North Haven Baseball and Softball Both Riding Win Streaks
Baseball
The North Haven baseball team has won five straight games after claiming two more victories last week and now stands with a mark of 6-2 for the year.
The Indians prevailed at East Haven by an 8-2 score on April 17 and then posted a 7-3 win at Branford on April 19. Head Coach Bob DeMayo's club moved to 2-0 in the Oronoque after recording these two divisional victories.
Facing East Haven on the road, Luca Lawrence pitched 3.2 scoreless innings and was relieved by Brendan Clark, who earned the win by tossing 2.1 scoreless in relief. Griffin Bottomley closed it out for North Haven, which scored in four different innings, including a four-spot in the sixth that blew the game open with a 7-0 advantage. Leadoff batter Matthew Solomon hit a three-run homer to spark North Haven's offense. Dominic Onofrio was 2-for-4 with two RBI, Kevin Lucey went 2-for-4 and scored a run, Peyton Farina tripled and had a run scored, Craig Somma walked twice and scored a run, plus Clark singled, drew two walks, and also scored a run.
Two days later, North Haven grabbed a 7-3 win at Branford. The Indians were down 3-1 before plating three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. Winning pitcher Preston Young gave up three runs (2 earned) in five innings, after which Clark threw two scoreless for the save. Young and Clark both have three wins this season. Lucey went 2-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored, Solomon tripled and scored a run, Anastasio drew three walks, Erbe walked twice and scored a pair of runs, and Clark singled, scored twice, and had a RBI.
Softball
The Indians' softball squad was victorious in both of last week's matchups to improve its record to 5-1. Head Coach Sally Maher's squad has won five games in a row.
North Haven began the week with a 2-1 victory at Oronoque Division opponent Sheehan on April 17. Two days later, the Indians hosted West Haven and won by a 9-1 score.
In the Sheehan win, Caroline Gabrielle drove home both of North Haven's runs in the third inning, and the Indians held on for the victory. Lauren Card tossed a five-hitter that saw her walk one and strike out nine. Caitlin Ranciato went 2-for-3 with a triple, Olivia Peterson also tripled, and Haylee Garthwait hit a double for the Indians.
In the West Haven game, the Indians trailed 1-0 heading to the fourth inning, but broke loose for four runs in the frame, followed by another run in the fifth and four more in the sixth. Lauren Card pitched a four-hitter with two walks and four Ks to earn her fifth win. Peyton Davis hit a homer and had three RBI, Gigi Russo and Ariana DelVecchio both had two RBI, and Laurissa Amaker added a RBI for North Haven.
Girls' Lacrosse
The Indians went on the road and edged West Haven 10-9 in overtime on April 15, after which they played in Hamden and prevailed 12-5. North Haven now owns a record of 4-1.
Annie Uyeki netted five goals and Kylie Brandt had two goals with two assists, including the game-winning goal in overtime, when the Indians won at West Haven. The Indians battled back from a two-goal deficit in the second half to tie it on a Uyeki goal with two minutes left in regulation. Jordyn Aurora, Haley Murray, and Courtney Babbidge also found the back of the net in the victory. Sam Langner came up with nine saves in goal.
Facing Hamden, the Indians held a 5-3 lead at halftime and then outscored the Green Dragons by a 7-2 tally in the second half. Uyeki scored four goals, Brandt had three goals, and Courtney Babbidge recorded two goals with an assist. Murray, Clara Pellegrino, and Callyn Priebe also scored goals for the Indians, who received 14 saves from Langner.
Boys' Lacrosse
North Haven won two of its three most recent games to improve its mark to 5-1. On April 15, the Indians posted a 16-4 blowout at non-conference opponent Farmington. Two days later, North Haven hosted fellow SCC Division I opponent Xavier and dropped a 10-9 decision. Then on April 19, the Indians played at Sheehan and won 14-0.
Facing Farmington, Pete Saracino and Zack Orth both had five goals with two assists to lead the Indians. Matt Crisco scored two goals and added an assist, while Tom Dodge, Korbin Pecora, and Brian Mills each had one goal with one assist. Max Sullivan scored a goal, Bowen Brennan had a pair of assists, plus Kyle Melillo and Billy VanNieuwenhyuyze added an assist apiece. Dustin Byrnes made three saves in net and Lou Coppola had one save.
Orth had a huge game in the Xavier loss by netting six goals. Pecora scored a goal and had four assists, Saracino had a goal to go with an assist, plus Brennan had a goal with an assist and also won 16 of his 19 face-off draws.
Against Sheehan, Saracino scored four goals and had an assist, Pecora scored three goals and Orth had two, Brennan netted two goals with a pair of assists, while Sullivan and Crisco added goals.
Girls' Outdoor Track
On April 19, North Haven competed in a tri-meet in Woodbridge, where the Indians lost to the host Spartans (85-65), while posting victories versus Hamden (97-49) and Hand (79-70) to improve to 6-1.
Erica Marriott won the 100 (13.17) and long jump (16-4.25) to go with second-place finishes in the 200 (26.41) and triple jump (32-5) for the Indians. Sarah Vanacore placed first in both the shot put (34-5) and the discus (90-7). Camille Sahirul won the triple jump with a distance of 33-5 and was second in the long jump at 15-9. Also placing second were Elise Symon in the 1,600 (5:31.55) and the 3,200 (12:44.63), plus the 4x800 relay of Maily Tran, Elya Paolillo, Quinn Kirby, and Shannon Reilly, who ran a time of 4:59.55.
Boys' Outdoor Track
The Indians were at Hand for a quad-meet against three fellow SCC schools on April 18. North Haven lost to the host Tigers (105-45), Amity (96-54), and Xavier (78-72) to drop to 4-3.
Omar Gebril won the long jump with a distance of 20 feet-2 inches. Gebril also came in second place for the 200-meter dash (23.4 seconds) and the 400-meter dash (51.2) to go with a third-place showing in the 100 behind a personal-best time of 11.3.
Also taking second place were Josh Bryson in the 110 high hurdles (personal best of 16.1 seconds) and the 300 intermediate hurdles (43.7), Kyle Maruca in the discus (121 feet-10 inches, personal best), Eric Milliard in the shot put (44-5.75), and Byrce Bromell for the triple jump with a personal best 38-11.5.
Boys' Tennis
North Haven lost a pair of road matchups last week to move to 3-3 on the season. The Indians took a 6-1 loss at Amity on April 17 and were edged 4-3 in Branford on April 19.
Jack Steinman and Johannes Eisenberg teamed up to play No. 1 doubles in the Amity match and posted a 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory.
Against Branford, the teams of Steinman and Eisenberg (6-0, 6-1), Matt Carroll and Riley Powell (6-1, 6-1), and Mike Gagliardi and Quinn Dallai (6-2, 5-7, 6-0) emerged victorious.
On Thursday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m., there will be a ceremony at North Haven High School to recognize Steinman for him scoring career point No. 1,000 on the basketball court this past winter.
Golf
The Indians were on the links for a road match with fellow Wallingford Country Club tenant Lyman Hall on April 18. North Haven lost a 185-194 contest to move to 2-1.
Gianni Abate scored a 46, while Alex Kirtland shot a 47 for the Indians. Matt Mezzano and Kameron DeMartin posted scores of 50 and 51, respectively.