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East Haven Senior Legion Starts Season at 3-3

John Longley was promoted from the head coach of East Haven’s American Prep Legion baseball team to the skipper of the 89ers Senior squad this summer. Through the first six games of the season, East Haven sits at 3-3 in Zone 2 action with a relatively young club.

On June 14, West Haven defeated East Haven 16-9 to open the year. The 89ers allowed nine runs in one inning, while committing multiple errors in the field. Tristian Punzo had four hits, Tyler Leone had three, and Sal Buffone recorded two.

The 89ers rebounded to win the series by defeating West Haven 6-2 on June 15 and 8-4 on June 16. In the 6-2 victory, Mike Mancuso earned the victory on the mound. Leone had three hits, Nike Carbone had two, and Albert Maio added two hits and scored two runs. In the 8-4 victory, Jake Ferrara was the winning pitcher for East Haven, which drew eight walks in the game. Leone led the way with a pair of doubles and two RBI, plus Carbone and Anthony Buffone each had a hit and a pair of walks.

On the weekend, Stratford defeated East Haven twice in a doubleheader on June 18, but the 89ers won the rubber match of the three-games series on June 19 to get back to .500. In the doubleheader, Stratford won the first game 3-2 in eight innings. The 89ers were up 2-0 most of the way as Frank Longley and Maio each had an RBI, but Stratford tied the game in the bottom of the seventh and won it in the eighth. Dan Petr took a no-decision on the mound as East Haven left the bases loaded twice.

In the second game, East Haven was held to just two hits by Gabe Longley and Ferrara as Stratford won 5-0. It was one of those games where East Haven was on the ball, but hit everything right at the opposition.

East Haven won 5-4 on June 19 behind a walk-off hit by Maio. Frank Longley pitched the first six innings and left with a 4-3 lead. Mancuso allowed the tying run in the top of the seventh and so East Haven came to bat in the bottom half. Gabe Longley, who had three hits and an RBI, led off the inning with a triple. Then after Stratford intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases, Maio delivered the game-winning knock. Dom Delbasso had two hits and two runs in the win, while Frank Longley, Andrew Luzzi, and Tyler Spano each had a hit.

—PJ Foti