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04/14/2019 12:00 AMBoys’ Outdoor Track
The Hornets earned a 103-47 victory against Cross in an SCC Oronoque Division matchup at Branford High School on April 9. Branford improved to 4-0 on the year with the win.
Senior Aidan Kropiwnicki claimed first place in the 110 high hurdles (16.5), the 400 (52.6), and the javelin (137-11) to help Branford defeat the Governors. Senior Matt Alexander took top honors in both the long jump (19-11) and the high jump (5-4). The other individual victors for the Hornets were senior Marzio Mastroianni in the 800 (2:01), junior Nolan Scott in the 300 intermediate hurdles (45.6), sophomore Amari Phillips in the shot put (32-7), senior GianCarlo Giannini in the discus (103-4), sophomore Mekhi Barnette in the triple jump (38-9.5), and junior Sean Jansen in the pole vault (11-0).
The Hornets also saw all three of their relays take first place. Branford’s 4x800 relay of junior Andrew Betzig, Scott, freshman Cheng Wu, and Mastroianni ran a time of 8:30; the 4x100 of junior Andrew Wirtz, senior Carlos McCaay, sophomore Kamryn Holmes, and Alexander posted a time of 46.5; and the 4x400 relay featuring Scott, Kropiwnicki, Wu, and Mastroianni timed in at 3:39.
Senior Ricky Tratnyek took second place in the 3,200 (10:16), while junior David Tedeschi finished second in the javelin (117-6) for Head Coach Rich Biondi’s squad.
“This was a tremendous early season victory over a talented and experienced Wilbur Cross team. Seniors Marzio Mastroianni, Matt Alexander, and Aidan Kropiwnicki were outstanding, winning multiple events against top-tier athletes from Cross,” said Coach Biondi. “The seniors want to lead the way and end the four-year drought of not winning the division. If the athletes stay focused, bond together, and continue to improve, I believe that we are going to be a very good team.”
Girls’ Outdoor Track
Branford moved to 2-2 this season after taking a 104-39 home loss against SCC Oronoque Division opponent Cross on April 9.
Junior Rose Lockery finished first in the 200 by running a personal-best time of 27.8 for the Hornets. Sophomore Ashley Duong cleared 6 feet in the pole vault to take first place. Sophomore Jen Hincapie claimed first in the javelin with a season-best throw of 70-4.
Softball
Branford evened its record at 3-3 after winning three of its four games in last week’s action. The Hornets notched victories against Hillhouse, Cross, and Career to go with a defeat versus Foran on the week.
Branford hosted Hillhouse and routed the Academics by the final score of 20-1 on April 8. The Hornets scored nine runs in the first inning and nine more in the second to take an 18-0 advantage. After Branford tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, the game was called in the fifth due to the mercy rule. Senior Lexi Falcigno struck out 10 batters to get the win on the mound for the Hornets. Freshman Marzia Johnson recorded five RBI in the victory.
The following afternoon, the Hornets took a 12-3 home loss to Foran. Branford got back on track by earning an 12-11 road victory over Cross on April 10. Two days later, the Hornets had a home game against Career and won a 6-1 decision against the Panthers.
Baseball
Branford took four defeats last week and now has a record of 2-4 this season.
In its first game of the week, Branford lost to Hamden by a 14-0 final on the road. The next day, the Hornets traveled to New Haven and dropped a 5-3 decision versus the Governors. On April 10, Branford took a 10-0 loss against Cheshire in a home game. Two days later, the Hornets hosted East Haven and lost by the score of 8-3 in their SCC Hammonasset Division opener.
Boys’ Tennis
Branford moved to 4-1 on the season after winning two of its three matches last week. The Hornets dropped a decision against North Haven, before scoring victories against Shelton and Career on the week.
Branford took a 4-3 defeat in North Haven on April 8. Senior Praneeth Ganedi notched an 8-5 victory in the No. 1 singles match for the Hornets. Fellow senior Dan McGuire posted an 8-0 shutout in the No. 2 duel. Branford’s No. 2 doubles team of junior Jason Hackett and Wes Raymond earned an 8-4 victory.
Two days later, the Hornets got back in the win column when they recorded a 5-2 triumph at Shelton. Ganedi prevailed by the final score of 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) in the No. 1 singles matchup. Senior Paul Riccio claimed a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles. The Hornets also swept doubles play as their No. 1 team of senior Max Thomas and junior Eli Hanlon won 6-3, 4-6, 7-6; the No. 2 duo of seniors Dan Pagliaro and Kurt Schalper posted a 6-1, 6-3 victory; and the No. 3 team of Hackett and freshman Josh Berdon won a 6-2, 6-4 decision.
Then on April 11, Branford was on the road to face Career and prevailed 7-0 at Veteran’s Park in New Haven. Ganedi (6-0, 6-0), McGuire (6-0, 6-1), Hanlon (6-0, 6-0), and Riccio (6-0, 6-0) all won their singles matches for the Hornets. Branford’s No. 1 doubles team of Pagliaro and sophomore Justin Fatheree earned a 6-0, 6-0 win, as did the No. 2 team of Schalper and junior Jaden Andresen, along with the No. 3 team of Berdon and Hackett.
Girls’ Tennis
Branford had a busy week with five matches on its schedule last week. The Hornets came away with victories in three of those matches to move to 3-2 on the season.
Branford hosted Shelton on April 8 and edged out the Gaels by a 4-3 score. The next day, the Hornets took a 6-1 road loss versus Sheehan.
On April 10, the Hornets claimed a 5-2 road victory over non-conference opponent Platt Tech at Eisenhower Park in Milford. Junior Samantha Velardi notched an 8-1 win for Branford in the No. 2 singles match. The Hornets also received victories from junior Amanda Gage (8-2) and fellow junior Jessica King (8-1) at the No. 3 and 4 singles positions, respectively. Branford’s No. 1 doubles team of sophomores Alayna Boileau and Shae Lepre won and 8-0 decision, while the No. 2 team of juniors Ellie Bartlett and Sarah Berdon prevailed 8-1.
The following afternoon, Branford took a 7-0 home loss to Amity. The day after that, the Hornets posted a 5-2 win at Masuk in a non-conference contest. Freshman Nuala Paudval claimed a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the No. 1 singles match for Branford. Gage earned a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles, while junior Sara Girardi prevailed by a 7-5, 6-3 score at No. 3 singles. Lepre and Boileau notched a 6-4, 7-5 win in the No. 1 doubles duel. Bartlett and Berdon claimed a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles for the Hornets.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Hornets claimed two victory in two of their three matchups last week to improve to 3-2 on the season. Branford took a loss against Guilford, but came back to defeat Sheehan and North Branford later in the week.
On April 8, Branford lost to Guilford by the final score of 16-3 in a home game. Senior Robbie Lionetti scored two goals for Branford, while sophomore Jared Yakimoff also had a goal. Junior Max Manware contributed an assist. Freshman Aidan Strebel made 14 saves in net for the Hornets.
Three days later, the Hornets traveled to Wallingford and notched a 10-9 victory against Sheehan. Then on April 13, Branford hosted crosstown rival North Branford and defeated the Thunderbirds by the final score of 17-4 in a non-conference game.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Hornets were on the road to face Guilford in their only matchup last week. Branford dropped a 9-8 decision against the Indians to move to 2-2 on the season.
Golf
Branford took three home defeats at Pine Orchard Country Club last week to move to 0-4 on the season.
On April 8, the Hornets hosted Hamden and dropped a 162-211 decision. Juniors Minsok Lee and Spencer Engstrom both finished with a score of 48 for Branford. Freshman Justin Acquarulo totaled a score of 55, and sophomore Billy Linder finished with a score of 60.
The following day, Branford took a 189-197 home loss versus Cheshire. Lee earned medalist honors as the low scorer of the meet by finishing with a round of 41. Acquarulo scored a 49, Engstrom shot a 50, and Linder totaled a 57 for the Hornets.
Then on April 11, Branford lost to Xavier by the score of 159-201 at Pine Orchard. Lee (45), Acquarulo (49), Engstrom (52), and Linder (55) were the Hornets’ golfers on the afternoon.