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07/26/2021 12:00 AMThe Branford Prep American Legion 15-U baseball team continued its strong play this summer by winning two of its three games last week. Post 83 took a 10-8 loss to South Windsor, but came back to grab a 5-3 win over Middletown and a 5-2 victory versus Milford in last week’s action.
Branford improved its record to 10-6 in Zone D competition following its recent results. Post 83 is playing games versus Glastonbury, South Windsor, Stamford, and Enfield during the home stretch of its regular season this week.
In its first matchup of the week, Post 83 lost to South Windsor by a 10-8 score in a home game at North Branford High School on July 20. Branford was up 4-2 through two innings, but South Windsor scored seven runs in the third inning and went on to get the victory.
Kyle Stegina went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI for Post 83. Jaeden Konesky was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Caleb Allen went 1-for-1 with three walks, a run, and two RBI.
Tim Rice pitched four solid innings of relief for Branford. Rice allowed just one unearned run on no hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
The following day, Branford was on the road to face Middletown and claimed a 5-3 victory at Pat Kidney Field. Branford scored a run in the second inning and two in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. Middletown tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Post 83 came back with a pair of runs in the sixth for a 5-3 advantage.
Stegina picked up the win in relief for Branford. Stegina tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk to go with seven strikeouts.
Jack Smith paced Branford at the plate by going 2-for-4 with a double. Jason O’Connor drew three walks, stole three bases, and also scored a run in the win. Brandon Collins had an RBI single for Post 83.
Branford added another one to the win column when it earned a 5-2 victory against Milford at Foran High School on July 24. Post 83 was down 2-0 before scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game. The contest ultimately went to extra innings, where Branford scored three runs in the top of the eighth to come away with the win.
Matthew Scalia and Smith hit back-to-back RBI doubles to score to first two runs for Branford in the eighth inning, after which Post 83 scored its third run on an error. Scalia went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Smith was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Rice went 2-for-3 with a double, a run, and a stolen base; O’Connor went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and a stolen base; and Kyle Anderson was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Stegina got the start on the mound and pitched 4.2 innings for Post 83, giving up two unearned runs on three hits and three walks with eight K’s. O’Connor notched the win with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief in which he allowed just one hit and struck out three. Smith got the save by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.