Softball

The Branford softball team finished its season with a flourish by winning its last four games, including a 3-2 victory versus Valley Regional at home on May 23. The Hornets posted a record of 6-14 on the campaign.

Sophia Araneo scattered five hits and struck out eight to earn the win on the mound for Chuck Reale’s club. Araneo also had an RBI, as did Marisa Minore and Lexi Falcigno, who both tripled for Branford.

The Hornets plated all three of their runs in the first inning and led 3-0. Valley scored a run in the third and another on the fourth to make it 3-2. The Warriors then threatened by loading the bases with one out in the seventh, but Branford’s defense came up clutch as second baseman Olivia Datre threw out the tying run at the plate with catcher Matilda Kreider applying the tag. The game’s last batter the grounded out to Datre and the Hornets walked off the field with the win.

In other news, it was recently announced that Minore, a sophomore, was named to the All-SCC Oronoque Division Team for the first time in her career based on her play this season.

Baseball

The Hornets went 9-11 for the regular season after taking a 2-0 loss in Guilford on May 23. After that, Branford opened play in the SCC Tournament as the No. 7 seed and lost a 9-3 contest at 2nd-seeded Hamden in quarterfinal action on May 26. Next up for Branford is the Class L State Tournament the gets underway this week.

Girls’ Lacrosse

Branford competed in the SCC Tournament as the No. 3 seed and took a 14-4 defeat at 2nd-seeded Cheshire in a semifinal contest on May 24. The Hornets, who dropped to 14-3, are competing in the Class M State Tournament this week.

Girls’ Outdoor Track

Branford saw three athletes finish in third place at the SCC Championship. Senior Cyrene Nicholas came within half-a-second of breaking the school record in the 1,600 by running a time of 5:11.20, which was a personal record (PR). Fellow senior Issy Bysiewicz also set a PR of 47.34 in her third-place finish for the 300-meter hurdles with Head Coach Kevin Connell saying she ran like “she had something to prove.” Sophomore Taylor Brown took third in the pole vault with a height of 8 feet-6 inches. As a team, Branford scored 44 points and placed seventh out of 20 clubs.

“It was a very good meet for us. Many PRs. The relays were excellent and it was great to see the seniors have such a good day,” Connell said. “We’ve got to keep our focus on [the Class MM State Championship on Wednesday, June 1].”

Connell added that junior Kiersten Bjork’s PR toss of 99 feet-10 inches was “unbelievable.” Bjork finished fourth in the event. Senior Claira Janover had another nice postseason meet by placing fifth in a pair of events. Janover was fifth in the triple jump (33-9) and also took fifth in the finals of the 100 hurdles in 16.59 after she had posted the fifth-fastest time of 16.72 for the preliminaries. Senior Etta Hanlon came away with a fifth-place finish in the long jump at 16-2.75 and senior Gerling Daniels was fifth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.95 seconds, bettering her prelim mark of 12.99, which was the eighth-best time and just got her into the finals. Also scoring points were freshman Liante Claude, who was seventh in the 400 (1:01.22); and junior Amanda Acquarulo, who took eighth in the high jump at 4-8. The Hornets’ 4x100 relay put up some points with its seventh-place showing as Acquarulo, Claude, Hanlon, and Daniels went a 51.34.

Additionally, Branford’s 4x400 of Claude, Janover, Nicholas, and Bysiewicz finished in 10th place behind a time of 4:15.97; Nicholas took 10th in the 800 (2:28.03), senior Abby Atkinson came in 11th in the high jump (4-6), junior Courtney Cosgrove was 13th for the 3,200 (12:28.64), junior Keira Integlia claimed 13th place in the javelin (87-2), senior Anneliese Troidle finished 15th in the 1,600 (5:42.93), Leah Pendl-Robinson finished 14th in the pole vault with fellow sophomore Wyntre Fries in 18th as both girls reached 7 feet, and Bysiewicz took 21st in the long jump at 14-2.75.

Boys’ Outdoor Track

The Hornets competed at the SCC Championship at Sheehan High School on May 24 and were led by solid showings from seniors Kory King and Seraphin Tala in the hurdles events. King and Tala were neck and neck in both the preliminaries for the 110-meter high hurdles. King had the fourth-fastest time of 16 seconds with Tala just one spot behind at 16.08. Then for the finals, King ran 15.72 to finish fourth, while Tala also improved his time by going 15.90 to take sixth. Both athletes also scored points in the 300 intermediate hurdles as King was fifth with a mark of 42.16 and Tala finished seventh at 42.67. These performances accounted for all 14 points for Branford, which placed 17th out of 20 schools. King additionally finished in 11th place in the triple jump by hitting 37 feet-8 inches.

Elsewhere in individual events, Matt Alexander placed 16th in the long jump (18-2.5) and fellow freshman Marzio Mastroianni claimed 17th place in the 1,600-meter run (4:39.73). Branford also took 13th place in a pair of relays. The 4x400 of Mastroianni, junior Jayden Sullivan, plus seniors Joe Borst and Marshall Borrus ran 3:46.60, while the 4x800 quartet of junior Andrew Byrne, sophomores Derek Tratnyek and Kadir Sahin, and senior Matthew Solivan reached the finish line in 9:23.55.

"On the track, the athletes performed well today," Head Coach Rich Biondi said. "Kory King and Seraphin Tala continued to excel and place in the hurdling events at the championship meets. Many of the other athletes who ran also did well. Marzio Mastroianni, Ricky Tratynek, Andrew Byrne, Joe Borst, and Marshall Borrus all set personal bests. In the field events, we had a off day. I am confident those athletes will grow from the experience and finish the season on a high note at states."

Golf

The Hornets wrapped up their regular season by splitting a tri-match with Hand and Career on May 23 at Pine Orchard Country Club. Branford scored a 171 to defeat Hand (167), while losing to Career. The Hornets finished with a record of 14-6.