Printer Friendly Version - Hand Softball Wins a Pair of 9-8 Decisions; Boys’ Track Team Sweeps a Quad-Meet

Senior Megan Hart went yard to help the Hand softball team claim a 9-8 win versus North Haven on May 3. The Tigers went on to defeat Hamden by that same final the next day. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source

The Hand softball team won a pair of high-scoring contests by the same score last week to improve its record to 8-4 this year. The Tigers defeated both North Haven and Hamden by the final tally of 9-8 in last week’s action.

Hand started off the week by claiming a 9-8 road win over North Haven on May 3. The Tigers trailed 6-5 in the top of the sixth inning when freshman Grace Hall hit a 3-run homer to give Hand the lead. Hall also pitched a complete game to get the victory on the mound.

The Tigers socked four home runs on the day. Along with Hall’s blast, senior Megan Hart, freshman Alexa Young, and sophomore Reese Ciecko all homered to help the Tigers defeat the Nighthawks. Ciecko went 3-for-4 in the victory, while Hart, senior Carly Brasky, and freshman Izzy Bowler also had multiple hits.

The Tigers went on to defeat Hamden by a 9-8 score in walk-off fashion in a home game the following day. With the game tied 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Ciecko singled home the go-ahead run to win it for Hand.

Bowler doubled home a run in the second inning to give Hand an early lead. The Tigers went on to score 4 runs in the second inning, keyed by RBI from senior Lily Perry, Ciecko, Young, and Bowler. Young and Ciecko each collected 3 hits to pace the Tigers’ offense. Freshman Erin Cerny, freshman Taylor Ferraiolo, Perry, and Hall all had multiple hits in the victory. Hall also tossed a complete game to get the win in the circle.

Hand’s defense made no errors in the game. Junior Annie Goodrich had the most chances in the field with 10 on the day.

The Hand baseball team came away with a split of two games last week to move to 9-4 on the season.

Hand started off its week by rallying for a 4-3 victory in Guilford on May 3. The Tigers trailed 3-1 entering the top of the seventh inning, but scored 3 runs in the frame to take a 1-run lead over the Grizzlies. Sophomore Brandon SanMarco got the start on the mound and allowed 3 hits in 4.1 innings for Hand. Senior David Antonetti followed with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn his fourth win of the year.

Junior Troy Piascik went 3-for-3 and hit a key sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for the Tigers. Senior Evan Mastrobattisto had an RBI single in the victory.

Two days later, Hand hosted Fitch and took a 14-4 loss to the Falcons. Piascik hit a 3-run home run for the Tigers in the game. Senior Will Kranzler had 2 hits for Hand.

The Hand boys’ tennis team improved to 10-1 on the year after scoring victories in both of last week’s road matches.

In its first match of the week, Hand notched a 7-0 victory at Sheehan on May 3. Senior Sebastien Lowy claimed a 6-0, 6-1 win in the No. 1 singles match for the Tigers. Sophomore Elliott Booth, senior Max Gulla, and sophomore Matt Vetter each recorded a 6-0, 6-0 victory in the No. 2 through 4 singles matches, respectively.

Hand’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Will de Chabert and senior Will Fumex posted a 6-1, 6-1 win. The No. 2 duo of senior Robbie Washburne and senior Patrick Hennessey earned a 6-2, 6-0 victory; and the No. 3 tandem of senior Ethan Speerli and Will Dodd won their contest by a 6-1, 6-0 score.

Two days later, the Tigers played a road match against Xavier and defeated the Falcons by a 6-1 final at Wesleyan University. Booth (6-3, 6-1), Gulla (6-4, 3-0), and junior Zander Konstantino (6-3, 6-1) claimed victory at the No. 2 through 4 singles spots, respectively, for Hand. The Tigers’ doubles team of de Chabert/Fumex (6-2, 6-1), Washburne/Hennessey (6-2, 6-2), and Speerli/Dodd (6-0, 6-1) were also triumphant.

The Hand girls’ tennis team improved to 6-3 by defeating Foran in its lone matchup of the week. The Tigers traveled to Milford to face Foran on May 5 and posted a 7-0 shutout over the Lions.

Senior Claire Langille netted a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the No. 1 singles match for the Tigers. Junior Laila Haraj-Sai claimed a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles; freshman Ella Helfrich won a 6-3, 6-1 decision at No. 3 singles; and freshman Juliana Jorens was a 6-0, 6-1 winner at No. 4 singles.

Hand’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Brenna Colonese-DiBello and senior Zhu Zhu Berger notched an 8-0 victory. The No. 2 team of senior Bella Vejar and junior Libby Rogers earned an 8-0 win; and the No. 3 team of senior Ella Scarice and sophomore Teagan Ariyan recorded an 8-2 victory.

The Hand boys’ outdoor track team improved to 8-0 after sweeping a quad-meet at Sheehan High School on May 3. The Tigers earned wins versus Sheehan (91-59), Amity (82-68), and Branford (90-58) to get the sweep and stay undefeated on the season.

Junior Nick Montana finished first in the 800 (2:02) for Hand at the meet. The Tigers also received victories from sophomore Liam Elliott in the 110 hurdles (16.5), senior Mario Mazzarella in the shot put (38-11.5), senior Morgan Veth in the high jump (5-11), senior Ethan O’Brien in the long jump (19-8.25), and sophomore Matt Kasper in the triple jump (40-0).

The Hand girls’ outdoor track team took three defeats when the Tigers competed in a quad-meet at Sheehan High School last week. Hand lost decisions against Sheehan (119-31), Amity (85-50), and Branford (77-57) in Wallingford on May 3. Junior Julia Coric took first place in the 400 with a time of 62.6 seconds for the Tigers.

The Hand boys’ golf team improved to 4-3 by winning two of its three matches last week.

Hand teed off the week by earning a 169-177 road victory versus Xavier at Portland Golf Course on May 3. Junior Reece Scott garnered medalist honors by carding a low score of 38 for the Tigers. Junior Matt Gagliardi shot a 40, senior David Ginsburg posted a 44, and sophomore Kasimir Lesnick finished with a 47 in the victory.

The following day, the Tigers faced Guilford as the road team at Madison Country Club and defeated the Grizzlies by a 162-172 score. Scott shot an even-par 35 to once again collect medalist honors for Hand. Gagliardi recorded a season-low score of 39 in the win.

Then on May 5, Hand hosted Portland at Madison Country Club and took a 151-177 loss to the Highlanders. Scott (41), Gagliardi (44), junior Jonathan Dolph (44), and senior Charlie McIntyre (48) competed for the Tigers at the meet.

The Hand girls’ golf team played four opponents between its three matchups last week. The Tigers took three losses and also earned a tie to put their record at 1-5-1 for the season.

Hand competed against Cheshire and Glastonbury in a road meet at Southington Country Club on May 2. The Tigers posted a score of 243 and took defeats against Cheshire (186) and Glastonbury (194) at the meet.

On May 4, Hand took a 149-203 road loss versus St. Paul at Westwoods Golf Course. The next day, the Tigers hosted Norwich Free Academy and came away with a 228-228 tie against the Wildcats at Madison Country Club.

The Hand boys’ lacrosse team played three games last week and claimed two victories to move to 8-3 for the spring season.

The Tigers took a 15-13 defeat to Cheshire in a road game on May 2. Then on May 5, Hand hosted Notre Dame-West Haven and claimed a 14-11 victory versus the Green Knights. Two days later, Hand earned a 7-5 win versus Weston in a non-conference home game at the Surf Club.

The Hand boys’ volleyball team took three defeats last week to move to 3-10 on the season.

On May 2, Hand took a 3-0 road loss versus Barlow. Two days later, the Tigers hosted Pomperaug and lost the contest by a 3-1 score.

Then on May 6, Hand played a road match versus Cheshire and took a 3-0 loss to the Rams. Junior Matthew Marra had 10 assists and 4 digs for the Tigers. Senior Trey Adams recorded 10 kills for Hand.