Printer Friendly Version - T-Birds Girls’ Lacrosse Clinches States Berth; Senerchia No-Hits Cromwell, Strikes Out 19

Emilie Wilkinson and the North Branford girls’ lacrosse team clinched their place in the Class S State Tournament by netting a 17-12 victory over Old Lyme last week. The T-Birds are 8-1 this year and have won five straight games. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

The North Branford girls’ lacrosse team recorded two more victories last week to improve to 8-1 and clinch a spot in the Class M State Tournament. The T-Birds have now won five games in a row.

On April 24, North Branford notched a 17-12 win at Old Lyme to qualify for the postseason. Head Coach Lori Connelly’s team raced out to an 8-3 lead at halftime on its way to the win. Emilie Wilkinson and Jessie Kilburn had four goals each, while Emmy Norton, Ali Barrett, Adriana Ingarra, and Gabby Gibilisco all finished with two. Norton had four assists, and Mackenzie MacGowan, Barrett, and Ingarra each had three. Carly Sorrentino made nine saves in net.

North Branford hosted Old Saybrook on April 26 and won 17-13. Wilkinson led the way with six goals, plus Norton scored four and added an assist. MacGowan scored three times and had two assists, Ingarra scored a pair of goals and had six assists, and Kilburn scored twice to go with two helpers. Sorrentino stood tall to make 13 saves in goal.

The Thunderbirds remained perfect this season by posting three recent shutouts to go to 11-0.

On April 23, North Branford topped Cromwell 10-0 as Sydney Senerchia tossed a no-hitter for the T-Birds. Cromwell’s lone runner reached on an error as Senerchia struck out 19 batters. Offensively, Kayla Despres had four hits, including a triple, with a pair of RBI. Danielle Ramada, Jada Miconi, and Amy Raucci also drove in two runs apiece. Olivia Hemstock, Miconi, and Katy Pedersen each had two hits.

The next day, the T-Birds edged Coginchaug 2-0. Senerchia went the distance on the mound, scattering four hits and striking out eight. Raucci crushed a solo shot and drove in another run to provide North Branford’s offense for the afternoon. Hemstock also finished with two base knocks.

To close the week, North Branford defeated Hale-Ray 6-0 on April 26. Senerchia kept her hot streak going in the circle as she fanned 14 batters, while allowing just six hits, for another shutout. Brianna Raccio had two hits for North Branford, which scored five runs in the second inning.

North Branford earned a home win over East Hampton and took road losses against Valley Regional and Haddam-Killingworth last week. The T-Birds are now 5-6 this spring.

On April 23, North Branford took an 11-10 loss against Valley in eight innings. Nick Mancini went 4-for-4 with a walk, while Carl Jacobsen and Jeff Jablonski had two hits each.

The Thunderbirds then beat East Hampton 9-7 on April 26. John Pollick pitched 6.1 innings to earn the win for North Branford, which saw Mancini get two hits and draw three walks.

North Branford then took a 4-0 loss to Haddam-Killingworth on April 28. Enrique Diaz had two hits, while Jason Ryszczyk, Steve Galluba, and Mancini each had one.

The Thunderbirds posted road wins versus East Hampton/Hale-Ray and Haddam-Killingworth last week to improve to 6-4 this year.

On April 23, North Branford defeated East Hampton/Hale-Ray 6-1. Sofia Cavalier won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles; Zelda Galdenzi prevailed 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3; and Jordan Caplan claimed a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory in the No. 4 singles match. North Branford swept the doubles duels as Briana Dautaj and Ava Galdenzi won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1; Alyssa Diaz and Janessa Pompano netted a 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 2; and the team of Aaliyah Aaron and Ashley Testa won at 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3. Sydney Constantinidi took a 6-3, 7-5 defeat in the No. 1 singles match.

On April 26, North Branford gutted out a 4-3 win against H-K. Cavalier won 6-1, 6-2 No. 2 singles, while Zelda Galdenzi prevailed 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3. For doubles, Dautaj and Ava Galdenzi won 6-2, 6-3, with the duo of Diaz Pompano winning 6-4, 6-3.

Chris Candelora picked up his second victory of the season by defeating an opponent from Haddam-Killingworth on April 26. Candelora won his match 6-1, 6-2 to move to 2-3 for the year.

North Branford took on Old Lyme at Black Hall Club on April 26. The T-Birds lost by a 159-217 final to drop to 1-4 for the year.

Senior Sydney Senerchia tossed a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts when the T-Birds’ softball squad blanked Cromwell 10-0 on April 23. North Branford is 11-0 on the season and has won nine of those 11 games via shutout. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound