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07/26/2021 12:00 AMThe Branford Junior American Legion 17-U baseball team had five Zone 2 contests on its schedule last week and came away from the slate with three victories. Post 83 took a 3-1 loss to Wallingford, earned a 7-1 win and a 13-1 victory versus Hamden, and then split a doubleheader with New Haven by taking a 6-3 loss and claiming a 6-2 win.
With these results, Branford moved to 9-8 in the Zone 2 standings this year. Post 83 has matchups against Orange, Wallingford, New Haven, and Hamden this week as the team enters the home stretch of its regular season.
On July 18, Branford played a road game versus Wallingford and took a 3-1 loss at Pat Wall Field. Wallingford scored two runs in the first inning and one run in the second to take a 3-0 lead. Branford plated its lone run of the game when Nico Falcioni doubled home Zac Turbert in the top of the seventh.
Falcioni went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Turbert went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base for Post 83. Austin Rhodes was 2-for-4 in the loss.
Logan Cser pitched four scoreless innings of relief for Branford. Cser allowed three hits and three walks and had three strikeouts.
Branford bounced back from its loss to Wallingford by sweeping a two-game series with Hamden later in the week. In the first game, Branford hosted Hamden on July 20 and prevailed by a 7-1 score at Totoket Field.
Post 83 jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a run in the third and two runs in the fifth. Hamden scored a run in the top of the sixth before Branford put the game away with a four-spot in the bottom half of the frame.
Ben Stegina tossed a complete game to lead Post 83 to the victory. Stegina worked all seven innings, giving up just one unearned run on five hits and two walks to go with nine punchouts. He also had a good day at the plate by going 1-for-1 with two walks, two runs scored, an RBI, and a pair of stolen bases.
Turbert went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, an RBI, and three stolen bases; while Rhodes went 3-for-4 with a run, two RBI, and a stolen base to aid the Branford offense. Falcioni went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Dave Carroll had two walks, two steals, and a run scored.
Post 83 finished off its sweep of Hamden by claiming a 13-1, five-inning victory in the rematch at Branford High School on July 22. Hamden scored the first run in the third, but Branford came right back with two runs in the fourth to go up 2-1. Post 83 went to score 11 runs in the top of the fifth inning to bust the game open, after which the contest was called with Branford up by 12 following the bottom half of the inning.
Rhodes went 1-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases for Branford. Stegina was 1-for-3 with two runs, an RBI, and two steals; and Falcioni went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run in the win. Harry Smith went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run, and an RBI; Nick Michaud was 1-for-4 with a run, an RBI, and a stolen base; Cser went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI; and TJ Wenger had a walk with a run scored and an RBI for Post 83.
Carroll got the start on the hill and worked two scoreless innings for Branford, striking out five. Bobby Dolzani picked up the win by pitching two innings of relief. Rhodes finished it off by tossing a scoreless fifth.
Then on July 24, Branford played a doubleheader against New Haven at West Rock Park and split the set. Branford dropped a 6-3 decision in the opener and then notched a 6-2 victory in the nightcap.
Post 83 jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the first game. New Haven came back with a run in the bottom of the second, four runs in the third, and another run in the sixth to get the victory.
Logan Fontaine went 1-for-2 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI for Branford. Dolzani was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Rhodes pitched three innings of relief in the game, allowing one run.
Branford bounced back by winning the second game of the doubleheader. Zach Turbert pitched six solid innings to lead Post 83 to the victory.