Printer Friendly Version - Branford Reds Take Two Titles at Mountain West Tourney

The Branford Reds AAU 8-U travel baseball squad won the Mountain West Tournament with a 12-2 win over Simsbury. Pictured are (front row) Kevy Barbero, Tanner DeFelice, Peyton Swanson, Landon Burns, and Sandro Salafia; (middle row) Enzo Annunziato, Angelo Raffone, Dontaye Greene, Cooper Knowlton, Liam Gallagher, and Matteo Anderson; (back row) co-Head Coach Alex Salafia and co-Head Coach Kevin Barbero. Photo courtesy of Leisl Knowlton

The Branford Reds AAU travel baseball program saw both its 8-U and 9-U teams win the Mountain West Tournament in West Hartford this summer. The 8-U team earned a 12-2 victory versus Simsbury to win its tournament, while the 9-U squad notched an 11-10 win over Farmington to capture the crown in its tourney. The Mountain West Tournament was held in West Hartford and the surrounding towns during the last week of June.

The Branford Reds 8-U team beat previously undefeated Simsbury by a 12-2 final in the championship game of the Mountain River Baseball Tournament. Simsbury had only allowed four total runs combined during its first four games of the tourney. The Reds finished with a perfect overall record of 5-0 for the entire tournament. The athletes that guided the team to the title were Matteo Anderson, Enzo Annunziato, Kevy Barbero, Landon Burns, Tanner DeFelice, Liam Gallagher, Dontaye Greene, Cooper Knowlton, Angelo Raffone, Sandro Salafia, and Peyton Swanson. Branford’s co-head coaches were Kevin Barbero and Alex Salafia.

The Reds 9-U team claimed the title in its tournament by edging out Farmington, 11-10, in a high-scoring championship contest. The Reds’ win in the final marked their third comeback victory in a row in the tournament. The team’s overall record in the competition was an impressive 5-1-1. Branford’s championship roster consisted of Gavin DeFelice, Jacob Izaguirre, Finn Knowlton, Christopher McKittrick, Will Miller, Carolino Montiero, Gio Ramos, Connor Scott, and Shaun Swanson. The Reds’ head coach was Todd DeFelice, and their assistant coaches were Frank Izaguirre and John Knowlton.

The Branford Reds AAU 9-U travel baseball squad notched an 11-10 victory versus Farmington to win the Mountain West Tournament. Pictured are (front row) Shaun Swanson, Connor Scott, Finn Knowlton, Christopher McKittrick, Carolino Montiero, Gavin DeFelice, Jacob Izaguirre, Will Miller, and Gio Ramos; (back row) assistant coach John Knowlton, Head Coach Todd DeFelice, and assistant coach Frank Izaguirre. Photo courtesy of Leisl Knowlton