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04/28/2019 12:00 AMGolf
The Branford golf squad earned its first wins of the year by sweeping a tri-meet in New Haven last week. Branford now has a record of 2-5.
Branford started the week by taking a 157-203 defeat versus Hand at Madison Country Club on April 24. Junior Minsok Lee shot a 49, junior Spencer Engstrom posted a score of 50, sophomore Billy Linder also scored a 50, and freshman Justin Acquarulo finished with a 54 for the Hornets.
The next day, Branford competed against Hillhouse and Cross at Alling Memorial Golf Club. The Hornets swept the meet by totaling a score of 177 to defeat both Hillhouse (231) and Career (273). Lee and Engstrom earned co-medalist honors as the low scorers of the meet with their respective rounds of 43. Freshman Jayson Greenberg scored a 45, and Linder turned in a score of 46 for Branford.
Boys’ Tennis
The Hornets won two of their three matches last week to improve to 8-2 this season.
On April 23, Branford took a 6-1 home loss versus Xavier. The Hornets’ No. 2 doubles team of senior Dan Pagliaro and freshman Josh Berdon notched a 6-1, 6-1 victory for Branford.
The following day, the Hornets hosted Platt Tech and prevailed 7-0 in a non-conference matchup. Senior Praneeth Ganedi, junior Eli Hanlon, senior Dan McGuire, and senior Paul Riccio recorded 6-0, 6-0 victories at the No. 1 through 4 singles positions, respectively. In doubles, Pagliaro and Berdon won a 7-5, 6-3 decision at the No. 1 spot; the No. 2 duo of senior Kurt Schalper and junior Jaden Andresen won by a 6-1, 6-0 score; and the No. 3 team of junior Jason Hackett and Wes Raymond claimed a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
Then on April 25, Branford claimed a 7-0 road victory against Sheehan.
Girls’ Tennis
The Hornets split a pair of matches last week to move to 5-6 this spring.
On April 23, Branford dropped a 5-2 decision at Sheehan. Two days later, Branford hosted Hamden and claimed a 6-1 victory over the Green Dragons.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Hornets won two of their last three games to put their record at 6-4 this year.
Branford took a 15-8 home loss against Shelton on April 20. Four days later, the Hornets headed to Wallingford to face Lyman Hall and notched an 18-5 victory. Senior Robbie Lionetti had six goals and an assist, while junior Jack Manware scored four goals and had three assists to lead the Hornets’ offense. Will Riggs had two goals with one assist, and sophomore Luke Volpe also netted a pair of goals in the win. Juniors Max Manware and Cameron Mills both had a goal with an assist, sophomores Nick Chieffo and Jared Yakimoff each scored a goal, plus senior Max Bunton, fellow senior Anders Brown, and sophomore Julio Tozetto had one assist apiece. Freshman Aidan Strebel made four saves in net, and sophomore Connor Erickson also had a save.
Then on April 27, the Hornets notched an 18-8 victory at Old Lyme in a non-conference matchup.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
Branford hosted a tri-meet on April 23 and came away with a split by defeating East Haven (105-45) and losing to Notre Dame-West Haven (100-50). The Hornets have an overall record of 7-2 and improved to 3-0 in the SCC Oronoque Division with their win over East Haven.
Senior Aidan Kropiwnicki took first place in two events for Branford. Kropinwicki won the 300 intermediate hurdles with a time of 41.2 seconds and also claimed first in the javelin by throwing 148 feet-11 inches. Fellow senior Marzio Mastroianni won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:58, while sophomore Mekhi Barnette finished first in the triple jump at 38-8. Branford’s 4x800 relay of freshman Cheng Wu, freshman Wyatt Reynolds, junior Andrew Betzig, and junior Nolan Scott posted a time of 8:53 to come in first place.
The Hornets also received outstanding performances from sophomore Kamryn Holmes in the 100-meter dash (11.6) and the 200-meter dash (24.0), Barnette in the high jump (5-8), and senior GianCarlo Giannini in the discus (110-3).
Kropinwicki qualified for the Class MM State Championship with his performance in the 300 hurdles, as did Barnette in the high jump and Holmes in the 100 and 200.
Girls’ Outdoor Track
The Hornets took two defeats in a meet at Branford High School on April 23. Branford dropped a 78-66 decision against East Haven and took a 134-16 loss versus Sacred Heart Academy to move to 2-6 on the year.
Junior Rose Lockery placed in several events for the Hornets. Locker finished third in the long jump (14-2), placed fourth in the 100 (13.4) and the 200 (27.9), and came in fifth place for the triple jump (30-4). Sophomore Maddy Seward finished second in the pole vault (6-6), junior Maya Kyriakides took third in the 1,600 (6:18), and fellow junior Julia Robbins finished third in the javelin (71-1). Senior MaryBeth Nwagboli took fifth place in the 100 (13.5) and 200 (28.1), sophomore Stephanie Toste placed fifth in the 800 (2:53), and senior Carolina Jara finished fifth for the javelin (68-0).
Softball
Branford lost two contests on the road last week and is now 3-7 this year.
On April 23, the Hornets dropped a 7-2 decision at East Haven in an SCC Housatonic Division contest. The next day, Branford took a 4-3 loss at Foran when the Lions scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior Lexi Falcigno had three hits for Branford on the day.
Branford was back in Milford to face Lauralton Hall on April 25 and took an 11-1 defeat against the Crusaders. Sophomore Lily Hitchcock and freshman Marzia Johnson both had two hits for the Hornets.
Baseball
Branford took three losses at home last week to move to 2-9 this season.
Branford hosted Law for an SCC Hammonasset Division game on April 23 and lost by the final score of 8-7. The Hornets trailed 8-4 entering the bottom of the seventh inning and then scored three runs to make it a one-run game, but Law was able to prevent the tying run from scoring and hung on for the win. Senior Mason Traca and sophomore Collin McNeil both had two singles for the Hornets. Sophomore Justin Elpi had a single to go with a double.
The following day, Branford took a 9-1 home loss against Cross. Then on April 25, the Hornets lost a 10-2 contest against divisional opponent Fairfield Prep in a home game. Elpi and senior Anthony Burzynski each had one hit for Branford.