The West Haven baseball team has been a resilient one all season. The recent game at Cheshire was no different.
Unfortunately for the Westies, the Rams proved to be just as tough. Despite twice rallying from deficits, the Westies fell to Cheshire, 6-5.
KJ Harp led the Westies with three hits and two runs scored, while Tyler DeSanty, Gianni Gambardella, and Ray Gilbert each had a pair of hits. Gilbert drove in a pair.
After stranding runners in each of the first four innings and trailing 3-0, West Haven rallied to even the game in the fifth. Harp, DeSanty, and Gambardella opened the inning with singles to load the bases, before Dylan Supan reached on an error to score Harp.
Gilbert followed with a single to center to score DeSanty and Gambardella, but Supan was out at third for the first out of the inning.
The Rams took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the inning, but the Westies responded with two in the sixth for a 5-4 advantage on a passed ball and a run-scoring single by DeSanty.
Cheshire evened the game in the sixth with two outs, then, after the Westies went down in order in the seventh, the Rams used a one-out single with two on to pick up the walk-off victory.
It has been a roller coaster season early on for the Fairfield Prep baseball team. Sorting through what will work best for a deep team, the Jesuits have had their ups and downs.
Coming off a loss to Amity, Fairfield Prep was looking to get back on track.
Taking advantage of four West Haven errors in the first two innings, Prep scored five times on its way to a 7-5 victory.
The Westies did not do themselves any favors in the contest, getting off to a slow start at the plate and committing eight errors in the field.
To West Haven’s credit, the team battled back with two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, and had the tying runs on base. Mauritz turned to Andrew Cutler on the mound and the junior helped the Jesuits prevail when he got Corey Coggins on a grounder to third to end the contest.
For all the mistakes, West Haven made, the opportunity was there in the bottom of the seventh to steal the game.
DeSanty and Gilbert walked with one out, before Supan brought the tying run to the plate with a single to center to load the bases. Gazzaneo reached on an error to score DeSanty, and a passed ball with two outs scored Gilbert to get West Haven within a pair with two in scoring position.
D’Elia, Iannazzo, and Aselta led the Jesuits with two hits apiece in the win. Supan and John Lindsay each had a pair of hits in the loss for West Haven.
It may not have been pretty, but the West Haven baseball team inched closer to the postseason with a 5-4 victory over North Haven Friday afternoon at Piurek Field in West Haven. The victory was the seventh on the season for the Westies, who need one more to qualify for the postseason.
After three first inning errors led to a pair of North Haven runs in the top of the first, West Haven rallied to even the game in the bottom of the inning.
DeSanty hit a one-out single, Gilbert reached on an error and both scored when Dylan Supan doubled to right to even the game at two.
The Nighthawks scored two more in the second for a 4-2 lead, but that was all the scoring on the day for North Haven off Dylan Supan. The West Haven senior tossed a complete game, allowing two earned runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out three.
With Cam Cruz on first after reaching on a fielder’s choice, Gazzaneo and Coggins singled to load the bases.
Cruz scored on a ground out by Evan Jones, and after K.J. Harp walked to load the bases, Gazzaneo scored on a wild pitch to even the game at four. Coggins then scored on another wild pitch for a 5-4 lead.
The Westies had to sweat things out in the seventh as the Nighthawks had two on with one out courtesy of a West Haven error and a walk. A fly ball put runners on the corners, but a pop out ended the game to secure West Haven’s seventh win of the season.
The West Haven softball team led early, but could not hang on in a 9-4 loss at North. With the loss, West Haven fell to 5-2.
The Nighthawks rallied for five runs in the fourth inning to erase a 3-2 deficit. North Haven added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away.
West Haven starting pitcher Mia Rubirosa was knocked out of the game after 3 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and seven earned runs.
Rubirosa did help give the Westies a 3-1 lead with a line drive three-run homer in the third after Olivia McDonnell singled and Natalie Gallo walked.
West Haven knocked around 18 hits and scored in every inning, rolling to an 18-0 victory over Wilbur Cross in a game shortened to five innings. West Haven improved to 6-2.
Shyanne Raccio and Taylor Alfano led the offense with four hits apiece, while Rubirosa, Paige Beurer, and McDonnell each had a pair of hits. Alfano drove in four runs, Rubirosa drove in three, and Hannah Burrows knocked in a pair.
Rubirosa also scored four runs, Miller scored three times, and Beurer, Raccio, McDonnell and Natalie Gallo each scored twice.
West Haven won its second straight contest and fourth in five games with a 19-0 victory over Hillhouse in a game shortened to five innings. West Haven improved to 7-2 on the year.
The Westies received a balanced attack throughout the line up and were led by Rubirosa who tossed a perfect game with 13 strikeouts.
Brianna Miller led the offense with four hits, five runs batted in, and two runs scored. Juliana Petruzziello added four hits, three runs batted in, and one run scored while Rubirosa had three hits, two runs batted in, and four runs scored.
Beurer, Raccio, Julia Merola, and Gallo each had two hits apiece, Merola drove in two runs, and Beurer scored twice, and Gallo scored three times.
West Haven won its third straight contest with a 5-3 decision over Sacred Heart at home. With the victory, the Westies qualified for the state tournament and improved to 8-2 on the year.
Rubirosa went the distance, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out seven. Rubirosa also had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run. Petruzziello had two hits and drove in a pair.
Rubirosa helped give the Westies a 2-0 lead in the first when she led off with a double to left, moved to second on a single by Miller, and scored along with Miller on Petruzziello’s two-out single to left.
West Haven improved to 9-2 with a 19-6 road victory over Milford, Mass. Saturday morning in a game stopped after six innings of play.
The road trip saw West Haven pound out 21 hits, including five from Petruzziello, three apiece from Beurer and Raccio, and two apiece from Rubirosa, Miller, Davey, and Melanie Jimenez.
Miller, Beurer, Petruziello, and Gianna Carrano each knocked in three, while Rubirosa, Raccio and Davey delivered two. Rubirosa, Beurer, Raccio, and Petruzziello all scored three times, while Miller, Burrows, and Jimenez each scored twice.
The West Haven girls lacrosse team saw its two-game winning streak come to an end with a 16-10. With the loss, West Haven fell to 3-4 on the year.
Foran took control of the game early with an 11-3 halftime lead, before the Westies rallied in the second half. The comeback fell short despite six different players in the scoring column.
Julia Tsakonas led the Westies with four goals. Delaney Johnston scored three times, Olyvia O’Mara scored twice, and Madison Lentine had a goal and an assist. Cassidy Dalton and Melissa Tsakonas each had an assist for West Haven.
Amber Militrano had 18 saves in the loss as West Haven was outshot 38-21.
West Haven is getting used to playing in tough contests. Despite leading by two goals at the half, the Westies fell to Sheehan, 9-8, in overtime.
West Haven led 6-4 at the half, but saw the Titans rally in the second half. A 4-2 Sheehan margin forced overtime, where the Titans prevailed.
O’Mara, Johnston, Melissa Tsakonas, and Julia Tsakonas each scored twice in the loss. O’Mara, Johnston, Madison Lentine, and Julia Tsakonas each had one assist in the loss for West Haven.
Bella Raffone led Sheehan with three goals and two assists.
West Haven dropped its third straight contest and fell to 3-6 on the year with an 11-8 loss against Mercy. The Westies led 6-4 at the half, but could not hold on as the Tigers went on a 7-2 second half run to pull out the victory.
The Westies had 37 shots in the contest, but only managed to find the back of the net eight times. The Tigers capitalized on their 27 shots and were led by Lily Schoonmaker with eight goals and one assist.
Amber Militrano made 14 saves for the Westies, while Callia Borkowski made 17 saves in the win for Mercy.
Julia Tsakonas led the offense with three goals, while Melissa Tsakonas finished with a goal and an assist. Olyvia O’Mara, Ava Evangeliste, and Delaney Johnston all finished with one goal apiece.
The West Haven boys tennis team fell to 2-4 with a 6-1 loss against Foran.
The lone victory for West Haven came in doubles action as third-seeded Valentin Diaz and Abdourahim Mbengue defeated Noah Held and John Brown 6-1, 6-0.
West Haven fell to Lyman Hall Thursday afternoon in Wallingford. The 6-1 loss dropped West Haven to 2-5 on the year.
West Haven’s only win came in doubles play as third-seeded Huang and Mbengue topped Parth Jalgaonkar and Pablo Dominguez 6-4, 7-5.
West Haven improved to 3-5 with a 4-3 victory over Wilbur Cross Monday afternoon in New Haven. The teams split singles matches, while West Haven won two of the three matches in doubles play.
In singles action, West Haven top seed of Torres defeated Adam Shargawe 6-0, 6-0, and West Haven’s second seed of Sager topped JJ O’Garro 7-6, 6-3. Young In Kim of Wilbur Cross defeated Sihaphong 6-3, 6-3, and Sophia Bedoyarose of Cross topped John Diaz 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles play, top-seeded Antonio Mandania and Mario Berrios of Wilbur Cross defeated Chen and Khan 7-6, 6-1.
West Haven’s Balakumar and Vets defeated Sam Heenan and Cassius Morgan Coe 0-6, 7-6, 6-3, and Valentin Diaz and Abdourahim Mbengue of West Haven topped Ernesto Lugo and Raphael Guddard 7-0, 6-2.
West Haven defeated East Haven 6-1 on the road Friday afternoon. With the win, West Haven improved t0 4-5.
In singles action, Torres defeated Oliver Kabel 6-4, 6-4, second-seeded Punar Garani topped Kevin Phan 6-1, 7-6, and third-seeded Sager defeated Santiago Zapata 6-2, 6-3. Fourth-seeded Sihaphong topped Matteo Martinez 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles play, West Haven’s top seed of Balakumar and Vets defeated Thanh Ngo and Shiv Patel 6-2, 5-7. East Haven’s second seed of Victor Unabia and Aedan Conners defeated West Haven’s second seed of Chen and Mbengue 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, while West Haven’s Ali Hamza and Javon Huang topped Matteo Romero and Gustavo Flores-Soto 6-1, 6-4.
The West Haven boys track and field team fell to Foran, 85-64, Thursday afternoon in West Haven.
The 4 x 800 relay of Eric Owen, Alex Potter, Vasillios Parsley, and Matthew Pagan won in 9 minutes, 25 seconds, and the 4 x 100 relay team of Avian Evans, Jeremiah Christie-Frances, Amir Nakome, and Deven Robinson won in 46.0 seconds.
Evans was also victorious in the 100m in 11.9 seconds, while Potter won the 1600m in 5:03, and the 800m in 2:15.5. Owen also was victorious in the 3200m in 11:25.
Destin Clarke was a victor in the high jump at 5 feet, 6 inches.
For all your West Haven sporting news throughout the year, including game articles by Mike Madera, highlights, photos and more, visit www.westieblue.com.