Baseball

The Branford baseball team had three games on last week’s schedule and came away with a pair of victories to stand with a mark of 6-5 for the year.

Branford started off by taking a 7-0 home loss to East Haven on April 24. Then on April 28, the Hornets had a home game versus Guilford and recorded a 7-1 win. The next morning, Branford faced Wilbur Cross on the road and shut out the Governors 10-0.

In the East Haven game, the Yellowjackets scored three runs in the first inning and then tacked on four more in the sixth to get the 7-0 win.

For the Guilford victory, Alphonse Suppa pitched six strong innings to earn the win, and Zane Kmietek closed it out with a scoreless seventh. Nikko Liguori had a single with a double and an RBI to lead Branford’s offense. Robbie Barbash singled, doubled, and drove home a pair of runs.

Kmietek pitched six scoreless innings in the Cross shutout, and TJ Beaudin worked the seventh for the Hornets. Liguori, Barbash, and Justin Botte all hit doubles, while Zach Withington hit a triple.

Softball

Branford lost two contests last week for a record of 1-7 this season. Branford dropped a 9-1 home game versus West Haven on April 24 and then took a 13-1 defeat in home contest with Lyman Hall on April 28.

Boys’ Lacrosse

Branford played one SCC game and one non-conference contest in last week’s action. The Hornets were victorious in both matchups to move to 6-3. Branford notched a 7-2 home victory over Sheehan on April 24 and prevailed 16-6 against Fitch at home on April 27.

In Branford’s conference victory versus Sheehan, Kordele Brown got the nod in net and came up with 10 big saves. Brian Nichols led the way on offense by netting three goals. Max Manware and Noah Pantani both had a goal with an assist, while Jay Dering and Robbie Linoetti added goals. Harry Smith dished off two assists and Will Riggs had one in the win.

Pantani followed up that performance by scoring six goals in the Fitch victory. Lionetti and Smith both scored two, while Jack Manware, Max Manware, Nichols, Dering, Mike White, and Spencer Engstrom also found the back of the net. Pantani, Nichols, White, and Parker had assists. Nick Cordero made nine saves and Brown had one.

Girls’ Lacrosse

The Hornets played four games last week and won three of them to move to 6-2. Branford took a defeat at SCC opponent Cheshire before notching victories versus three non-conference opponents.

First up, Branford lost a 12-9 decision at Cheshire on April 25. Sophie Spencer scored five goals, Autumn McHenry had two, and Ashlee Smestad and Brianna Shaw both scored one. Smestad also handed out three assists with Spencer adding one.

Two days later, the Hornets recorded a 10-9 win at Old Lyme. Spencer posted three goals for the Hornets, who also received one apiece from Haley Maercklein, Sabrina Torcellini, McHenry, Shaw, Katie Parker, LanLe Crotty, and Britney Bunbanlu. McHenry, Shaw, Crotty, and Smestad had one assist apiece, while Jill Ciarleglio made five saves in goal.

On April 28, Branford played at Haddam-Killingworth and won 15-11.

The following evening, the Hornets hosted Masuk and triumphed by a 13-4 final.

Girls’ Tennis

The Hornets recorded their first victory of the 2017 season last week. Branford hosted West Haven on April 28 and blanked the Blue Devils 7-0 to improve to 1-6 on the year.

Golf

The Hornets had one match last week when they faced Foran at Grassy Hill Country Club. Branford improved to 3-1 by recording a 182-196 victory on April 24.

Ryan Sember and teammate Liam Deane were co-medalists as both golfers turned in a scorecard of 40. Max Bunton shot a 50, while Minsok Lee scored a 52 to help Branford get the win.

Girls’ Outdoor Track

Branford dropped to 3-4 by losing to Shelton and Sheehan in last week’s tri-meet. The Hornets took a 105-42 defeat to the host Gaels and lost 101-48 against Sheehan on April 27.

Liante Claude took first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.4 seconds and also prevailed in the 400 by a running a 61.9. Bridget Wirtz cleared 10 feet-6 inches to win the pole vault, while Keira Integlia was first for the javelin (98-2) with Kiersten Bjork taking fourth (91-1). Diana Karosas placed second in the high jump with a state-qualifying mark of 4-10. Wirtz was third in the 100 (13.3) and Lilyana Milici finished fourth (13.5). Molly Zaffino claimed third in the 300 hurdles behind a time of 54.7.

On April 29, the Hornets competed at the O’Grady relays and finished in 10th place with 21 points. Branford’s pole vault team of Wirtz, Taylor Brown, and Leah Pendl-Robinson finished first with a combined height of 27-6. The javelin trio of Integlia, Bjork, and Karosas was third at 252-10. In the high jump competition, Amanda Acquarulo, Karosas, and Hailey LaBonte joined forces to take fifth with their height of 13-8. The team of Bjork, Kathryn Pollard, and Integlia was seventh in the discus behind a total of 226-7.

Boys’ Outdoor Track

The Hornets stand at 4-2 after dropping two out of three in a tri-match at Lyman Hall on April 18. Branford defeated West Haven (81-69), while losing to the host Trojans (101-49) and Guilford (79-69).

Marzio Mastroianni took first place in the 1,600-meter run by crossing the finish line with a time of 4:38.40. Matt Alexander was tops for the long jump by reaching 18 feet-7.5 inches. Justin Dombrowski placed second in the pole vault, while Aidan Kropiwnicki took third, with both athletes clearing nine feet. Brandon Perez posted a second-place showing in the triple jump with a leap of 32-8. Kropiwinicki finished third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.7 seconds, plus Andrew Byrne was third for the 800-meter run at 2:23.5. Head Coach Katherine Reynolds also noted Alexander’s strong time of 12.1 in the 100.

Branford’s 4x400 relay of Nolan Scott, Peter Nazario, Aydin Sahin, and Perez took second place, while the 4x800 of Mastroianni, Edward Pascale, Harrison Troidle, and Byrne finished third with a 9:16.