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05/01/2022 12:00 AMSoftball
The North Branford softball team had a productive week on the field by winning three of its four games to boost its record to 7-5 this season. The Thunderbirds earned victories over Westbrook-Portland, Berlin, and Valley Regional and then took a loss to Haddam-Killingworth in their final game of the week.
North Branford claimed a 21-0 home victory in 5 innings against the Westbrook-Portland co-op squad on April 25. Sophomore Kiley Mullins and fellow sophomore Gianna Fico combined to throw a no-hitter for North Branford in the win. Senior Lauren Ackerman and senior Nichole Gomez both hit home runs for the Thunderbirds. Freshman Lexi Falcioni had a double and a triple, sophomore Lindsey Onofrio hit a triple, and sophomore Natalia Lucibello had a double.
The next day, the T-Birds posted a 16-3 road win versus Berlin in a 6-inning game. On April 27, North Branford hosted Valley Regional and defeated the Warriors by a 21-8 score in 5 innings. Ackerman had another big day at the plate by getting 3 hits, scoring 3 runs, and posting 1 RBI for the T-Birds. Senior Bella Hills had a triple and a pair of singles to go with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI. Falcioni had a double with 4 runs scored, senior Gianna Depino had 2 runs and 2 RBI, and Onofrio and sophomore Gabi Senerchia both had 2 RBI for North Branford.
The day after that, the Thunderbirds took a 9-4 loss to Haddam-Killingworth. Lucibello had a double and a triple with 2 RBI for North Branford, while freshman Adriana Hills hit 2 doubles and had an RBI in the contest.
Baseball
The North Branford baseball team played four ballgames last week and came away with two victories to put its record at 7-6 for the season.
North Branford took a 7-0 road loss against Lyman Hall on April 25. Then on April 27, the T-Birds traveled to Deep River to play Valley Regional and dropped a 9-8 decision to the Warriors. The next day, North Branford claimed a 6-0 victory versus Haddam-Killingworth in a road game. The T-Birds finished out the week by earning a 6-1 win versus Cromwell at home on April 30.
Boys’ Golf
The North Branford boys’ golf team came away with a win and a tie between its two meets last week. With these results, the T-Birds now stand with a record of 3-1-2 on the season.
North Branford earned a 186-201 home victory against Cromwell at Indian Springs Golf Club on April 25. Jack O’Brien shot a 44 to lead the T-Birds at the meet. Dakota Cooper and Robert Cappella both scored a 47, Jalen Rossicone finished with a 48, and Blake Pearson posted a score of 50 for North Branford.
Then on April 28, the T-Birds faced Haddam- Killingworth on the road and played the Cougars to a 184-184 tie at Black Birch Golf Course. Cappella recorded a score of 45 for his round. O’Brien and Cooper both scored a 46, while Rossicone and Pearson each finished with a score of 47 for the Thunderbirds.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The North Branford girls’ lacrosse team split its two games last week and now has a record of 6-3 this year.
On April 26, the Thunderbirds netted a 19-7 win versus Lyman Hall in a road game. Senior Braedan LeBeau scored 5 goals and had 4 assists to lead North Branford to the victory. Sophomore Keana Criscuolo had 4 goals with 1 assist, senior Grace Marra scored 3 goals, and junior Mia Park had 2 goals with 1 assist.
Junior Ashley Manning, junior Mea Riordan, and sophomore Sophia Toto each had 1 goal and 1 assist for the T-Birds. Sophomore Tea Ferrucci scored a goal, while sophomore Callie Holzer contributed an assist. Junior Vicky McDermott made 3 saves in goal for North Branford.
Two days later, North Branford hosted Old Saybrook and took an 11-10 defeat against the Rams. Criscuolo netted 5 goals for the Thunderbirds in the game. LeBeau scored 2 goals, senior Marissa Raffone had 1 goal with 1 assist, Toto and Riordan both scored a goal, and Marra had and assist. Junior Ava Candelora made 6 saves in net for the T-Birds.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The North Branford boys’ lacrosse squad moved to 5-5 on the year after splitting a pair of road games last week.
The Thunderbirds started off last week’s action by posting a 9-7 road victory over Old Saybrook on April 28. Senior Jake Saldutti scored 5 goals to go with 2 assists for North Branford in the win. Sophomore Luke Blomster scored 2 goals, junior Ian Kamienski had 1 goal with 2 assists, junior Jace Kamienski netted 1 goal, and sophomore Brady Martinik had 1 assist. Junior Dradon Brindisi made 14 saves to get the win in net.
Two days later, North Branford traveled to Wallingford to face Sheehan and took a 18-7 defeat to the Titans in non-conference action.
Girls’ Tennis
The North Branford girls’ tennis team played three matches last week and came away with one win to move to 3-6 for the spring season.
The T-Birds began their week by claiming a 5-2 victory at Coginchaug on April 25. Junior Payton Kamienski earned a 6-2, 6-3 win in the No. 2 singles match for North Branford. Junior Molly LaCroix claimed a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles; and senior Catherine Pollock recorded a 6-0, 6-0 shutout at No. 4 singles. North Branford’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Cynthia Pujols and junior Christin Wessoleck netted a 6-3, 6-2 win; and the No. 2 team of junior Bridget Betzner and freshman Karma Melillo notched a 6-7, 6-4, 1-0 victory.
Two days later, North Branford took a 7-0 home loss to Westbrook. North Branford wrapped up its week by taking a 5-2 loss to Morgan in a home match on April 29.