther were the co-low scorers of the meet as each golfer finished with a round of 38. Raposo and Johnson both totaled a 45.

North Haven won three of its four matches last week to go to 7-8 on the season. The Indians need to win two of their last three matches to qualify for the Class L State Championship.

North Haven posted a 7-0 victory at Cross on May 7 and prevailed 7-0 at Wilcox Tech the following afternoon.

Then on May 9, the Indians hosted Law and won a 6-1 decision. Junior Nick Cristante earned a 6-0, 6-0 in the No. 1 singles match for North Haven. Senior Riley Powell won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles, and junior Max Petruzziello won 8-0 at No. 4 singles. North Haven’s No. 1 doubles team of junior Quinn Dallai and freshman Tanner Powell recorded a 6-1, 6-2 victory; the No. 2 duo of senior Ethan Pavano and sophomore Andrew Carmody won 8-3; and the No. 3 tandem of junior Jake Barra and sophomore Laekhram Singh was awarded a victory via default.

North Haven closed out the week by taking a 5-2 loss at Lyman Hall on May 11. Riley Powell posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory, while the team of Dallai and Tanner Powell prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (10-3).

The Indians lost three of their four matches last week, but with a record of 8-8, they can still qualify for the Class M State Tournament by winning three of their final four contests. Last week, North Haven lost to Guilford, Amity, and Mercy, before getting a win against Wilcox Tech.

The Indians took a 6-1 home loss versus Guilford on May 7. Junior Julia Migliorini won a 6-0, 6-0 contest in the No. 1 singles match for North Haven.

On May 9, North Haven dropped a 6-1 decision at Amity. Migliorini won her match by the score of 6-0, 6-2.

Two days later, the Indians hosted Mercy and lost 4-3. Migliorini won 6-0, 6-0; senior Rachel Petry netted a 6-0, 6-2 win; and sophomore Anna Wootton earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory for North Haven.

The Indians hosted non-conference opponent Wilcox Tech on May 12 and claimed a 7-0 victory. Migliorini (6-0, 6-0); Petry (6-0, 6-0); junior Lily Mezzi (6-1, 6-0); and Wootton (6-0, 6-0) all won their singles matches. The No. 1 doubles team of senior Katrina Nadolny and sophomore Claire Looney earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory; the No. 2 team of senior Avery Hill and junior Zoe Bowerman prevailed 6-0, 6-0; and the No. 3 team of juniors Jessica Tran and Daniella Bryson won by the score of 6-1, 6-1.

The Indians concluded their regular season by competing in a tri-match on the road against Sheehan and host Cheshire on May 8. North Haven earned a 94.5-55.5 victory versus Cheshire and took an 84.5-65.5 loss to Sheehan. The Indians finished the regular season with a record of 8-3.

Junior Erica Marriott took first place in two sprinting events and two jumping events for North Haven. Marriott won the triple jump with a leap of 33 feet to go with victories in the long jump (16-1.25), the 100-meter dash (12.7 seconds), and the 200 (25.7). Junior Giselle Zumerchik finished first in both the 100 hurdles (15.3) and the 300 hurdles (47.4). Courtney McFarland won the shot put with a distance of 29-6.25, and fellow sophomore Giuliana Ciarleglio took first in the javelin by recording a throw of 84 feet.

Junior Meg Christoforo (right) and the North Haven girls’ lacrosse squad set the program record for wins in a season last week and are now sporting a mark of 10-5 on the year. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier