The West Haven baseball team opened its 2019 season with a trip the Rice Field in New Haven to face the Wilbur Cross Governors. Things didn’t look good for the Westies in the first inning when the Governors took advantage to score a run and after a balk, had another runner at third base but, JC Contreras worked out of trouble and settled down to pitch a complete game 6-5 victory, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and struck out six batters.
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, the Blue Devils struck for two runs when Mike Tonucci drew a walk, Mike Boni reached on an error, Tonucci came around to score on a throwing error on an attempted pick off play at second and the ensuing error on an overthrow at third and Boni came in on a Kaden Morgillo single. The Westies padded the lead in the third inning when Chris Cavallaro was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a triple by Contreras. Tonucci singled to plate Contreras making it 4-1.
In the fifth inning, Dom Cambino singled and scored on a Wilbur Cross error to increase the lead to 5-1. After the Governors got two runs back in the bottom of the inning, the Westies got a much needed insurance run when Gianni Gambardella singled, moved to third on an error and scored on a Hunter Axelrod ground out. That run proved to be important because the Governors rallied to score two, more runs in the bottom of the sixth to narrow the lead to 6-5. Contreras and his infield shut down Cross and got the three outs in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Blue Devils broke a 7-7 tie with the Platt Tech Panthers when they put up six runs in the top of the seventh inning to secure a 13-7 victory and improve to 2-0. The Westies scored three times in the first inning when Dom Cambino singled, stole second and came around to score on a JC Contreras triple. Mike Tonucci singled to plate Contreras and after Tonucci stole second, he scored on a base hit by Hunter Axelrod. Platt Tech responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning but, the Blue Devils got it right back in the top of the second when Kaden Morgillo singled, stole second and scored on a single by Tyler Jones. Jones came around to score when Chris Cavallaro ripped a double to reestablish the three-run lead at 5-2.
After the Panthers got two, more runs back, the Westies plated another run in the fifth inning when Contreras hit a sacrifice fly to score Cambino. In the sixth inning, the boys got another run when Gianni Gambardella double and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike Boni to make it 7-4. The Panthers rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 7-7.
In the top of the seventh, the Blue Devils batted around, scoring six runs to take control of the game. Tonucci doubled to drive in Cavallaro and Contreras, Tonucci came around to score when Gambardella reached on an error, Axelrod and Gambardella scored on a Boni single and Boni scored on a Cambino groundout.
Tyler Green pitched the first, four innings allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits before giving away to freshman Gianni Gambardella, who pitched the final, three innings, allowing three runs on three hits for the victory.
This week, the boys hosted Notre Dame on Monday, traveled to face Sheehan on Wednesday and finish the week with a trip to face the Hand Tigers in Madison on Friday at 3:45.
The softball team improved to 2-0 on Monday afternoon at Biondi Field with a convincing 16-0, mercy-shortened five-inning perfect game. Ivy Santos pitched the first three innings and then Neve Krajcir and Miranda Burrows each pitched an inning of flawless softball to secure the perfect game, striking out 14 total batters. Santos also had a day at bat with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. The offense got help from Morgan Peryer, Ashlynn O’Keefe and Veronica Lynn, all who picked up two hits. The Blue Devils put up four runs in the first inning, six more in the second and then three runs in the third and fourth for the 16-0 final.
On Wednesday afternoon, the girls kept things rolling with a 7-2 victory over the Guilford Indians. Ivy Santos pitched a complete game victory, allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out six Indians. The Blue Devils continued to have offensive success, pounding out 15 hits, led by Kailey Carrano, who had three hits. Santos, Ashlynn O’Keefe, Didi Rodriquez and Gigi Perkins each picked up a pair of hits in the win.
The Westies traveled to Darien on Saturday afternoon to face the Blue Wave and continued on their winning ways with a 14-2 win. Kailey Carrano continued to swing a hot bat leading the Blue Devils with three hits and three RBIs while Ivy Santos had three hits, three RBIs and pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out ten batters. Kasey Marron returned from an injury to get two hits and three RBIs to help the Westies. West Haven took the early lead when Veronica Lynn reached on an error, scored on a single by Carrano and Carrano came in on a triple by Santos. The Blue Devils got two, more runs in the third inning and sealed the victory with eight runs in the fifth inning to improve to 4-0 on the season.
This week, the girls traveled to East Haven on Monday, headed to Amity on Wednesday and finish the week with a trip to Milford to face Jonathan Law on Friday at 3:45.
The boys’ tennis team opened its 2019 campaign on Monday afternoon at Painter Park with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Shelton Gaels that culminated with a ten-point tie-breaker in doubles action to secure the victory. Joseph Delgado took the #1 seed match 6-1, 7-5 and Zach Kerzner won 6-4, 6-4 in singles play while the doubles team of Riyad Al-Bakri/Nash Noble won 6-3, 6-4 and Awaab Osman/Ron Wood were victorious 6-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8).
On Tuesday, the boys headed to Branford and were stung by the Hornets, 6-1. The Westies only victory came from the racket of Joseph Degado, who triumphed, 6-3, 3-6, 10-4. The Blue Devils could not manage another win but came close in a spirited match from Anthony Sihaphong, who eventually dropped his match, 7-5, 3-6, 4-6.
This week, the boys traveled across town to face Notre Dame on Monday and finish the week hosting the Sheehan Titans on Friday at 3:45 at Painter Park.
The girls’ tennis team traveled to Wallingford on Monday afternoon to face the Lyman Hall Trojans. The Westies got victories in the top-seeded match from Sofia Lora, 6-2, 6-4 and from second-seeded Skylar Serenson, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. The Blue Devils couldn’t manage to win any of the other matches in a 5-2 loss to the Trojans.
On Tuesday, the Westies hosted the East Haven Yellow Jackets and battled to a 4-3 victory and then the girls improved to 2-1 on the season when they swept the Career Panthers, 7-0, on Thursday afternoon at East Shore Park.
This week, the girls host the Foran Lions on Thursday at 3:45.
The girls’ lacrosse team continued to struggle to find its identity early in the season. The girls continued to work hard but have had difficulties scoring and keeping the ball out of the net. The Westies traveled to Milford on Monday evening and dropped a 14-5 decision to the Jonathan Law Eagles. Morrighan Leavitt had two goals, CC Condon had a goal and two assists, Keegan Riccio and Gianna Sliby both added goals. Nicole Gaston made 13 saves in goal for West Haven.
On Wednesday evening, the girls saw the Guilford Indians score the first 10 goals on their way to a 20-4 loss. With the score 10-0, Keegan Riccio finally got the Blue Devils on the board with her first of two goals on the night with 5:54 remaining in the first half. Taylor Nowak had a goal and an assist, CC Condon added a goal and Gianna Sliby had an assist. Nicole Gaston made 10 saves between the pipes for West Haven.
On Saturday evening, the girls took on the Green Dragons in Hamden. The Westies fell behind 13-3 in the first half on their way to an 18-6 loss. Keegan Riccio led the Blue Devils with three goals, Angela Borelli had two goals and Chloe Hummel had a goal. Taylor Nowak and Gianna Sliby each had an assist while Nicole Gaston had nine saves in goal for the Westies.
This week, the girls traveled to Sacred Heart Academy on Monday and host the Foran Lions at Ken Strong Stadium on Friday at 6:30.
The boys’ lacrosse team opened the season with two, impressive road wins over Lyman Hall, 11-5, and Bristol Central, 11-1. No information was provided on the games. This week, the Blue Devils hosted the Xavier Falcons on Monday and travel to Hamden to face the Green Dragons on Saturday at 10.