The West Haven baseball team was looking to get off to a good start in the 2021 season. Unable to string together many hits, West Haven fell to Hand-Madison, 5-1, in the season opener for both teams last Monday afternoon at Piurek Field in West Haven.
The Westies were held to just six hits in the game, two coming off the bat of Corey Coggins. The West Haven designated hitter’s second hit drove in the only run of the game in the seventh inning with West Haven down 5-0.
The lack of offense and four errors hurt West Haven starter Gianni Gambardella as Gambardella allowed just five hits and three runs, two of which were earned, through six innings. Gambardella struck out eight and walked two in the loss.
Hunter Axelrod pitched the seventh, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned), while walking one and
After a slow start in the season opener, West Haven was looking to pick up its first victory of the year Wednesday afternoon when the Westies traveled to play Xavier at Palmer Field in Middletown.
While the Westies were looking for their initial win of the season, they again could not get a clutch hit in a 5-1 loss to the Falcons.
Dylan Supan took the loss for West Haven on the mound. The junior tossed five innings, allowing four runs, one of which was unearned. Supan allowed six hits, struck out two, and did not walk a batter.
West Haven picked up just four hits in the game, singles by Izzo, Jones, and Wyatt, and a double by Gambardella.
West Haven got in the win column behind the 2-hit pitching of Gambardella, and two hits from Izzo. West Haven topped Jonathan Law, 5-0, in Milford Saturday afternoon.
Gambardella dominated from the start, tossing a complete game, The West Haven junior struck out five and did not walk a batter in the win.
After opening the season with a pair of losses, the West Haven baseball team quickly got to .500. Behind its biggest offensive attack of the young season with 11 hits, including two apiece from Izzo, Jones and Gambardella, West Haven pulled away for an 8-2 victory over Hillhouse Career in New Haven Monday afternoon.
Axelrod tossed the first five innings, allowing two unearned runs and two hits, while striking out six and walking two. Izzo closed the contest, needing just 16 pitches to get through the final two scoreless innings.
Izzo, Jones and Gambardella loaded up the of the lineup as Gambardella also drove in a pair of runs and scored once, Jones scored twice and drove in a run, while Izzo also scored twice.
It may have taken a few extra days, but the season has finally started for the West Haven softball team. The extra time off may have fueled the fire as the Westies erupted for 19 runs on 19 hits in a season-opening 19-0 victory over Hamden at Hamden High Monday afternoon. The game was stopped after six innings.
Not to be lost in the hitting barrage was the pitching of senior Neve Krajcir who tossed six shutout innings, allowing one hit, while walking two and striking out 11.
The Westies had six players with multiple hits, led by freshman Mia Rubirosa with three, and Paige Beurer, Melanie Jimenez, Shyanne Raccio, Holly Waibel, and Hannah Davey with two apiece.
Sophomores Juliana Petruzziello, Jimenez, and Carrano each drove in three runs, while Rubirosa, Waibel, and freshman Olivia McDonnell each drove in two.
Rubirosa got the Westies going when she led off the contest with a homer to left. Beurer and Krajcir
After a comeback victory over Lyman Hall to start the season, the West Haven boys lacrosse team was looking to get off to a quick start in the home opener against Foran, Monday evening.
Behind two goals from Tyler Moscato, and a goal and an assist apiece from Michael Kelly and Amir Cayo, West Haven topped Foran, 7-4, at Ken Strong Stadium. With the victory, West Haven improved to 2-0 on the year.
“It was another ugly win today,” West Haven coach Patrick Reed said. “We played very close to Foran. They are a young team, but very skilled and well-coached. They played a great first half and a broken play let us go into the half up by one. The third quarter was a again our best. Chomps (Anthony Campagnuolo) came up with a couple of huge saves and our defense played in control and shut them out for the third. We didn’t take any penalties in the third, but we were able to capitalize on two man-up plays to build a little cushion.”
After opening the season with a loss on the road against Jonathan Law, the West Haven girls lacrosse team had a chance to avenge that defeat in quick fashion. Unfortunately for the Westies, they fell just short.
Despite three goals from Olyvia O’Mara, West Haven dropped to 0-2 with a 7-6 loss to Law in the home opener for the Westies at Ken Strong Stadium.
West Haven had its chances to get on the scoreboard, but could not find the back of the net. Law goalie Arlene Bunavong also had something to say about that as she made 16 saves in the win for Law.
For the Westies, sophomore Cassidy Dalton, junior Madison Lentine and sophomore Brooke Moscato each scored once. Freshman Amber Militrano made 11 saves in the loss for West Haven.
West Haven fell to 0-3 with an 8-3 loss at Lyman Hall Friday evening. With the game even at three, Lyman Hall pulled away with five goals in the second half to send West Haven to its third loss of the year.
Melissa Tsakonas, Mackenzie Gardner and O’Mara each scored once in the first half for West Haven. The Westies had 24 shots in the game, but Lyman Hall goalie Lauren Cretella made some key saves for the Trojans, finishing with 19.
Claire Riccitelli, Claire Riccitelli, and Casey Mordecai each scored twice for Lyman Hall.
The West Haven boys’ tennis team opened the 2021 season with a 5-1 loss against Lyman Hall in Wallingford last Monday afternoon.
West Haven’s lone victory came in the second doubles slot as sophomore Valentin Diaz and junior Mustansir Jamalee won by default. Neither team had enough players for the third doubles team.
In the second doubles spot, Lyman Hall’s Anshul Patel and Tyler Hudson topped West Haven’s Murtaza Amjad and Ahmed Mohamednour, 6-0, 6-4.
In singles action, Lyman Hall’s top seed of Jackson Mailhot defeated Punarvasan Garani 6-4, 6-1. Second-seeded Brady Campbell topped West Haven’s Ben Sager 6-0, 6-0, and third-seeded Alex Zelaya defeated West Haven’s Rob Vets 6-0, 6-0. Fourth-seeded Evan Smith of Lyman Hall topped Chris Leum 6-0, 6-0.
West Haven fell to 0-2 with a 5-2 loss against Foran in West Haven Wednesday afternoon.
In singles play, Foran’s Nico Esposito defeated top-seeded Garani of West Haven 6-4, 6-0, second-seeded Arush Puri of Foran topped West Haven’s Sager 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, and third-seeded Jared O’Sullivan of Foran defeated Abdul Mohamednoor 6-1, 6-1. Foran’s Ryan Purviance topped Vets in the fourth slot 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles action, West Haven’s top seed of Amjad and Mohamednour defeated Danny Abute and Danny Ruano 4-6, 6-4, 7-6. Foran’s second seed of Kevin Huang and Keith Pokornowski defeated Jamalee and Chris Leum 6-0, 6-4, and West Haven’s third seed of Diaz and Yousef Mohamed defeated Josh Cummings and Steven Mingroane 6-0, 6-1.
West Haven engaged in a hard-fought battle against Hamden Monday afternoon. The Westies could not pull out the victory, falling to 0-3 with a 4-3 loss against Hamden in West Haven.
In singles action, top-seeded Garani defeated Hamden’s Quinn Northrup 7-6, 3-6, 10-7. Hamden’s Brian Oppenheim defeated West Haven’s Sager in the second slot 6-3, 6-3, while Hamden’s Josh Alexander topped third-seeded Mohamednoor 6-3, 6-0. West Haven’s Hayat Khan took home the victory in the fourth slot.
In doubles action, Hamden’s Will Shrier and Ivan Forbes defeated West Haven’s top seed of Amjad and Ahmed Mohamednour, 6-2, 6-1. In the second slot, Hamden’s Maddox Lho and Paras Dodd topped Leum and Vets 6-0, 6-1. West Haven’s Diaz and Mohamed won in the third slot.
The girls’ tennis team fell to 0-2 with a 7-0 loss against Sheehan in Wallingford last Monday afternoon.
In singles play, Sheehan’s top seed of Maddie Yasgar beat West Haven’s Rebecca Oronzo 6-0, 6-1. Second-seeded Daytona Scherb of Sheehan topped Marley Hauer 6-0, 6-1, and third-seeded Jordyn Allen of the Titans beat Anaelecea Turcio 6-0, 6-0. Dylan Smith beat Fatmanur Aciker 6-0, 6-0 in the fourth slot.
In doubles action, Sheehan’s Becky Falcone and Alondra Lopez topped West Haven’s Jenna Massaro and Elyze Ancheta 6-0, 6-0. Sheehan’s second seed of Lexi Carim and Sydney Cuticelli defeated West Haven’s Celia Williams and Jeanette McLaughlin 6-0, 6-0, while the third seed of Sheehan, Halle Digioia and Emily Jasinski beat Vinesah Mumar and Hilari Morrobel-Diplan, 6-0, 6-0.
West Haven fell to 0-3 with a 7-0 loss at Jonathan Law Wednesday afternoon.
In singles action, Law’s top seed of Lucia Pino defeated Savannah Lopez 6-0, 6-0, while second-seeded Samantha Burns topped West Haven’s Oronzo 6-0, 6-0. Law’s third-seeded Jenna Bagdasarian defeated Hauer, 6-0, 6-0, and fourth-seeded Diya Daruka topped West Haven’s Turcio, 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles play, Law’s top seed of Sabrina Lawless and Caroline Doyle beat West Haven’s Williams and McLaughlin, 6-0, 6-0. Second-seeded Sophie Maselli and Nihitha Kothapalli defeated West Haven’s Ancheta and Jenna Massaro 6-0, 6-0, while third-seeded Olivia Hudak and Isabella Gejac topped West Haven’s Mumar and Morrobel-Diplan, 6-0, 6-0.
The West Haven boys track team opened season with a 72-63 victory over East Haven Wednesday afternoon at West Haven High. West Haven had nine first place finishes in the meet.
“The entire team brought an outstanding energy to the track today,” West Haven coach Ryan Knight said. “Some of these guys have been waiting almost two years to compete outdoors, so it’s no surprise the motivation was there. We’ll continue to work relentlessly until the next meet.”
James Weber and Allen Aldrich had solid days as each was part of three victorious events. The 4 × 800 relay of Justin Rodriguez, Aldrich, Raymond Pagan, and Weber was victorious in 9 minutes, 13.2 seconds, while the 4 × 400 relay of Alex Potter, Dante Rodney, Pagan, and Weber won in 4:02.3. The 4 × 100 relay of John McLaughlin, Hugo Castillo-Guerra, Shawn Tarpeh, and Chris Bowen won in 51.9 seconds.
Weber won the 400 m in 54.4 seconds, while Aldrich was victorious in the 800 m in 2:22.9 and the 3200 in 12:58.3.
Rodriguez won the 1600m in 5:23.6 and Bowen was victorious in the shot put at 31-3.
The West Haven girls track team opened the 2021 season with a 93-48 loss against East Haven at West Haven High Wednesday afternoon. The Westies controlled the relays, but only picked up five first place finishes in the loss.
The 4 × 800 relay of West Haven’s Isabella Fiorillo, Maryangel Cruz, Amanda Gullo, and Kenedi Merola was victorious in 12:21.93, while the 4×100 relay of West Haven’s Mya Flemming, Ouonaejah Bourne, Tanasia Fildalgo, and Tomalyn Williams won in 55.07. West Haven also won the 4 × 400 relay with a team of Williams, Fiorillo, Merola, and Flemmng in 5:02.3.
West Haven’s Fildalgo won the 300 hurdles in 53.1 seconds, while the 800m was won by West Haven’s Fiorillo in 3:01.
For all your West Haven sporting news throughout the year, including game articles by Mike Madera, highlights, photos and more, visit www.westieblue.com.