The West Haven softball team defeated the Guilford Indians Wednesday evening, 6-3, to improve to 17-1 on the season. Ivy Santos went the distance in the circle and did not allow an earned run on four hits. Santos got support offensively from Veronica Lynn, who went 2-3 with a triple and a RBI and Morgan Peryer, who was 2-4 with a double in the victory and Dede Rodriguez had two RBIs.
On Thursday evening, the Blue Devils hosted the Amity Spartans at Biondi Field. The Westies committed six errors and spotted the Spartans a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning before trying to rally in a 6-3 loss. The girls staged a rally in the bottom of the seventh when Paige Beurer walked, Morgan Peryer singled, Veronica Lynn singled to score both runners and Kailey Carrano doubled to score Lynn cutting the lead to 6-3 but that’s where the rally died in the loss.
On Friday evening, the Westies hosted the Hillhouse Academics on their Senior Night. Ivy Santos and Miranda Burrows combined to one-hit the Academics and Kailey Carrano went 3-4, including a home run and five RBIs in the 12-0 five-inning, mercy-shortened victory. With the win, the Blue Devils finished the season 18-2, will be ranked third in the SCC Tournament and hosted the Amity Spartans on Monday. If victorious, the girls played on Tuesday in the semis with a chance to play for the SCC Championship on Thursday at 7 at Biondi Field.
The baseball team took on the Sheehan Titans on Tuesday evening at Puirek Field looking to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Titans pushed across six runs in a 6-3 defeat of the Westies. Gianni Gambardella went five innings on the mound, allowing four, earned runs on nine hits before giving away to Kaden Morgillo, who pitched the final, two innings, giving up two, unearned runs on three hits. Lorenzo Espinal had a single, a RBI, and one of the best catches of the year, sprinting back to the warning track in left and making a diving, backhanded catch. Also picking up singles for West Haven were Tyler Jones, Dom Cambino, Gambardella, Chris Cavallaro and Mike Tonucci. Hunter Axelrod also had a run batted in.
On Thursday evening, the Blue Devils thumped the O’Brien Tech Condors, 18-5, in a mercy-shortened five-inning win, to stay alive in their pursuit of postseason play. Mike Tonucci led the boys going 2-3 with three RBIs, Chris Cavallaro went 1-2 with three RBIs, Gianni Gambardella went 1 for 2 with three RBIs, J.C. Contreras went 2-3 with a RBI and Tyler Jones went 2-3 and scored three runs in the victory. Brian Pataky started on the mound and pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and was relieved by Bryan Barrington, who pitched the last inning and allowed two hits.
On Friday evening, the Wilbur Cross Governors kept the Westies off balance and off the scoreboard, eliminating the Blue Devils from postseason play with a 10-0 defeat of West Haven.
Playing for pride on Saturday morning at Puirek Field against the East Haven Yellow Jackets, the Blue Devils went toe-to-toe with East Haven. The Easties loaded the bases with one out, in the top of the first inning but, pitcher Kaden Morgillo worked out of trouble. He picked off an East Haven baserunner to get the second out then Mike Tonucci made a diving catch on an infield pop up to end the inning. The West Haven defense came up big again in the third inning after the Yellow Jackets got a double with two outs and then a single to left but, Mike Boni gunned out the runner at the plate to end the inning, keeping the game scoreless.
In the fourth inning, the Easties got a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a single to center to produce the game’s first run but, the Westies turned a nice double play to end the inning and limit the damage. The Blue Devils responded in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Mike Tonucci and Lorenzo Espinal were both hit by pitches and Brian Pataky drew a walk to load the bases. After a pop out, Tyler Jones beat out an infield single to score Tonucci and tie the game at 1-1.
In the sixth inning, the Yellow Jackets were looking to take the advantage when they had runners at first and second with one out but, Jake Lentine struck out a batter and then Chris Cavallaro erased a baserunner on an attempted steal to end the inning. The Westies were looking to grab the lead in the bottom of the inning after Gianni Gambardella reached on an error but, he too was caught stealing and the game headed to the seventh tied at 1-1. The Yellow Jackets started the inning with a single, advanced the runner to second and then got a single to right to plate their second run of the game. The Westies were unable to get the equalizer and ended the season with a 2-1 loss.
The boys’ lacrosse team hosted the Sheehan Titans on its Senior Night on Wednesday at Ken Strong Stadium. Connor Fowler gave the Westies a 1-0 lead with 10:56 left in the first quarter. The Titans responded 1:07 later then, Niko Kyle put the boys back in the lead just 17 seconds after that but, Sheehan scored the next, four goals over the next five minutes for a 5-2 lead. Tyler Moscato scored with 2:40 left in the opening quarter assisted by Kyle to make it 5-3 but, that would be as close as the Westies would get. Sheehan found the back of the net once more before the end of the first quarter and then the first, three goals of the second quarter to increase its lead to 9-3. Justin Rivera scored with 8:11 left in the half assisted by Moscato and Moscato scored with 3:24 left in the half but the second half was all Titans in the 17-5 defeat of the Westies. Kevin Moriarty made 23 saves in goal for West Haven.
The Blue Devils finished up their regular season with a trip to Amity of Wednesday and will wait to see who they draw in the CIAC Tournament when the pairings are announced on Thursday.
The girls’ lacrosse team hosted the Lyman Hall Trojans on Tuesday night at Ken Strong Stadium and sent off its seniors in style with a 9-7 victory. Taylor Nowak got the Westies on the board first with a goal 4:52 into the game but Lyman Hall responded with 15:22 left in the half to tie the game 1-1. Keegan Riccio then got the first of her three goals on the night 1:02 later for the lead. The teams continued to battle back-and-fourth for the rest of the contest. When Taylor Nowak scored with 4:51 left and then Riccio finished her hat trick with 3:46 left, the Blue Devils secured the victory. Besides Riccio’s hat trick, Morrighan Leavitt also had three goals, Nowak finished with two goals and Maura Dowd contributed with a goal. Nicole Gaston made 12 saves in goal for West Haven.
On Thursday evening, the girls traveled to Milford for their final game of the year against the Foran Lions. After spotting the Lions and early 2-0 lead, the Westies got on the board when Morrighan Leavitt scored with 19:37 left in the first half to cut the lead to 2-1. Keegan Riccio got her first of the game 1:26 later to tie the game 2-2. After Foran made it 3-2 1:04 after that, Taylor Nowak tied the game again at 3-3. The teams continued to battle and after the Lions took a 6-4 lead into halftime, they were able to secure a 10-7 win over West Haven. Keegan Riccio finished with four goals while Maura Dowd, Leavitt and Nowak each had a goal in the loss. Nowak also had three assists while CC Condon, Gianna Sliby and Chloe Hummel all contributed with an assist. Mackenzie Gardner, who filled in for the injured Nicole Gaston, finished with seven saves between the pipes.
The boys’ tennis team held its Senior Day festivities and then went out and defeated the Platt Tech Panthers, 6-1. In singles play, Joseph Delgado won his top-seeded match, 6-0, 6-1, Zach Kerzner won, 6-0, 6-2, Jonathan Saier was victorious, 7-6, 6-2. In doubles action, Riyad Al Bakri/Nash Noble won, 4-6, 7-6, 14-12, Jason Ramirez/Lucien Zheng won, 6-2, 6-0 and Awaab Osman/Ron Wood won, 6-0, 6-0.
On Thursday afternoon, the boys hosted the Fairfield Prep Jesuits and could only get a victory from Joseph Delgado, who won, 7-6, 7-6 in the 6-1 loss at the Painter Park Courts. The boys finished their, regular season schedule when they hosted the Guilford Indians on Wednesday,