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05/02/2021 12:00 AMBaseball
The Hand baseball team continued its winning ways by earning three more victories last week to improve its record to 10-0 on the season. After defeating Shelton (7-4) and Guilford (4-1), the Tigers capped off their week by rallying from an 11-0 deficit to earn a 13-12 victory versus West Haven for their 10th win this year.
On April 26, the Tigers claimed a 7-4 win versus Shelton at Polson Field. Seniors Eli Davies and Jack Pireaux both had two hits for Hand. Senior Colin Telford and junior Evan Mastrobattisto added RBI singles in the victory.
Two days later, Hand traveled to Guilford and defeated the Grizzlies by a 4-1 score. Senior Matt Carone pitched a complete game five-hitter to lead Hand to the win. Freshman Ben Kuja hit a solo home run for the Tigers, who also received a single and two RBI from Pireaux.
In its final game of the week, Hand recorded its most exhilarating victory of the season by posting a 13-12 home victory against West Haven on April 10. The Tigers were trailing 11-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but scored five runs in the fifth, five more in the sixth, and then three runs in the seventh to get the walk-off victory. Senior Danny Weinstein hit a three-run homer to win it for the Tigers.
Junior Connor Powell also hit a three-run home run for Hand in the game. Pireaux was 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.
Softball
The Hand softball team won one out of its three contests last week to move to 2-6 this year.
On April 26, the Tigers took an 11-3 road loss to Guilford. Senior Abby Cody had a double for the Tigers.
Four days later, Hand defeated Branford by an 8-4 final in a home game. Junior Megan Hart had three hits and two RBI for the Tigers. Cody pitched three innings and had three strikeouts on the mound.
Then on May 1, the Tigers took a 12-3 defeat versus Jonathan Law.
Boys’ Golf
The Hand boys’ golf team continued its perfect start to the season by posting two recent wins to improve to 6-0.
On April 26, Hand defeated Notre Dame-West Haven by the final score of 149-156 at Race Brook Country Club. Senior Conner Quinn collected medalist honors by shooting a low score of 32. Senior Matt Doyle (35), sophomore Reece Scott (37), and senior Will Fitzgerald (45) rounded out the scoring for the Tigers.
Two days later, the Tigers traveled to Orange Hills Country Club and notched a 159-189 victory over Jonathan Law. Sophomore Matt Gagliardi was the match medalist by shooting a 36. Scott was next with a 39, Doyle scored a 40, and Quinn finished with a 44.
Girls’ Golf
The Hand girls’ golf team picked up its first win of the season last week. On April 27, the Tigers faced Mercy at Lyman Orchards Golf Club and claimed a 222-236 victory to improve to 1-2 this year.
Girls’ Tennis
The Hand girls’ tennis squad secured victories in two of its three matches last week to boost its record to 7-1 on the season.
On April 26, Hand traveled to Wesleyan University to take on Mercy and posted a 7-0 shutout. Senior Lindsay Riordan earned a 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 victory; junior Claire Langille won by a 6-0, 6-0 final; sophomore Laila Haraj-Sai won a 6-2, 6-2 decision; and senior Eileen Chen was also victorious by an 8-2 score on the singles court.
In doubles action, the team of junior ZhuZhu Berger and junior Breanna Colonese-DiBello netted a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory; senior Paige Van Ostenbridge and junior Bella Vejar earned a 6-0, 6-0 win; and senior Eliza Beccia and sophomore Libby Rogers won 6-1, 6-0.
The following day, Hand took a 7-0 road loss against Amity. The loss marked the first time that the Tigers took a regular-season defeat in their last 61 matches.
The Tigers responded nicely with a 7-0 victory against Foran at Polson Middle School on April 28. Riordan won 6-1, 6-0; Langille prevailed 6-0, 6-0; Chen notched a 6-1, 6-0 win; and junior Ella Scarice claimed a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
On the doubles court, Berger and Colonese-DiBello won a 6-0, 6-0 decision; Van Ostenbridge and Vejar claimed a 6-0, 6-1 win; and Beccia and Rogers triumphed by the final score of 6-0, 6-0.
Boys’ Tennis
The Hand boys’ tennis team improved to 8-0 by winning its lone match of the week. The Tigers battled Cheshire on April 26 and came away with a 4-3 victory at Polson Middle School.
Junior Max Gulla earned a 6-4, 6-2 win for Hand in singles competition. The Tigers received victories from all three of their doubles teams as the duo of senior Reilly Vejar and junior Will deChabert won a decision 6-0, 6-0; the tandem of junior Will Fumex and freshman Matt Vetter notched a 6-1, 6-4 win; and the team of senior John Van Ostenbridge and junior Patrick Hennessey prevailed by a 6-0, 6-0 score.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Hand boys’ lacrosse team won both of its contests last week and is now sporting a record of 4-3 this season.
On April 26, the Tigers defeated Notre Dame-West Haven 21-3. Senior Robby Swank scored five goals, and senior Darrell Brake had three goals in the win.
Three days later, the Tigers came away with a 9-3 victory against SCC rival Guilford. Senior Braeden Kosiewicz, senior Ben Sisk, and junior Patch Flanagan each scored two goals for Hand. Senior Will Flanagan, senior Ryan Collins, and Swank added one goal apiece.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Hand girls’ lacrosse team moved to 4-4 after losing two of its three games last week.
On April 27, the Tigers defeated Lauralton Hall by an 18-7 final at the Surf Club. One day later, Hand took a 19-10 loss to New Canaan. Then on April 30, Hand dropped a 20-10 decision against Guilford.
Boys’ Volleyball
The Hand boys’ volleyball team won two of its three matchups last week is now 4-5 on the campaign.
On April 26, the Tigers notched a 3-1 road win versus Norwich Free Academy. Two days later, the Tigers took a 3-0 home loss to Cheshire. Then on April 30, Hand defeated Masuk by a 3-1 score.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
The Hand boys’ outdoor track and field team competed against Jonathan Law on April 27 and came away with a 91.5-58.5 victory to improve to 3-0 on the year.
Hand’s 4x800 relay team of senior Connor Parthasarthy, junior Danny Hilmer, senior Dante Zucconi, and senior Joseph Genther finished in first place (9:08) versus Law. Hand also saw its 4x400 relay team of junior Paul Odyniec, Parthasarthy, junior Alex Hartmann, and junior Mario Mazzarella take first place (3:34) at the meet.
The Tigers also received victories from junior Jack O’Keefe in the 1,600 (4:46) and 3,200 (10:15), Odyniec in the 400 (51.6), and Parthasarthy in the 800 (2:08) against Law. Also taking first place were senior Carter Ganino in the long jump (18-11), junior Jacob McGearty in the high jump (5-11), and senior Bryce Myers in the pole vault (13-0).
Girls’ Outdoor Track
The Hand girls’ outdoor track team moved to 0-3 this season after dropping a 117-37 contest against Jonathan Law on April 27.
Senior Anna Steffen took first place in the 1,600 (5:12) and the 3,200 (11:03) at the meet, while sophomore Julia Coric finished first in the 100 (13.1) and the 200 (27.4). Senior Olivia Zdunek finished first in the high jump (4-8), and senior Keelin Virgulto earned top honors for the 800 (2:50).