Printer Friendly Version - Guilford Softball Claims Hammonasset Division Title; Tennis Teams Advance to SCC Semifinals

Freshman Ella Munson and the Guilford softball team clinched the SCC Hammonsset Division title last week and are riding a 16-game win streak as they dive into postseason play. File photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Courier

The Guilford softball team finished regular-season play with a record of 18-2 after winning all four of its home games last week, clinching the SCC Hammonasset Division title in the process. The Grizzlies have qualified for both the SCC Tournament and the Class L State Tournament and are taking a 16-game winning streak into the playoffs.

The Grizzlies started off their week by earning a 7-5 home win over Hamden on May 17. Sophomore Addie Smith blasted 2 solo homers and scored 3 runs to lead Guilford’s offense. Freshman Ella Munson went 2-for-3 and hit her first career home run in a Grizzlies’ uniform. Junior Sam Green also went 2-for-3 in the game. Sophomore Sophia Meade pitched a complete game for Guilford.

The next day, Guilford hosted Wilbur Cross and posted a 16-4 win versus the Governors. Sophomore Olivia Pionke led the Grizzlies by going 3-for-4 with a double and 3 runs scored. Sophomore Liz Barcello also had 3 hits in the victory. Sophomore Adrianna Piascik pitched the first 3 innings to pick up her fourth win of the year on the mound. Munson struck out 5 over the final 2 innings to finish off the game.

On May 20, the Grizzlies claimed a 1-0 victory against Lauralton Hall in another home game. Meade tossed a 1-hitter with 15 strikeouts for her 12th complete game of the season. Guilford scored the only run of the game during the sixth inning. Addie Smith led off with a base hit and then advanced to third following sacrifice bunts from Meade and junior Sophia Stanger. Senior Ava Singleton followed with a hard grounder that knocked home Smith with the winning run. Senior Maddy Smith went 2-for-3 to help the Guilford win its first divisional title since 1999.

The Grizzlies went on to blank Morgan by a 9-0 score in their regular-season finale at Guilford High School on May 21. Munson took the ball and threw a complete-game shutout for her first career victory. She also went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI at the plate. Senior Allie Petonito had a big day at the dish by going 3-for-3 with 2 triples, 3 runs scored, and 2 RBI for the Grizzlies. Addie Smith added 2 hits to help Head Coach Meghan Wiese’s squad finish the regular season with a flourish.

Guilford has the No. 3 seed in the SCC Tournament and hosted No. 6 Hand in the quarterfinals on May 23 (after press time). With a win, the Grizzlies would have faced the winner of No. 2 Jonathan Law at No. 7 Amity in the semis on May 24 (after press time). The SCC final takes place at Biondi Field at West Haven High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 26.

The Guilford girls’ lacrosse team capped off a 15-1 regular season by earning a win versus Branford in their finale last week. Guilford played a road game against Branford on May 20 and defeated the Hornets by the score of 16-1 to finish the regular season on a 15-game win streak.

The Grizzlies are the No. 1 seed in the SCC Tournament and have a bye through the quarterfinal round. Guilford hosted No. 4 seed Hand in the semifinals on May 24 (after press time). With a win, Guilford would face the winner of No. 2 Amity and No. 3 Cheshire in the championship game at Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School on Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m.

The Guilford boys’ lacrosse team split a pair of recent home games to complete its regular season, after which the Grizzlies lost to Notre Dame-West Haven in the quarterfinals of the SCC Tournament last week. Guilford has an overall record of 9-8 heading into the Class M State Tournament.

On May 17, Guilford hosted North Haven and defeated the Nighthawks by the final score of 15-7. Two days later, the Grizzlies took a 13-7 defeat to Hand in their regular-season finale at Guilford High School.

Then on May 21, No. 5 seed Guilford dropped an 11-7 decision at No. 4 Notre Dame-West Haven in an SCC quarterfinal game.

The Guilford girls’ tennis team played three matches to wrap up its regular season before defeating Sacred Heart Academy its first matchup in the SCC Tournament last week. The Grizzlies have an overall record of 16-5 heading into their SCC semifinal contest versus North Haven.

Guilford began its week by posting a 4-3 home win over Cheshire on May 16. Sophomore Kallie Kagan claimed a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the No. 2 singles match for Guilford. Freshman Caroline Hergan won a 6-2, 6-0 decision at No. 3 singles; and Molly Peterson was a 6-1, 6-2 winner at No. 4 singles. The Grizzlies’ No. 3 doubles team of Kate DeAngelo and Alexi Gipson won their contest by the score of 6-7, 6-3, 10-6 to help solidify the victory.

On May 18, Guilford took a 6-1 loss to Stonington in a road match. Peterson defeated her opponent by a 6-3, 6-1 score in the No. 4 singles contest. The next day, Guilford took a 7-0 defeat against Amity in a home match.

On May 21, the Grizzlies opened up the SCC Tournament as the No. 2 seed and posted a 6-1 win over No. 7 Sacred Heart Academy in the quarterfinal round. Guilford hosted No. 3 seed North Haven in the SCC semifinals on May 23 (after press time). If Guilford won, it faced the winner of top-seeded Amity and No. 5 Lauralton Hall for the title on May 24 (after press time).

The Guilford boys’ tennis team took two losses to finish out its regular season and then defeated Notre Dame-West Haven in its SCC Tournament opener last week. The Grizzlies have an overall record of 9-9 as they get ready to face Hand the SCC semifinals. The team has also qualified for the Class L State Tournament

On May 17, Guilford took a 5-2 home loss versus Cheshire. The next day, the Grizzlies lost to Fairfield Prep by a 7-0 score in a road match at Fairfield University.

Then on May 21, Guilford entered the SCC Tournament as the No. 5 seed and notched a 4-3 win at No. 4 Notre Dame-West Haven in a quarterfinal contest. The Grizzlies played at top-seeded Hand in the semifinals of the SCC Tournament on May 23 (after press time). If Guilford won, it played the winner of No. 2 Fairfield Prep and No. 3 Amity for the title at Amity High School on May 24 (after press time).

The Guilford boys’ golf team improved to 8-5 this season after winning all three of its matches on its home greens last week.

Guilford teed off tis week by earning a 172-194 home victory versus Hamden at Madison Country Club on May 16. Then on May 18, the Grizzlies hosted East Haven and defeated the Yellowjackets by the score of 168-191. The following day, Guilford posted a 156-186 victory versus Jonathan Law in another home match.

The Guilford girls’ outdoor track team saw its 4x400 relay take first place to help the Grizzlies finish in fourth place overall at the SCC West Sectional Championship last week. Guilford scored 82.50 points as a team to place fourth in sectionals at Bowen Field on May 18.

The Grizzlies’ 4x400 quartet of freshman Daniella Selig, senior Julia Antony, freshman Ella Heckler, and freshman Riley Hickey recorded a season-best time of 4:10.04 to finish ahead of runner-up Cheshire (4:11.89) for top honors at the sectional meet. Guilford’s 4x800 relay of sophomore Clara Gahm, senior Olivia Skapczynski, junior Alexa Suchy, and Antony finished in second place by clocking in with a season-best time of 9:48.53.

Antony finished second in the 1,600 (5:25.00), while Suchy posted a second-place performance in the 3,200 (12:13.88) for Guilford. Hickey finished third in the 400 (season best of 1:00.63), and junior Olivia Kaisin claimed third place in the 3,200 (12:15.34).

Sophomore Tea Davison took fifth place in the 200 (28.27) and the long jump (season best of 15-11.5) for the Grizzlies. Freshman Lily Sullivan finished fifth in the high jump (4-6). Heckler placed fifth (1:02.74) in the 400 with Selig finishing in seventh place (1:03.67).

Suchy finished fifth (5:27.06) in the 1,600 and was followed across the finish line by Kaisin in sixth (5:29.21), Skapczynski in seventh (5:32.32), and Gahm in eighth (5:33.56). Skapczynski also came in sixth place for the 800 (2:39.04). Gaham finished sixth (12:39.22) in the 3,200 with sophomore Juliana Montgomery taking seventh place (13.26.73) and junior Clara Laughlin placing 10th (13:48.14).

Freshman Agnes Batters took eighth place (53.23) in the 300 hurdles with sophomore Ella Young placing ninth (53.86) in the event. Junior Nora Amer came in 10th place in the discus (67-11) for Guilford.

Senior Justin Shiffrin finished first in the 800 and the 1,600 when the Guilford boys’ outdoor track team competed in the SCC West Sectional Championship at Bowen Field on May 18. The Grizzlies came in sixth place by scoring a total of 58 points at the meet.

Shiffrin ran a time of 2:01.67 to edge out Luke Pacheco of Shelton (2:01.87) for top honors in the 800. In the 1,600, Shiffrin crossed the finish line with a time of 4:32.10 to defeat runner-up Liam Fedigan of Jonathan Law (4:34.74) by more than two seconds.

Guilford’s 4x800 relay of junior Zachary Pawelek, sophomore Alex Milano, sophomore Mackinley Cho, and sophomore Coleman Love finished in second place (8:36.92) at the sectional meet. Senior Thomas Gregory claimed third place in the 800 (2:02.53). The 4x400 relay featuring Shiffrin, junior Joshua Chen, senior Callum Stephens, and Gregory came in fourth place (3:32.46).

Sophomore Connor Pensa took fifth place in the 3,200 (10:30.28), while sophomore Andres Gutierrez finished fifth in the 300 hurdles (44.40) and was sixth in the triple jump (40-9.5) for Guilford. The Grizzlies’ 4x100 relay of senior Mitchell Yaggi, Stephens, Chen, and junior Mike O’Brien took sixth place (46.97).

Junior Michael Masotti finished sixth (4:42.96) and was followed by sophomore Alex Milano in ninth (4:51.29). Love finished eighth in the 3,200 (10:37.15), and sophomore Trey Chieffo took eighth place in the high jump (5-8). Junior Zachary Pawelek finished ninth in the 800 (2:11.40) at the meet.

On May 19, Guilford sent some athletes to participate in the SCC Novice Meet at Daniel Hand High School. Freshman Luca Scafidi finished fourth in the 3,200 (11:32.1) for Guilford. Sophomore George Wiley took fifth place in the javelin (104-0), and sophomore Timothy Hastings placed fifth for the discus (85-4).