Printer Friendly Version - Grizzlies’ Girls’ Lacrosse and Softball Teams Continue Winning Streaks

Senior captain goalie Sydney Widlitz earned three wins in net and made her 300th career save along the way as the Grizzlies notched three recent victories to improve their record to 9-1. File photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Courier

The Guilford girls’ lacrosse team put together another excellent week by winning all three of its games last week. The Grizzlies claimed victories against Branford, East Lyme, and Fitch to improve their record to 9-1 while extending their win streak to nine-consecutive games.

Guilford started off its week by notching a 18-4 home win versus Branford on April 26. Sophomore Payton Root scored 6 goals in the victory, while senior Maddie Epke had 3 goals with 6 assists. Junior Delaney Victor scored 2 goals, senior Taylor Farace had 1 goal and 3 assists, and junior MJ Santa Barbara, junior Scout Climie, and freshman Tea Gambardella each had 1 goal with 1 assist. Senior Olivia McDonald, senior Lorelei King, and junior Ella Clarke all scored 1 goal for the Grizzlies. Senior goalie Sydney Widlitz made 7 saves in net.

Then on April 28, the Grizzlies played a road game against East Lyme and defeated the Vikings by a 15-5 final. Widlitz made her 300th career save for Guilford and had a total of 11 saves in the game. Root scored 5 goals to go with 3 assists, Epke had 4 goals and 1 assist, Santa Barbara netted 4 goals, and King scored 2 goals in the win.

Two days later, the Grizzlies hosted Fitch and recorded a 15-4 victory over the Falcons. Epke scored 3 goals and dished out 6 assists in the contest. Root had 3 goals and 1 assist, while Farace scored 2 goals to go with 1 assist. King, Santa Barbara, Baseggio, Victor, sophomore Addison Widlitz, and junior Kayla Nophsker added 1 goal apiece. Sydney Widlitz stopped 12 shots in net.

Head Coach Wendy Epke said that Guilford has been bolstered by tremendous play from its senior goalkeeper Sydney Widlitz, along with strong overall defense this season. The Grizzlies’ defensive corps features Baseggio, Climie, McDonald, junior Emerson Forselius, and sophomore Bella Blanco.

The Guilford boys’ lacrosse team moved to 5-3 on the season after splitting a pair of road games last week.

Guilford began its week by recording a 4-2 victory at Xavier on April 28. Two days later, the Grizzlies were back on the road to face Simsbury and took a 12-8 loss in the contest.

The Guilford softball team improved to 9-2 after earning a convincing victory versus Branford and then winning close contests against East Lyme and Cheshire in recent action. The Grizzlies also qualified for the Class L State Tournament last week and have now won their last seven games.

Guilford started off the week by earning a 13-0 win at Branford on April 25. Senior Allie Petonito went 3-for-5 with 4 runs scored and 3 RBI at the dish. Ella Munson and Sophia Meade both had a pair of hits for the Grizzlies. Meade also pitched 4 innings to get the win on the mound, after which Adrianna Piascik finished off the victory for her second save of the season.

The Grizzlies went on to notch an 8-7 road win over East Lyme in 8 innings on April 27. The Grizzlies were trailing in the seventh inning, but tied the game to force extras. In the top of the eighth, Ava Singleton reached first, advanced to second on a bunt by Maddy Smith, and then scored the go-ahead run on a hit from Sophia Meade.

Meade tossed a complete game and also recorded her 100th career strikeout as Guilford qualified for states with this come-from-behind victory. Addison Smith went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI, while Sophia Stanger clubbed a 2-run double for the Grizzlies.

Guilford finished its week by claiming a 6-5 win against Cheshire in a home game on April 28. Addison Smith went 3-for-3 with 4 RBI, including a 3-run homer that gave Guilford the lead in the fourth inning. Meade pitched another complete game to help the Grizzlies pick up their seventh-straight victory.

The Guilford baseball team claimed victory in one of its three games last week to move to 6-7 this season.

On April 25, Guilford hosted Branford and earned a 12-1 win versus the Hornets in a 5-inning game. Sophomore Bryce Meder picked up the win on the mound for the Grizzlies, striking out 5 batters. Senior Max Corbett then came in to slam the door on the victory. Senior Mike Torre went 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI, while junior Carter Williams had a single with a triple and an RBI. Junior Andrew Shosho and junior Brendan Skoglund each had a pair of hits with an RBI for Guilford.

Two days later, the Grizzlies traveled to Woodbridge to face Amity and lost the contest by an 8-3 score. Sophomore Mike Buccaro and Meder each went 2-for-3 with a double in the game.

Then on April 29, Guilford faced Notre Dame-West Haven on the road and took a 14-12 defeat to the Green Knights.

The Guilford boys’ golf squad improved its record to 4-1 by winning both of its matches last week.

On April 25, the Grizzlies claimed a 169-177 home win versus Shelton at Madison Country Club. Freshman Andrew Beauton shot a low score of 37 to collect medalist honors for Guilford. Senior Miguel Pearce shot a 41, senior Owen Angkatavanich finished with a 45, and junior Leo Hergan scored a 46 for the Grizzlies.

Two days later, Guilford earned a 169-175 road victory against Notre Dame-West Haven at Race Brook Country Club. Beauton carded another 37 to again earn the distinction of being the match medalist. Pearce, Angkatavanich, and Hergan each finished with a score of 44 to help the Grizzlies defeat the Green Knights.

The Guilford boys’ tennis team improved to 6-4 on the year after scoring wins in two of its three matches last week.

Guilford took a 5-2 home loss to Notre Dame-West Haven on April 25. Senior Luke Robbins earned a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 victory for Guilford. The Grizzlies’ No. 1 doubles team of Max Banning and junior Sean Johnson won their contest by a 3-6, 7-5, 10-6 score.

Then on April 27, the Grizzlies played a road match against Branford and edged out the Hornets by the final tally of 4-3. Senior Dom Dadak gutted out a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory in the No. 1 singles match. Senior Dylan Stanton rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph in the No. 3 singles match; Robbins prevailed by a 6-2, 6-3 score at No. 4 singles. Banning and Sean Johnson notched a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles to help Guilford earn the win.

The Guilford girls’ outdoor track team hosted a tri-meet against Hillhouse and West Haven on April 28. The Grizzlies came away with a split by earning a 91-51 win against West Haven and taking a 75-70 defeat to Hillhouse at the meet, putting their record at 3-3 on the year.

Junior Alexa Suchy took first place in the 1,600 (5:32.99) and the 3,200 (12:08.38) for Guilford in the tri-meet. Freshman Riley Hickey won the 400 (62.77) and was second in the 200 (28.60). Sophomore Tea Davison finished first in the long jump (14-8), and freshman Agnes Batters took first place in the pole vault (6-0) for the Grizzlies.

Senior Julia Antony finished second in both the 800 (2:35.74) and the 1,600 (5:37.3) at the meet. Sophomore Ella Young placed second in the 300 hurdles (53.19) and also finished third for the triple jump (29-1). Sophomore Brenna Tichy finished second in the javelin (67-4), while freshman Lily Sullivan took second in the high jump (4-4). Senior Fran Meneo finished third in both the shot put (24-10.5) and the discus (61-10) for Guilford.

The Guilford boys’ outdoor track team moved to 3-3 on the year after splitting a home tri-meet with Hillhouse and West Haven week. The Grizzlies earned a 77-55 victory over West Haven and took a 91-54 loss to Hillhouse at Guilford High School on April 28.

Guilford’s 4x800 relay team of junior Michael Masotti, senior Thomas Gregory, junior Bretton Garrick, and senior Justin Shiffrin finished in first place (8:57.11) at the meet. Gregory won the 800 (2:10.46), Masotti took first place in the 3,200 (10:24.59), and sophomore Coleman Love finished first in the 1,600 (4:51.73).

The Grizzlies also received second-place finishes from sophomore Andres Gutierrez in the 100 hurdles, (19.30), Masotti in the 1,600 (4:59.30), Shiffrin in the 800 (2:10.78), and sophomore Connor Pensa in the 3,200 (10:25.11).

Third-place finishers for Guilford included sophomore George Wiley in the javelin (101-05), Gutierrez in the triple jump (36-6) and 300 hurdles (46.71), freshman Max Freeman in the 400 (58.58), Garrick in the 800 (2:12.39), senior Cal Stephens in the 200 (24.73), and Milano in the 3,200 (10:31.15).

Pensa qualified for the Class MM State Championship in the 3,200 with his performance at last week’s meet. Guilford’s qualifiers for the SCC Championship included Milano in the 3,200, Gutierrez in the 300 hurdles, and junior Mike O’Brien in the shot put (35-0).

Senior Thomas Gregory finished first in the 800 and also helped the Grizzlies’ 4x800 relay team take first-place at last week’s home meet versus Hillhouse and West Haven. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier