Baseball

The Branford baseball team hosted North Haven on April 22 and took a 1-0 loss.

On April 24, the team played host to Shelton and fell 4-2 before taking a 2-1 loss at home vs. East Haven on April 26.

On April 27, the Hornets traveled to Daniel Hand and lost 11-1. Shaun Swanson had an RBI single in the contest.

Girls’ Outdoor Track

Branford girls’ outdoor track traveled to Hamden on April 24 for a tri-meet that also included Career Magnet. Branford defeated Hamden 80-45 and beat Career 72-46.

In the 100 meters, Joelle Budz took second place with a time of 12.81, and Djamilla Toukour took fifth with a time of 13.65. Budz also took second in the 200 (26.32) and Toukour took fifth in that event (28.21). Lucy Moran won the 800 (2:19.38), and Olivia Vernon claimed second place in that event (2:48.30). Violet Marrandino (5:37.96) won the 1600 race. Moran (12:21.62) won the 3200, while Marrandino (12:59.10) took second. Stella Elston placed second in the 100 hurdles (20.90), and Cecile Hazen took third (20.93). Hazen also won the 300 hurdles in a time of 57.54. The 4x100 team claimed second place in a time of 52. 86, which was comprised of ZuZu Pont Strong, Toukour, Cheyenne Wilson, and Ella Stone.

Moiyan Williams earned fourth place in the shot put (22’44”), and Zayna Cella took fifth (221’8”). Wilson claimed first in the discus (77’3”), while Cella took sixth (55’6”). In the javelin, Cella came in first place (97’2”), and Saloni Shrestha (70’) took third. Avery Clouse won the high jump (4’10”), while Stone claimed fourth in the long jump (16’5.5”). Clouse took fifth in that event with a jump of 15’4”). Stone also claimed second in the triple jump (31’10”), and Clouse took fourth place (29’2”).

“Many great senior performances in this tri meet - Lucy, Joelle, Avery, Violet - that led to a victory,” said Head Coach Kevin Connell. “Most surprising had to be freshman Zayna Cella in the javelin; she really exploded with a near 100' throw ( 97'2").”

The team then competed in the O’Grady Relays at Danbury on April 27. The sprint medley relay team, comprised of Budz, Toukour, Glorianna Buckley, and Moran, took second place with a time of 4:10.92. This time reached the New Balance national qualifying mark.

Other standout performances included Cella in the discus (75-9), Hazen in the javelin (65-6), Stone in the long jump (14-10), Stone in the triple jump (31-8.75), and Pont Strong in the triple jump (31-.50”).

“This was a relay we hoped to run during the indoor season but never happened,” Connell said. “I am overjoyed for the girls. This is a very talented group, and they have much more to accomplish this season.”