The West Haven softball team has opened its season with an impressive start. Going into last week, the Blue Devils had reeled off five, straight victories but were faced with a challenge of facing East Haven, defending state champion Amity and Jonathan Law. On Monday, the Westies defeated the Yellow Jackets. 9-5. behind the hitting of Kailey Carrano, Ashlynn O’Keefe, Veronica Lynn and Gigi Perkins, who all picked up two hits. Carrano homer again, this time a three-run home run to center to put the girls up 9-2 in the fourth inning. Ivy Santos pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out nine Easties.
On Wednesday, the Blue Devils headed to Woodbridge to battle the Amity Spartans and Santos was at it again, pitching a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out seven Spartans. The Westies took the early lead in the second inning when Kailey Carrano hit a towering home run to center for the 1-0 lead. That would be the only offense Santos would need but, the Blue Devils tacked on two, more insurance runs in the third inning when Aslynn O’Keefe and Carrano singled and then Kasey Marron brought in both with a double to increase the lead to 3-0. Santos got some timely strike outs the rest of the way to keep Amity off the board.
On Friday, the girls were looking not to have a letdown when they traveled to Milford to take on the 3-2 Jonathan Law Eagles. The Westies hit some balls hard but right at defenders and heading into the seventh inning were trailing 1-0. Law had taken advantage of an error to get a runner to third base in the fourth inning and scored its run on a wild pitch. In the top of the seventh, Gigi Perkins walked and Morgan Peryer singled to set the table for Ashlynn O’Keefe. O’Keefe dropped down a perfect bunt for a single and on a throwing error to first, Perkins and Peryer raced around to score and give the Blue Devils a 2-1 lead. O’Keefe, who had taken second on the error, came in to score when Veronica Lynn reached on an error to make it 3-1. With two outs in the inning, Santos singled. Pinch-runner Olivia Hauer scored on Kasey Marron’s double to increase the lead to 4-1. Santos shut down the Eagles in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory. Santos pitched a complete game allowing one, unearned run to get the victory.
This week, the girls look to continue their success and clinch a playoff spot with their eight win. The Westies were scheduled to travel to Shelton on Monday to face the Gaels and then to Lyman Hall on Wednesday before ending the back end of a home and home with Lyman Hall when they host the Trojans on Thursday at noon.
After opening its season 2-0, the baseball team had a tough week, last week. On Monday afternoon at Piurek Field, the Blue Devils allowed the Notre Dame Green Knights to build a 10-0 lead before they were able to plate some runs in a 10-3 loss. Trailing 10-0 in the fifth inning, Hunter Alexrod and Branden Coggins both walked and then Dom Cambino reached on an error to score Alexrod to make it 10-1. The Blue Devils added a run in the sixth inning when JC Contreras singled, stole third and scored on a ground out by Mike Tonucci. The Westies got their final run in the seventh inning after Steven Byrd doubled and scored on a Jake Lentine ground out.
On Wednesday afternoon, the boys staked the Sheehan Titans a 4-0 first inning lead and were unable to climb out of the hole in a 4-3 loss. The Westies got three runs back in the top of the third inning when Tyler Jones singled and came around to score of Dom Cambino’s double. Cambino was plated by Chris Cavallaro’s double to make it 4-2. JC Contreras walked and Mike Boni singled to load the bases before Gianni Gambardella hit a sacrifice fly to score Cavallaro with the third West Haven run. Unfortunately for the Westies, they threatened numerous times for the rest of the game but couldn’t get any more runs in the loss. The Blue Devils collected a total of 13 hits but came up short.
On Friday, the Westies traveled to Madison and were defeated by the Hand Tigers, 8-2. The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before the Blue Devils got a run back in the fourth inning when J.C. Contreras singled, advanced to second on a groundout by Mike Tonucci, moved to third on an error and scored on a Mike Boni single. The Tigers increased the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth. In the sixth inning Contreras singled, stole second and came in the score on a groundout by Boni. Hand responded with four, more runs in the bottom of the inning to secure the 8-2 win.
This week, the Blue Devils hosted the Hamden Green Dragons on Monday and will play a road game at Piurek Field against the Career Panthers on Saturday at noon.
The boys’ lacrosse team had started the season 2-0, but were dealt a setback on Monday when it was defeated by the Xavier Falcons, 16-1. The Blue Devils did a great job in the first quarter holding the Falcons in check. Kevin Moriarty made some spectacular saves and after he was assessed a penalty for destroying a Xavier attacker in front, Anthony Campagnuolo defended the goal for two minutes, making some great saves of his own. The Falcons were able to sneak one past him with 3:21 left in the quarter for a 1-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Xavier scored seven goals in the second quarter to take an 8-0 lead heading into the half, taking control of the game. The Falcons added six, more goals to increase the lead to 14-0 before Charlie Miller was able to get West Haven on the board with 7:06 left in the game. Xavier tacked on a goal with 6:20 left and another with .5 seconds left for the 16-1 final.
The Blue Devils were looking to bounce back when they traveled to Hamden to face the rival Green Dragons on Saturday morning. Hunter Messina got the Westies on the board just 1:18 into the game with a goal to make it 1-0. Connor Fowler increased the lead to 2-0 with a goal 18 seconds later. Niko Kyle got his first of five goals on the day 26 seconds after that to make it 3-0. After the Dragons cut the lead to 3-1, Justin Rivera scored 40 seconds later to reestablish the three-goal lead. Hamden scored to cut the lead to 4-2 but the Westies responded with Kyle’s second goal with 31.7 seconds left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Rivera picked up his second goal 58 seconds into the quarter and then 1:04 later Nick Camara raced from his defensive position, the length of the field, dished the ball off and then received a return pass in front and fired the ball home for a goal to make it 7-2. Hamden answered with a goal 41 seconds later but Dillon Lenihan capitalized on a rebound of a Justin Rivera shot to score with 8:05 left in the half. The Green Dragons added two goals to send the teams into halftime with West Haven up 8-5.
Hamden scored again 1:05 into the third quarter to cut the lead to 8-6 but, the Blue Devils responded when Connor Fowler got his second goal, sweeping a low shot hockey style and Kyle notched his third to make it 10-6. After Hamden scored to make it 10-7, the Westies put the game away with the next, four goals. Tyler Moscato scored with 3:56 left in the third, Nikolas Zaino with 47.6 seconds left, Kyle with a low, bullet for his fourth with 14.3 seconds left and then Justin Rivera completing his hat trick with a goal with 7:01 left in the game for a 14-7 lead. Hamden added a goal and the Kyle scored his fifth with 2:39 left for the 15-8 final. Kevin Moriarty finished with 12 saves between the pipes for the Westies.
This week, the boys played at Notre Dame of West Haven on Monday and hosted Lyman Hall on Wednesday.
The girls’ lacrosse team suffered a 16-4 loss at Sacred Heart on Monday afternoon in Hamden. Keegan Riccio led the Blue Devils with three goals while CC Condon had a goal and Taylor Nowak and Chloe Hummel contributed with an assist each. Nicole Gaston made 12 saves in goal for West Haven.
On Friday evening, the Blue Devils hosted the Foran Lions at Ken Strong Stadium. The Lions grabbed a 3-0 lead just 9:48 into the game but, the Westies battled back. Morrighan Leavitt scored with 14:32 left in the first half, Angela Borelli scored 1:32 later and Keegan Riccio scored 47 seconds after that to knot the game at 3-3. After the Lions got the lead back with two goals, Gianna Sliby scored with 9.6 seconds left in the half but, Foran put a dagger in the back of the Blue Devils with a goal with .5 seconds left in the half for a 6-4 lead at the half.
In the second half, the Lions scored 35 seconds into the half to take a 7-4 lead but, the Westies continued to battle back. Keegan Riccio scored her second with 22:50 left in the game, Taylor Nowak added a goal with 15:57 left and Riccio again with 14:06 left to tie the game again at 7-7. Unfortunately for the Westies, the Lions responded with the next, three goals to seal the 10-7 victory. Nicole Gaston made 11 saves between the pipes for the girls.
This week, the Westies had a road game at Shelton on Tuesday and head to Middletown to face the Mercy Tigers on Thursday at 11.
The boys’ tennis team hosted the North Haven Indians on Tuesday and got wins from Joseph Delgado, 8-6, and Zach Kerzner, 8-2, but fell to the Indians, 5-2. On Wednesday, the Blue Devils swept singles action to defeat the Notre Dame Green Knights at UNH. Joseph Delgado won, 6-1, 6-3, Zach Kerzner won, 6-3, 6-0, Anthony Siaphong took his match, 6-1, 6-4 and Jonathan Saier was victorious, 6-1, 6-2.
On Friday at Painter Park, the Blue Devils defeated the Sheehan Titans, 5-2. Joseph Delgado won, 6-2, 6-1, Zach Kerzner won, 6-2, 6-2 and Jonathan Saier won, 6-2, 6-1 in singles action. In doubles play, Jason Rameriz/Lucien Zheng were victorious, 6-2, 6-1 and Awaab Osman/Ron Wood won ,7-5, 6-0 to help West Haven to the triumph.
This week, the boys were scheduled to travel to Platt Tech on Monday, host Career on Tuesday and finish the week with a trip to Wilbur Cross for a match on Thursday at 11.
The girls’ tennis team was defeated by the Foran Lions, 7-0, on Thursday afternoon and will look to bounce back this week. The Blue Devils traveled to North Haven on Monday, hosted Mercy on Tuesday and close out the week with a trip to Cheshire on Thursday at 3:45.