Printer Friendly Version - North Haven U-17 Baseball Claims Four-Straight Wins

William Sullivan hit a two-run walk-off single with two outs to lift the North Haven U-17 baseball team to a 3-2 home victory against Branford on July 22. Christian Maggiore and Derek Mortali combined to pitch a no-hitter for North Haven in the victory. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

The North Haven U-17 baseball team recently rattled off four-straight victories to boost its record to 7-6 in Connecticut Elite Baseball Association action this summer. After losing both ends of a doubleheader to Shelton, North Haven came back to beat Shelton the next day and then posted three victories over Branford later in the week.

On July 18, North Haven hit the road to take on Shelton for a Division II doubleheader at the Nike Site. Shelton swept the doubleheader by claiming a 5-1 win in the first game and then edging out North Haven by a 4-3 score in the nightcap.

The next day, North Haven hosted Shelton for the final matchup of the three-game series. Head Coach Matt Coyle’s club won a high-scoring contest by recording a 10-7 victory at Bailey Road Field to snap a three-game losing streak.

Then on July 21, North Haven opened up a three-game series with Division II opponent Branford by playing a road game at Totoket Park in North Branford. North Haven took the first game of the set by earning a 3-2 win over Branford for its second victory in a row.

The following day, North Haven hosted Branford at DeMayo Ballfield and won the game in walk-off fashion by the final score of 3-2. Derek Mortali and Christian Maggiore pitched a combined no-hitter for North Haven, which won the game when William Sullivan hit a two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Branford took a 2-0 lead on a couple of bases-loaded walks in the second inning, but North Haven cut the deficit in half by scoring a run in the fourth. Tyler Harger reached on an error, advanced to third base on a single by Tyler Signore, and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Daniel Boudreau to make it 2-1.

North Haven still trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but plated a pair of runs in the frame for the walk-off victory. William Whitcomb drew a walk to get the rally started for North Haven. One out later, Maggiore was hit by a pitch and then Dante Velez got a pinch-hit single to put two runners aboard. Both runners then moved into scoring position on a groundout by Antonio Fusco. Now with two out, Sullivan hit a two-run single to center field to bring home Maggiore and Velez and give North Haven the 3-2 win.

Mortali pitched the first 1.2 innings of the game for North Haven, giving up no hits and allowing two unearned runs. Maggiore allowed no hits and struck out four over 5.1 scoreless innings to earn the win in relief and solidify the combined no-hitter.

On July 24, North Haven earned a victory over Branford via forfeit for a home game that was scheduled to be held at Brook Field.