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05/13/2019 12:00 AMSoftball
The Valley Regional softball team continued its winning ways with three more victories in three chances last week. The wins improved the Warriors record to 15-0 with five games left to play.
On May 8, Valley notched a narrow 2-1 road victory against Cromwell. The Warriors were able to come away victorious in a rain-shortened five-inning game. Valley scored a run in the third to take a 1-0 lead, and Cromwell tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Warriors took the 2-1 lead in the fifth, and after the Panthers couldn’t respond in the bottom of the frame, Valley was declared the victor.
Bullis earned the win on the mound to go with her 16 strike outs, and at the plate, the junior went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Fellow junior Lauren Allen notched an RBI as well. Freshman Abby Amara scored a run on two hits and sophomore Lexi Ross went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
The next day, the Warriors scored a blowout 11-2 road win against Law. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the Valley scored three runs in the fourth, five runs in the fifth, and another three runs in the sixth to take the 11-1 lead. Law tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Bullis threw another complete game for the win, and she totaled 13 strikeouts as well. At the plate, Bullis went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI, and a run scored. Junior Carlee Kirla had a pair of hits, two runs scored, and an RBI, while Amara added a hit, a run, and an RBI. Allen scored two runs on one hit and a walk. Ross went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Sophomore Lauren Wiegman scored two runs.
On May 11, Valley picked up a 6-4 road win against Woodstock Academy. The Warriors took a 3-0 lead after scoring single runs in the first, third, and fourth innings, but in the bottom of the fourth, the Centaurs put three runs on the board to knot the game at 3-3. Valley scored three runs in the top of the sixth, and Woodstock added an ultimately insignificant run in the bottom of frame for the 6-4 final.
Bullis grabbed the win again, pitching seven innings and striking out 12. In the batter’s box she went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Ross also had a fantastic day at the plate with a 4-for-4 showing including a double, three runs, and two RBI. Sophomore Hannah Jenkins, Allen, and freshman Mercedes Peno each notched a hit and a run. Senior Kelli Schaefer and junior Riley Millburne had a base knock apiece.
Baseball
The Valley Regional baseball team played three games last week and took home wins in two of them. With these results, the Warriors’ record moved to 10-8 on the season.
On May 6, Valley picked up a narrow 8-7 home victory versus Coginchaug. Senior Garrhett Watrous grabbed his first varsity win on the mound, while freshman James Marsden picked up the save on the mound.
The game hinged on a big pinch-hit RBI double in the fifth inning by sophomore Sam Helsel, which proved to shift the momentum in Valley’s favor. That hit cut the lead to 7-3 setting up a five-run sixth inning that gave the Warriors the 8-7 lead before Marsden closed it out.
Junior Nate Robida had a day at the plate going 4-for-4 with three RBI, and sophomore Kyle Metz went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Chris Sparaco got a couple of base knocks in three chances.
The next day, the Warriors lost a 4-1 road game against Cromwell.
On May 11, Valley scored a huge 11-1 road win over New London. Junior Chris Sparaco picked up the win on the bump for the Warriors. Freshman Andrew Salbinski had a pair of RBI in the victory, and Robida picked up two RBI, as well.
Boys’ Tennis
The Warriors added a pair of wins last week in three matches. Valley’s record moved to 6-7 on the season with the results.
On May 6, the Warriors defeated North Branford via forfeit. The next day, Valley dropped a 6-1 home match versus Old Saybrook. On May 9, the Warriors earned a 5-2 home victory against Haddam-Killingworth.
Girls’ Tennis
The Warriors added three more wins last week and remained undefeated on the year. The victories moved Valley’s record to 16-0.
On May 6, the Warriors edged North Branford in a 4-3 home victory over the Thunderbirds. The next day, Valley swept its way to a 7-0 road win versus Old Saybrook. On May 9, the Warriors scored another 7-0 road win, this time against Haddam-Killingworth.
Crew
The Valley Regional crew had a busy week with three regattas.
On May 5, the Warriors headed to Providence, Rhode Island to compete on the Sekonk River in a regatta featuring six schools. Conditions included an outgoing tide with a tail wind that hovered around five- to six miles per hour.
In the girls’ races, Valley’s first boat finished in fifth place with a time of 5:35.9, and the second boat also took fifth with a time of 6:09.3. The Warriors’ third boat placed fourth with a time of 6:17.7. Additionally, Valley’s fourth boat took fourth with a time of 5:57.9.
On the boys’ side, Valley only took part in the third boat race, where the Warriors place third with a time of 5:16.4, and the fifth boat race, where Valley placed third at 5:31.6.
On May 9, the Warriors boys’ and girls’ four boats competed in a regatta against Old Lyme, Avon, and Old Saybrook at Rogers Lake in Old Lyme. Conditions featured a slight headwind.
The girls’ first boat came in second place with its time of 6:20.5, and the second boat also took second in its race with a time of 6:47.1. The Warriors’ third boat notched a first place finish with a time of 6:38.1, and the Valley four boat took second in its race with a time of 7:32.0.
The Warriors also raced a novice eight boat, which was considered the fifth boat, and it came in second place with a time of 7:01.7. Valley also took part in a sixth race with a novice four boat and came away with a third-place finish at 7:51.1.
As for the boys side, the Warriors first boat took first place with a time of 5:42.4. The only other boys’ boat to run a race at the regatta was a novice four boat in the sixth race of the day. The boys’ novice four came in second place with a time of 6:28.6
On May 11, Valley had a regatta at the Housatonic River versus Hopkins, Rumsey Hall, and King. Conditions were sunny with a strong but inconsistent tail wind for a 1,500-meter course. There was moderate chop in the first third race.
The Valley girls’ had a fantastic day on the water with several winning times. The Warriors’ first boat took first place and clocked in at 5:41.1, while the second boat also took first in its race with a time of 5:48.28. The Warriors’ third boat raced to first place with a time of 6:13.08. The girls’ novice boat also took home a first-place finish with a time of 6:42.9.
On the boys’ side, the Warriors’ first boat finished its race with a time of 5:24.37, for second place behind Hopkins. Valley’s novice boat raced against Rumsey Hall and Hopkins’ novices and took first place with a time of 5:54.8.
Golf
Valley took losses in all three of its matches last week. The defeats dropped the Warriors to a 1-7 record on the season.
On May 7, Valley took a 179-223 home loss to Hale-Ray at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme.
On a par-35, junior Sam Craco and sophomore Henry McPherson both notched Valley’s lowest score at 55. Sophomore Zachary Figuenick turned in a score of 56, and freshman Jake Castallano had a tally of 57.
The next day, Valley lost a 180-225 road match versus Cromwell at the TPC River Highlands. Craco again earned the Warriors’ lowest stroke total with 51, and senior Logan Bellos came in at 53 strokes. Castellano scored a 56, Figuenick had a tally of 65, and senior Chris Cook had a score of 66.
On May 9, the Warriors lost a 174-226 road decision against Old Lyme at Black Hall Club.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Warriors played three games last week and took home one win on the slate. With these results, Valley’s record moved to 5-9 on the year.
On May 7, the Warriors lost a 22-12 road contest against Old Saybrook. Two days later, Valley lost a 21-9 home matchup with Old Lyme. On May 11, the Warriors scored a 13-12 home win against Lauralton Hall.