The Branford Senior Legion baseball squad needed just seven innings to put away Rochester, New Hampshire in its opening game of the Northeast Regional, winning 18-8 via the mercy rule at Middletown's Palmer Field on Aug. 8.

Post 83 (33-1) jumped ahead 3-0 in the third inning before New Hampshire scored four in the bottom half to take the lead. Branford retaliated with three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to go up 11-4. Although Rochester cut it to 11-8 in the sixth inning, Rich Balzano’s club put up a seven-run seventh go up by 10. New Hampshire went quietly in the bottom of the inning with Mike Schettino getting a ground-ball double play to invoke the mercy rule and secure the win for Post 83.

Branford enters the double-elimination Regional after having swept Southington to claim its fourth state championship last weekend.

John Amendola allowed seven runs, yet got the win versus Rochester Post 7 to improve to 10-0. Nick Debroi allowed one run in 1.1 innings with Schettino working the final 2.3. Richard Kramer took the loss for New Hampshire by allowing eight runs in 4.1 innings.

Branford’s offense pounded out 17 hits, led by Nick Perrelli, who had two doubles and a homer with three runs scored and seven RBI; Ben Criscuolo, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a run; Mike Funaro, who doubled twice with three runs, two RBI, and a stolen base; Tyler Criscuolo, who had two singles with four runs scored, two RBI, and a steal; Kyle Hart, who had two singles with three runs scored; and Alex Pantani, who had two singles with an RBI and a run scored.

McCormick Sturthers led New Hampshire’s offense with a home run, two runs, and three RBI.

“Playing with metal bats makes a big difference. We’ve been averaging about four runs per game, but if we score 18 a game, I think we have a shot,” Coach Balzano joked. “John wasn’t quite himself on the mound, but toughed it out for five innings. Nick is just dialed in at the plate. Every ball he hit, he hit hard.”

Branford scored the game’s first three runs in the third when Tyler Criscuolo walked and Hart reached on a bunt single, after which Perrelli plated Criscuolo with a double down the left field line and Ben Criscuolo singled home Hart and Perrelli for a 3-0 lead. New Hampshire plated three go take a 4-3 lead, but Branford came back with three in the fourth. Stankiewicz started the surge with a walk, Funaro put down a bunt single and stole second, and then Tyler Criscuolo walked to load the bases. Two outs later, Perrelli smashed a three-run homer to score Criscuolo and Funaro and make it 6-4.

Post 83 added five runs in the fifth. Tyler Forgione walked to lead off, Chris Stankiewicz followed with a single, and Funaro doubled in Forgione. Tyler Criscuolo drew a walk, Stankiewicz came home on Hart’s fielder’s choice, then Perrelli’s two-run double scored Funaro and Criscuolo. Ben Criscuolo then brought home Hart with a sacrifice fly for an 11-4 advantage.

Rochester came back again with four runs in the sixth to slash Branford’s lead to 11-8, yet Balzano’s club put away the game with a seven-run outburst in the top of the seventh. In that frame, Tyler Criscuolo walked, Hart singled, and Perrelli walked to fill the bases yet again. Ben Criscuolo’s single scored Tyler Criscuolo and was followed by Greg Zullo singling in Hart and Perrelli. After a Forgione single, Pantani drew a bases-loaded walk that forced home Ben Criscuolo, Funaro walked to plate Forgione, Tyler Criscuolo singled in Pantani, and then Perrelli’s bases-loaded walk scored Funaro to seal it at 18-8.