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05/13/2018 12:00 AMSoftball
The North Branford softball squad kept its undefeated season going by putting two more wins in the books last week to improve to 17-0 on the year. Both of North Branford’s victories came against Haddam-Killingworth as the Shoreline Conference rivals played a home-and-home series against each other on May 9 and 11.
In the first matchup, which was at H-K, North Branford defeated the Cougars via a 4-0 shutout. Sydney Senerchia turned in another dominant performance on the mound as she allowed just two hits and struck out 13 batters for the Thunderbirds. North Branford scored a run in each of the first, second, fourth, and fifth innings on its way to the win. Senerchia and Olivia Hemstock finished with three hits apiece. Hemstock drove home two runs, and Senerchia had one RBI. Katy Pedersen drove in North Branford’s other run in the win.
Two days later, the T-Birds won by a 6-1 score over H-K in North Branford. Senerchia earned another win as she struck out 15 batters, scattering six hits, while giving up her first earned run of the season. Pedersen, Jada Miconi, and Hemstock all had two hits, plus Hemstock drove in a pair of runs. North Branford plated three runs in the first inning to put itself in the driver’s seat early.
Baseball
North Branford took three defeats last week and remains one win away from clinching a place in the postseason. The T-Birds lost to Coginchaug, Valley Regional, and Haddam-Killingworth and currently sit at 7-10 with three games remaining in the regular season.
On May 7, North Branford visited Coginchaug and lost by a 7-1 score. Carl Jacobson had three hits, while Nick Mancini and Bret Fee each had a hit for the T-Birds.
North Branford then took a 5-4 loss at Valley on May 9. Jeff Jablonski went six innings and gave up one earned run, after which Fee finished the game in relief. Mancini had two hits, plus Jacobson, John Pollick, and Steve Galluba all had one hit.
In its final game of the week, North Branford dropped a 7-2 decision versus Haddam-Killingworth on May 11. It was Senior Day and the Thunderbirds honored their seniors—Jason Ryszczyk, Jablonski, and Connor Pollick--prior to the game. Fee started and went six innings, allowing three earned runs for North Branford. Mancini, Jacobson, Enrique Diaz, and Galluba each had a hit in the defeat.
Girls’ Tennis
The T-Birds won two of their three matches last week and improved their record to 8-8 for the year.
North Branford hosted Morgan on May 9 and won by a 6-1 score. The T-Birds swept singles action as Sofia Cavalier won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles; Sydney Constantinidi was victorious, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 2 singles; Zelda Galdenzi won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles; and Jordan Caplan earned a 6-0, 6-3 victory at No. 4 singles. In doubles action, Brianna Dautaj and Ava Galdenzi won 7-6, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles; Janessa Pompano and Alyssa Diaz won 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2; and the third doubles pairing of Aaliyah Aaron and Emma Serenson lost 7-6, 2-6, 6-2.
Following that victory, North Branford defeated Portland 6-1 on May 10. This time, the Thunderbirds swept doubles as Dautaj and Ava Galdenzi won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles; Pompano and Diaz won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles; and Aaron and Serenson earned a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 3. For singles play, Constantinidi won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2; Zelda Galdenzi won her match, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3; and Caplan netted a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 4. Cavalier dropped a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 contest at No. 1 singles.
To end the week, the T-Birds lost to Coginchaug by a 5-2 score on May 11. Both of North Branford’s victories came in singles as Cavalier won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 and Constantinidi won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2.
Boys’ Tennis
North Branford faced Coginchaug on May 11 and took a 7-0 defeat. It was the T-Birds’ eighth loss of the year.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The T-Birds split a pair of recent matchups and now own an overall record of 11-2 for the season. North Branford has three games remaining before postseason competition begins.
On May 9, North Branford lost a tight game in overtime to Law by a 14-13 score. Emmy Norton, Jessie Kilburn, and Emilie Wilkinson all scored three goals, while Adrianna Ingarra had two goals and five assists. Ali Barrett and Mackenzie MacGowan both scored a goal for North Branford, which saw Carly Sorrentino make seven saves in goal.
Following that loss, the Thunderbirds rebounded with a convincing 14-3 victory against Valley Regional on May 11. MacGowan, Barrett, and Kilburn all scored three goals. Norton and Wilkinson both scored a pair of goals, and Ingarra had one goal with five assists. Sorrentino made nine saves in net to get the victory.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Thunderbirds lost both of their matchups last week to drop to 6-8 for the year with two games remaining in the regular season. North Branford is one victory shy of clinching a postseason berth.
On May 7, North Branford lost by a 24-6 score against St. Paul Catholic on the road. Later in the week, the T-Birds took a 15-9 loss at Morgan on May 10. In that game, Dylan Martinik, Alex Clinton, and Tyler Dinapoli all finished with two goals, while Nate Raymond, Matt Pedersen, and Dylan Dimeo each scored once for North Branford. T-Birds’ goalie Alex Grimm made 13 saves.
Golf
The Thunderbirds played three matches last week and came away with one victory for a record of 2-9 this year.
On May 7, North Branford went up against Coginchaug at Lyman Orchards and took a 166-199 defeat. The next day, the T-Birds played their first home match since April 10 and defeated Valley Regional by a 203-277 score at Indian Springs. Paul Zumbo was the medalist as he shot a 46 for the Thunderbirds, whose other scorers included Jake Neubig with a 51, Zack Smola with a 52, and Spencer Farrell with a 54.
To close out last week, North Branford dropped a 169-198 decision against Cromwell at TPC on May 10.