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04/10/2023 04:11 PMSoftball
Branford softball opened its season on April 3, taking a 17-1 loss at East Haven. On April 5, the Hornets lost 11-0 at home vs. Jonathan Law. They traveled to Guilford on April 6 and took a 9-3 deficit.
Baseball
Branford baseball played its first game of the season at home on April 3 vs. East Haven, taking a 6-0 loss. The Hornets then hosted Cheshire on April 5 and lost 9-2 before winning 9-1 at Shelton on April 6. They went on the road to Brien McMahon on April 8 and lost 4-3.
Outdoor Track
The Branford girls’ and boys’ outdoor track teams competed in a tri-meet with Sheehan and Wilbur Cross on April 5. On the girls’ side, the Hornets defeated Wilbur Cross by a score of 82-41, and defeated Sheehan by a score of 77-64. Top performances included Joelle Budz taking first place in the 100 meters (12.7) as well as first in the 300 hurdles (50.1). Gloriana Buckley grabbed first in the 100 hurdles (19.3) and in the 200 meters (27.2). Lucy Moran won the 400 meters (60.5) and Avery Clouse claimed the high jump victory (4’ 6”). Gianna Piscitelli (64’2”) won the Discus. Samantha Stroka came in first in the Javelin (56’ 6”).
The 4x100 relay team of Chayse Gueco, Buckley, Zuzu Pont Strong, and Sarah Nwagboli recorded a time of 52.5, and the 4x400 relay team of Budz, Buckley, Nwagboli, and Moran recorded a time of 4:23.7. Buckley had a big meet, running important legs in the 4x100 and the 4x400 coupled with winning the 100 hurdles and the 200 meters. Avery Clouse had just begun working on the high jump and came up big with a win in her first meet.
The boys came out with a 72-69 win against Wilbur Cross and took an 86-63 loss to Sheehan. Dominick Zdunek placed second in the 400 meters (54.9 sec PR); Colin Donahoe won the 800 meters (2:08.5); Massimo Corrick finished second in the 3200 (11:02.8). Also in the 3200, Noah Hauswirth finished third (11:32.5 PR); Ryder Kropiwnicki won both the 110 hurdles (15.5 PR) and the pole vault (13’ PR) qualifying him for the Class MM State Tournament in both events. Enaji Muhammad finished second in the high jump (5’2”) and second in the triple jump (38’8.5” PR).
The 4x800 relay of Zdunek, Sam Coppola, Corrick, and Donahoe took first place with a Class MM State qualifying time of 8:59.7. In the throwing events, Evan Bouley placed third in the Discus (89’7” PR) and the javelin trio of Kropiwnicki, Drew Schwartz, and Bouley swept the event with throws of 144’1”, 137’1” and 136’1” respectively, all qualifying for the Class MM State Tournament.
The next meet will be on Tuesday, April 18 against Cheshire and Shelton. The Branford community is encouraged to come cheer them on as they compete in their only home meet of the season, which will begin at 3:45 p.m. preceded by the Senior Day celebration.
Girls’ Tennis
Branford girls’ tennis won its first match of the season on April 3, grabbing a 6-1 win over Mercy at home. Branford won all four Singles matches on the day. Peyton Gaudreau (Branford) took down Milana Koji (Mercy) 6-0, 6-0. Evie Mollow (Branford) got a win over Emma Arelt (Mercy) 6-0, 6-2. Branford’s Leila Omeragic defeated Catalina Koji of Mercy 7-5, 6-2, and Hana Omeragic (Branford) beat Mercy’s Logan Binngton 6-2, 3-6, (10-8). On the Doubles side. Evie Kaiser and Scout Engstrom of Branford took a loss vs. Catalina Koji and Kayla Mullane of Mercy 5-7, 4-6. Tate Jones and Julianne Henkel (Branford) won their match over Leah VanDevente and Katie Miller (Mercy) 7-5, 6-1. Erin Newlan and Nunu Smith (Branford) recorded a win over Charlotte Parker and Olivia Collins (Mercy) 6-1, 6-1. The Hornets produced notable victories from three freshmen starters: Hana Omeragic (four singles) and Tate Jones and Julianne Henkel at two doubles.
The Hornets then grabbed a 7-0 road win over Jonathan Law on April 5 before winning 7-0 again vs. Sacred Heart Academy on April 6. In the contest with Law, Gaudreau defeated Isabella Gecaj (Law) 6-0, 6-0. Evie Mollow (Branford) took down Nihitha Kothapalli (Law) 6-1, 6-0. Leila Omeragic (Branford) grabbed the win over Kacey Paguduan (Law) 6-1, 6-0, and Hana Omeragic beat Kaitlyn Goldbeck (Law) 6-2, 6-1. For Doubles, Kaiser and Engstrom defeated Samantha Burns and Sabrina Lawless (Law) 7-6 (9-7), 6-3. Jones and Henkel beat Caroline Doyle and Olivia Hudak (Law) 6-3, 6-1. Finally, Newlan Smith took down Chloe Hassch and Natasia (Law) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
In the match with Sacred Heart Academy, Singles matches included Peyton Gaudreau (Branford) defeating Madison Rossetti (SHA) 6-0, 6-0, and Evie Mollow (Branford) taking down Jessica Cofrancesco (SHA) 6-1, 6-0. Leila Omeragic (Branford) beat Fredericka Franco (SHA) 6-1, 7-5, while Hana Omeragic (Branford) recorded a win over Leah Jacques (SHA) 8-3. For Doubles, Evie Kaiser and Scout Engstrom (Branford) defeated Daniela Bejleri and Shelbe Vidal (SHA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. Tate Jones and Julianne Henkel (Branford) beat Myci Ajanaku and Annika Burn (SHA) 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), and Erin Newlan and Nunu Smith (Branford) recorded a win over Kathryn Marquis and Zara Tariq (SHA) 6-0, 6-1.
Boys’ Tennis
The Branford boys’ tennis team took a 7-0 home loss to Fairfield Prep in its first match of the season on April 3. For Singles, Luke Levanat (FP) defeated Mathias Schalper (Branford) 6-0, 6-1. Charlie Fabro (FP) beat Mason Porras (Branford) 6-0, 6-0. Harrison Lent (FP) grabbed a win over Adam Albrecht (Branford) 6-3, 6-4, and Devin Kelly (FP) defeated James Heier (Branford) 6-1, 6-1. For Doubles, Matt Kelly/Robbie Donahue (FP) defeated Luke Baylis/Nirvan Paudyal (Branford) 6-2, 6-0. Thomas Nardone/Jason Gong (FP) beat Alex Ferrara/Ishaan Bhawhani (Branford) 6-0, 6-1. Andy Beckerlegge/Axel Tabaschek (FP) grabbed a victory over Sahill Bhawhani/Evren Akin (Branford) 6-1, 6-1.
On April 4, the Hornets fell 7-0 again, this time on the road to Amity. Ethan Hass (Amity) defeated Mathias Schalper (Branford) 6-3, 6-3. Aaron Babajanyan (Amity) beat Mason Porras (Branford) 6-3, 6-2. Joey Kopel (Amity) recorded a win over Adam Albrect (Branford) 6-0, 6-2, and Kai Sovar (Amity) grabbed the victory over Luke Baylis (Branford) 6-3, 6-4. On the Doubles side, Ben Glassman/Akshay Bulsara (Amity) defeated James Heier/Nirvan Paudyal (Branford) 6-3, 6-4. Jordan Hass/Jacob Storeygaurd (Amity) took down Alex Ferrara/Ishaan Bhawnani(Branford) 6-1, 6-0. Ethan Sapire/Chris Sturtevant (Amity) beat Sahill Bhawnani/Evren Akin (Branford) 6-2, 6-0. Branford faced Cheshire at home on April 6 and took a 6-1 loss.
Golf
The Branford golf team had its first match of the season on April 3, losing on the road to Daniel Hand by a score of 162-177.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Branford boys’ lacrosse started its season on April 4 where they traveled to Guilford for a matchup with the Grizzlies. The Hornets fell by a score of 16-5. On April 6, they hosted Lyman Hall and lost 9-8.
Girls’ Lacrosse
Branford girls’ lacrosse won its first game of the season (14-2) on April 3 when they hosted Lyman Hall. On April 6, the Hornets traveled to Guilford and lost by a score of 17-4 before losing 11-10 vs. Sacred Heart Academy on April 8.
To submit results and box scores for your team, contact sports editor Gabby Hurlbut at g.hurlbut@shorepublishing.com.