The West Haven softball continued to pile up the wins last week. On Monday evening, the Blue Devils defeated the Jonathan Law Eagles, 3-1, to run their record to 12-0 to start the season. The Westies jumped on the Eagles with two runs in the first inning when Morgan Peryer walked Ashlynn O’Keefe singled and then both advanced on an error. Veronica Lynn singled to bring in Peryer and Ivy Santos singled to plate O’Keefe to make it 2-0. After Law cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning, the girls responded when O’Keefe walked, Lynn dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move her over and then she came around to score on a double by Kailey Carrano making it 3-1. Santos did the rest, shutting down the Eagles allowing only one earned run on six hits, while striking out seven in the circle.
On Thursday afternoon, the Blue Devils hosted the Shelton Gaels at Frank Biondi Field and won their 13th straight game with an 8-0 victory over the Gaels. The Blue Devils struck early when Morgan Peryer singled and came around to score when Veronica Lynn reached on an error. Kailey Carrano then drilled a double to put runners on second and third and Lynn scored when Kasey Marron reached on an error by the right fielder to make it 2-0 in the first inning. The Westies were poised to get more runs in the first but Dede Rodriguez’s line drive was snared by the first baseman, who fell on the bag to record a double play to end the inning.
The Blue Devils were at it again in the fourth inning. Ivy Santos and Dede Rodriguez both walked and scored on a Paige Beurer triple. Beurer then scored on a Peryer single to increase the lead to 5-0. In the fifth inning, Veronica Lynn led off with a single, Kailey Carrano reached on an error, Ivy Santos grounded out to score Lynn, Marron walked and then Beurer singled to score Carrano and Marron for the 8-0 final. Santos went the distance again allowing only three hits while striking out seven in the shutout victory.
On Saturday afternoon, the Westies traveled to Madison to take on the Hand Tigers and after four innings it looked like their unbeaten season was in jeopardy, behind 4-0. But, the Blue Devils rallied for three runs in the fifth inning and five in the sixth for an 8-6 victory to improve to 14-0. In the fifth inning, Paige Beurer singled, Gigi Perkins reached on an error and Ashlynn O’Keefe reached on an error to load the bases. Beurer came in on a wild pitch and then the Tigers intentionally walked Kailey Carrano to face Ivy Santos. Santos made that decision hurt, drilling a single up the middle, scoring two runs, cutting the lead to 4-3.
After Hand got a run back in the bottom of the inning, the Westies started the sixth with Dede Rodriguez reaching on an error and then she beat the throw to second on a Beurer grounder. Morgan Peryer dropped down a bunt single to load the bases and then O’Keefe reached on an error to plate Rodriguez making it 5-4. Beurer came in to tie the game on a sacrifice fly to deep left-center by Veronica Lynn. Carrano ripped a double off the fence in center to score Peryer and O’Keefe giving the girls a 7-5 lead and then Santos followed with another single to score Carrano making it 8-5. The Tigers got one back in the bottom of the inning but Santos closed out the game for West Haven in the circle.
This week, the girls visited Hillhouse on Monday, hosted Hand on Wednesday and end the week taking on the East Haven Yellow Jackets on Friday at 7 at Biondi Field.
The baseball team was locked in a battle with the Hand Tigers on Monday afternoon and only trailed 3-2 in the third inning but the Tigers got two runs in the fifth and six, more in the sixth to run away with this one by the score of 12-7. The Blue Devils got a run in the second inning when Mike Boni and Tyler Jones both singled to set the table for Dom Cambino, who singled to score Boni. The boys got another run in the third inning when J.C. Contreras tripled and came in on a sacrifice fly by Gianni Gambardella to make it 3-2.
After the Tigers took a 5-2 in the fifth, the Blue Devils got one back when Contreras scored again, this time on a groundout to short by Gambardella. With Hand holding an 11-3 lead in the sixth, the Westies scored after Hunter Axelrod singled, Lorenzo Espinal walked, Tyler Jones advanced the runners on a groundout and then the runners came in on a single by Cambino and an error on the throw. The boys got two, more runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Espinal and Jones. Brian Pataky started on the mound for West Haven and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and was relieved by Derek Baker.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Blue Devils took an early 3-0 lead on the Green Dragons at Hamden only to have the Dragons chip away at the lead and then score two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off 4-3 victory. J.C. Contreras pitched 6 1/3 innings on the mound before giving away to Lorenzo Espinal in the seventh.
The Westies bounced back with a much needed twin killing of the Career Panthers on Friday at Piurek Field. In the first game, the Panthers were designated the home team and the Blue Devils took advantage in the top of the first inning with a quick, four runs. With two outs, the Westies started a rally when J.C. Contreras, Mike Boni and Gianni Gambardella all walked and Mike Tonucci singled to clear the bases and give West Haven a 3-0 lead. Chris Cavallaro followed with a walk and then drew a throw on a steal of second, allowing Tonucci to sprint home with the fourth West Haven run. Career got a run back in the bottom of the inning after a lead-off double and a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1.
In the third inning, Boni and Gambardella singled and Tonucci walked to load the bases with Westies. Then Hunter Axelrod executed a perfect, squeeze bunt to score Boni. Lorenzo Espinal grounded out to score Gambardella give the Blue Devils a 6-1 lead. Career got another run back in the bottom of the inning making it 6-2. West Haven tacked on a run in the fourth inning when Gambarella drew a bases loaded walk to score Contreras. In the fifth, Cavallaro singled and stole second, Hunter Axelrod’s bloop single to right moved Cavallaro to third and Espinal’s sac fly scored him for an 8-2 lead. Boni singled in the sixth inning and pinch-runner Derek Baker stole second and scored on a double by Gambardella to increase the lead to 9-2.
In the seventh inning, Seth Noble singled and Kaden Morgillo pinch ran and advanced to third on a single by Just Medina. Dom Cambino singled to score Morgillo and Contreras singled to plate Medina with the Westies’ 11th run. The Panthers were able to score a run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for the 11-3 final. Gianni Gambardella went the distance on the mound, allowing six hits while striking out six for the victory.
In game two, West Haven got six runs in the first inning and never looked back in an 8-2 win. Lorenzo Espinal pitched a complete game on the mound for the Westies, allowing five hits. In the first inning, Tyler Jones singled, Dom Cambino reached on an error, J.C. Contreras singled to score Jones, Gianni Gambardella walked to load the bases, Mike Tonucci walked to score Cambino, Chris Cavallaro walked to score Contreras, Espinal singled to score Gambardella and Tonucci and Cavallaro came home on a balk by the Career pitcher.
The Blue Devils tacked on two, more runs, one in the fourth and one in the sixth. Jones scored in the fourth after he singled and came in on a groundout by Contreras and then again in the sixth when he singled and scored on a wild pitch.
This week, the Blue Devils traveled to Shelton on Monday, hosted Xavier on Wednesday and finish up the week with a trip across town to face the Notre Dame Green Knights on Friday at 3:45 at Quigley Stadium.
The boys’ lacrosse continued its winning ways on Monday evening at Ken Strong Stadium with an 8-0 victory over the Wilbur Cross Governors. Nick Zaino opened the scoring with a goal with 6:37 left in the first quarter. Justin Rivera made it 2-0 West Haven 57 seconds later and then Tyler Moscato increased the lead to 3-0 twenty-five seconds after that. Connor Fowler made it 4-0 just 51 seconds into the second quarter followed by goals by Rivera and Charlie Miller to give the Westies a 6-0 halftime lead. Rivera tallied again in the third quarter and Jonah Basilicato capped the scoring with 2:49 left in the game for the 8-0 final. Kevin Moriarty made four saves in the first half before giving away to Anthony Campagnuolo, who made one save in the second half for West Haven.
On Wednesday evening, the boys cruised to a 16-2 win over Jonathan Law in Milford. The Blue Devils were led by Niko Kyle, who had seven goals and an assist and Tyler Moscato, who had three goals and seven assists. The Westies got going with a goal by Connor Fowler with 7:34 left in the first quarter. Nick Camara tallied with 1:42 left in the quarter and then Kyle got his first with 19 seconds remaining in the quarter. A goal by Nick Zaino and two, more from Kyle gave the Blue Devils a 6-0 halftime lead. Tyler Moscato, Justin Rivera and three, more from Kyle put this one out of reach in the third quarter for West Haven. Kyle, Moscato with another two goals and Connor Fowler sent the Westies home with the 16-2 victory. Moriarty made eight saves between the pipes for the Blue Devils.
On Saturday evening, the boys traveled to Watertown to take on the Indians and won their seventh, straight game with a 10-3 victory. Niko Kyle scored goals at 9:28 assisted by Tyler Moscato and at 8:17 assisted by Ethan Phelan to give the Blue Devils an early lead and then Dillon Lenihan scored with 4:34 left in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead. After the Indians got one back, Moscato responded with a goal with 3:39 left in the half.
Watertown scored 28 seconds later but then Kevin Moriarty hit Kyle with a pass and he scored as time expired in the half for a 5-2 lead. Kyle picked up his fourth goal of the game assisted by Rich Wadeka 1:42 into the second half and then Justin Rivera made it 7-2 with 6:03 left in the quarter. After the Indians scored to make it 7-3, it was all Westies the rest of the way. Kyle scored his fifth, making it 12 goals over the last two games, assisted by Fowler, Lenihan notched his second of the game, assisted by Moscato and then Moscato scored with 3:06 left in the game to cap the scoring. Besides having an assist, Moriarty made 22 saves in net for West Haven.
This week, the boys hosted the Branford Hornets on Wednesday and travel to Stamford for a 10am clash with the Vikings on Saturday.
The girls’ lacrosse team picked up its second win of the season with an 8-7 victory over the Green Dragons at Hamden on Monday evening. Keegan Riccio had three goals, Gianna Sliby had two goals while Chloe Hummel, CC Condon and Olyvia O’Mara each contributed with a goal. Nicole Gaston played one of her best games of the year, making 19 saves between the pipes for West Haven.
On Thursday evening, the Blue Devils hosted a tough Trumbull Eagles team at Ken Strong Stadium. The Eagles jumped on the Westies and held a 5-0 lead with 7:43 remaining in the first half. The girls rallied late in the half when Keegan Riccio scored with 3:39 left and again 1:01 later to cut the lead to 5-2. CC Condon then found the back of the net with 23.8 seconds left in the half to send the teams into halftime at 5-3. Unfortunately for the Westies, they were outscored 7-3 in the second half for a 12-6 final. CC Condon scored her second goal of the game while Morrighan Leavitt and Gianna Sliby each had a goal in the second half. Gaston made 17 saves in goal for West Haven.
This week, the girls hosted the Sheehan Titans on Monday and entertain the Lauralton Hall Crusaders at Ken Strong Stadium on Thursday at 6:30.
The boys’ tennis team defeated the Notre Dame Green Knights, 4-3, at the Painter Park Courts on Monday afternoon. Joseph Delgado won in the one-seeded match, 6-3, 6-2, Zach Kerzner won ,6-3, 6-0 and Punarvasan Gurani won, 6-4, 6-4 in singles play while Awaab Osman/Ron Wood took their doubles match, 6-3, 7-5.
The boys dropped a 7-0 decision to the Xavier Falcons on Tuesday afternoon at Wesleyan University. Joseph Delgado put up a good fight before being defeated, 6-3, 6-4 and the double pairings of Awaab Osman/Ron Wood took the first set before dropping their match, 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.
On Thursday, the Westies traveled to New Haven to take on the Wilbur Cross Governors and came away with a 7-0 victory. Joseph Delgado won, 6-1, 6-0, Zach Kerzner won, 6-0, 6-1, Anthony Siaphong was victorious, 6-0, 6-0 and Punarvasan Gurani won, 6-0, 6-0 in singles action. In doubles, Lucien Zheng/Nash Noble won, 6-3, 6-0, Jason Ramirez/Ron wood took their match, 6-0, 6-0 and Awaab Osman/Robert Wood won, 6-0, 6-0.
This week, the boys traveled to North Haven on Monday, Shelton on Tuesday, hosted Hand on Wednesday before finishing a busy week with a trip to Branford to face the Hornets on Thursday at 3:45.
The girls’ tennis team defeated the Platt Tech Panthers, 4-3, on Monday afternoon at Eisenhower Park in Milford. In singles, Skylar Serenson won, 8-0, Kiara Walker won, 8-3, Savannah Lopez won, 8-4 and Ariana Nguyen won, 8-0.
On Tuesday afternoon, the girls took a tough 7-0 loss to the Sheehan Titans in Wallingford. Serenson put up a good battle after losing the first set, 6-0, she took the second set, 6-4, before dropping the final set, 6-3.
On Thursday afternoon, the girls defeated the Hamden Green Dragons, 5-2 in Hamden. Skylar Serenson won, 6-0, 6-1, Kiara Walker won, 6-1, 6-0 and Savannah Lopez won, 6-2, 7-5 in singles, while Rua Osman/Ariana Nguyen won, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 and Maryn Lovallo/Leonarkis Espronseda won, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in doubles. On Saturday morning, the girls were swept 7-0 by the Cheshire Rams.
This week, the girls hosted Jonathan Law on Monday, visited East Haven on Wednesday and host the Lyman Hall Trojans on Thursday at 3:45 at the Painter Park Courts.