Thursday, May 31, 2012

Remaining baseball/softball teams: A quick history


BASEBALL

Haddam-Killingworth

This year: H-K thumped Wolcott in the second round, 17-3, but they’ll have a tall task in the quarters Saturday at No. 1 Montville. H-K relied on pitching depth to finish the regular season 14-6. The Cougars lost to Cromwell in the Shoreline semifinals.
State titles: 0 (played in Class S title game in 1981, 1982, 1986)
Recent finishes:
2011 — Lost in Class M first round to Seymour, 3-2
2010 — Lost in Class M semifinal to Waterford, 1-0
2009 — Lost in Class M second round to eventual champion New London, 5-0 
2008 — Lost in Class M second round to Montville, 4-3
2007 — Lost in Class S quarterfinal to Trinity Catholic, 3-1
2006 — Lost in Class S quarterfinal to Old Lyme, 3-2


Cromwell

This year: A comeback win against East Hampton gave the Panthers (15-5) a Shoreline title. Cromwell defeated Wamogo and Windsor Locks en route to the quarterfinals, and will host St. Paul Catholic Saturday. Looming in a possible semifinal matchup is top-seeded Northwest Catholic. 
State titles: 1966, 1967 (played in 7 title games since 1968)
Recent finishes:
2011 — Lost in Class S quarterfinal to East Catholic, 7-1
2010 — Lost in Class S final to Northwest Catholic, 4-2
2009 — Lost in Class S quarterfinal to Notre Dame-Fairfield, 4-3
2008 — Lost in Class S quarterfinal to St. Bernard, 2-1
2007 — Lost in Class S second round to Northwest Catholic, 11-5
2006 — Lost in Class S first round to Northwest Catholic, 4-3


SOFTBALL

Coginchaug

This year: Coginchaug (16-4) won the Shoreline title this year with a wild nine-inning win against H-K. After a first-round bye, the No. 2-seeded Blue Devils polished off Holy Family in a five-inning win, 15-0. Coginchaug will host Lyman Memorial today — a team they played in the Class S finals in 2007 and 2008 (Lyman won in 2007, Coginchaug in 2008).
State titles: 1983, 1994,  1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 (all Class S)
Recent finishes:
2011 — Lost in Class S quarterfinal to eventual champion Hale-Ray, 7-6 (9 innings)
2010 — Lost in Class S semifinal to eventual champion Terryville, 2-0
2009 — Lost in Class S final to champion Canton, 4-2
2008 — Won Class S title; defeated Lyman Memorial in final, 1-0
2007 — Lost in Class S final to Lyman Memorial, 3-2 (10 innings)
2006 — Won Class S title; defeated Hale-Ray in final, 1-0


MERCY

This year: Mercy won the SCC’s Quinnipiac Division and finished up the regular season at 15-5, dispatching Newington and Greenwich on their way to the Class LL quarterfinals. The Tigers will play at Westhill today, hoping to reach their first semifinal since 2009.
State titles: 1994, 2006 (all Class LL)
Recent finishes:
2011 — Lost in Class LL first round to West Haven, 3-2
2010 — Lost in Class LL second round to Southington, 2-0
2009 — Lost in Class LL semifinal to eventual champion Fitch, 1-0
2008 — Lost in Class L semifinal to eventual champion North Haven, 4-0
2007 — Lost in Class LL semifinal to eventual champion Masuk, 2-0
2006 — Won Class LL title; defeated Amity in final, 4-1


LACROSSE

Xavier

This year: Xavier was 11-6 this year, but the young squad couldn’t battle with the cream of the crop in the SCC. They have a tough quarterfinal at top-seeded Simsbury (15-1) Saturday. 
State titles: 0 (played in Division II title game in 1998)
Recent finishes:
2011 — Lost in Class L first round to Conard, 11-7
2010 — Lost in Class L second round to Glastonbury, 12-5
2009 — Lost in Class L second round to Glastonbury, 11-4
2008 — Lost in Class L first round to Glastonbury, 14-8
2007 — Did not qualify for state tournament
2006 — Lost in Class L first round to South Windsor, 9-7


H-K girls

This year: H-K went undefeated in the Shoreline Conference this year, but lost to Northwest Catholic, Wilton and Stamford. Will the Cougars reach the title game after falling in the semis the last two years? It just might come down to a semifinal matchup with Northwest Catholic. The Cougars will host Ellington in the quarters Monday.
State titles: 0 (never appeared in final)
Recent finishes:
2011 — Lost in Class S semifinal to eventual champion Weston, 12-9
2010 — Lost in Class S semifinal to Fairfield Ludlowe, 18-7
2009 — Lost in Class S quarterfinal to Immaculate, 14-11
2008 — Did not qualify for state tournament; first year of program
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GOLF: Individual scores by team from Shoreline Championships

Individual scores by team
Old Saybrook: Jack Ayers 74, Andy Heckler 80, Matt Cummins 85, JT Giegerich 85
H-K: Nick Segaline 80, John Abbott 88, Matt Bosco 90, Dan Day 91
Old Lyme: Travis Russell 83, Matti Fuller 84, George Logan 95, Nick Berry 95
Portland: Jon Sajdak 77, Mike Tammaro 82, Jack Kelley 83, Carl Thorell 104
Coginchaug: Liz DiVincentis 81, Evan Sliker 84, Adam Twombly 91, Scott Smith 92
Morgan: Frank Rivas 78, Max Bugg 81, Frank Romano 84, Gabe Van Ness 87
Cromwell: Brett Sadinsky 86, Tanner Begen 90, Liam Kenney 96, Sadmir Beskovic 101
North Branford: AJ Cooney 85, Brendan Appi 87, Zac Augur 112, Donny Finkle 114
Hale-Ray: Shane Fiala 81, Tom LeClerc 91, Alex Lorentson 93, Justin Fiala 96
East Hampton: Josh  Basil 92, Ken Steer 93, Matt Mardirosian 97, Jordan Goodman 101
Valley Regional: Clinton Mosher 86, Geoff Vincelette 90, Luke Gagnon 92, Keegan Bauman 97
Westbrook: Scott Nicoll  82

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Who's still kicking? Wednesday results and upcoming schedule

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
OUTDOOR TRACK

Class LL meet


BOYS LACROSSE

Class L
No. 9 Xavier def. No. 8 Shelton, 8-6

SOFTBALL
Class S
No. 2 Coginchaug def. No. 18 Holy Family, 15-0 (5 inn.)
No. 10 Lyman Memorial def. No. 26 East Hampton,
Class LL
No. 7 Mercy def. No. 23 Greenwich, 10-1

BASEBALL
Class LL
No. 7 Amity def. No. 10 Xavier, 4-3
Class M
No. 9 H-K def. No. 8 Wolcott,17-3
Class S
No. 13 St. Paul Catholic def. No. 4 East Hampton, 4-1.
No. 1 Northwest Catholic def. No. 16 Hale-Ray, 3-0
No. 5 Cromwell def. No. 12 Windsor Locks, 10-3

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS LACROSSE
Class S, first round
No. 16 Lewis Mills at No. 1 H-K, 5 p.m.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Class L, quarterfinal
No. 11 Xavier at No. 3 Ridgefield, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
SOFTBALL
Class S, quarterfinal
No. 10 Lyman Memorial at No. 2 Coginchaug, 4 p.m.
Class LL, quarterfinal
No. 7 Mercy at No. 2 Westhill, 4 p.m.

SOFTBALL: Handley gets abbreviated perfect game, Coginchaug advances

No. 2 Coginchaug 15, No. 18 Holy Family 0 (5 inn.): Mari Handley was perfect in five innings as the Blue Devils mercy-ruled Academy of the Holy Family in the second round of the Class S tournament Wednesday, 15-0.
Handley struck out 13 of the 15 batters she faced in the abbreviated perfect game. She didn’t walk a batter and Coginchaug was errorless on defense.
Offensively, the Shoreline champions scratched out 17 hits and scored seven runs in the third inning. Lauren Esposito was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, three runs and two stolen bases. Marissa Puchalski added three hits and three RBIs.
Coginchaug will host No. 10 Lyman Memorial in the quarterfinals Friday. The Blue Devils defeated Lyman on April 7, 4-2.

BASEBALL: Cromwell to Class S quarters

No. 5 Cromwell 10, No. 12 Windsor Locks 3: The Panthers tacked on nine runs in the third inning, landing a spot in the Class S quarterfinals with a 10-3 win against Windsor Locks Wednesday in Cromwell.
Starter Doug Davenport scattered three hits and struck out six in a complete-game effort, and Cromwell bounced back from a 2-1 deficit with nine runs in the third.
Cromwell had five hits in that inning (including a two-run double by Alex Ramirez) and took advantage of three consecutive Windsor Locks errors.
Steven Radziewicz was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ramirez and Logan Lessard had two hits apiece.
Cromwell will play No. 13 St. Paul Catholic in the quarterfinals Saturday (location to be announced). St. Paul upset defending champion East Hampton in the second round, 4-1.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

STATE TOURNEY RESULTS: Upset specials

First day of state tourney play is in the books. And seedings held, for the most part. BUT!
  • Xavier volleyball pulled the ole' upset special against South Windsor, advancing to the Class L quarters. They'll take on No. 3 Ridgefield Thursday for a spot in the semis.
  • There will be a new Class S softball champion. No. 19 Coventry upset Hale-Ray in the opening round (in 9 innings!). But the Shoreline Conference's Morgan, East Hampton and Coginchaug are still kicking, and this bracket is wide open.
  • H-K softball bowed out in what was a seedings-upset-but-not-really-an-upset upset against No. 20 Tolland in Class M. But these Cougars are going to be loaded next year -- expect to see them back in the SLC final.
  • Middletown girls tennis fell one win short in a 4-3 qualifier loss to Bristol Eastern. And they went to three sets at four singles and one dubs. SO CLOSE! They, too, have a bright future -- looks like the talented Alex Korik will spend the next two years at No. 1 singles.
My upset picks for Wednesday...
  • Class M baseball; No. 9 H-K at No 8 Wolcott: Great pitching staff gives the Cougars an advantage when games are back to back. And Wes Nuhn went all seven innings Tuesday, so Jake DeCarli and the H-K bullpen are rested and ready. I say H-K wins 4-2.
  • Class L lacrosse; No. 9 Xavier at No. 8 Shelton: Xavier won their regular-season matchup, and the Falcons should be sufficiently motivated after their quarterfinal exit in the SCC tourney. I say Xavier goalie Dylan Woods saves like one of those people on 'Hoarders' and the Falcons win, 9-5.

TUESDAY’S RESULTS
BASEBALL
Class LL
No. 10 Xavier def. No. 23 West Haven, 4-3
Class M
No. 9 H-K def. No. 24 Wolcott Tech, 7-0
No. 7 North Branford def. No. 26 Vinal Tech, 10-0
Class S
No. 5 Cromwell def. No. 28 Wamogo, 3-0
No. 16 Hale-Ray def. No. 17 Sacred Heart, 7-5
No. 14 Terryville def. No. 19 Coginchaug, 4-3
SOFTBALL
Class LL
No. 7 Mercy, No. 26 Newington, 5-0
No. 5 Bristol Eastern def. No. 28 Middletown, 6-0
Class M
No. 20 Tolland def. No. 13 H-K, 6-5
Class S
No. 19 Coventry def. No. 14 Hale-Ray, 4-3 (9 inn.)
No. 26 East Hampton def. No. 7 University, 22-2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
No. 11 Xavier def. No. 6 South Windsor, 3-0
OUTDOOR TRACK
Class L results
Class M results
GIRLS TENNIS
Class S
No 13 Northwest Catholic def. No. 20 H-K, 5-2
Class L
No. 18 Bristol Eastern def. No. 15 Middletown, 4-3


WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE
OUTDOOR TRACK
Class LL meet at Manchester High, 2:30 p.m.
Class S meet at Willowbrook Park, 2:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Class L
Xavier at Shelton, 7 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Class S
No. 18 Holy Family at No. 2 Coginchaug, 4 p.m.
No. 26 East Hampton at No. 10 Lyman Memorial, 4 p.m.
Class LL
No. 23 Greenwich at No. 7 Mercy, 4 p.m.
BASEBALL
Class LL
No. 10 Xavier at No. 7 Amity, 3:30 p.m.
Class M
No. 9 H-K at No. 8 Wolcott, 3:30 p.m.
Class S
No. 13 St. Paul Catholic at No. 4 East Hampton, 3:30 p.m.
No. 16 Hale-Ray at No. 1 Northwest Catholic, 3:30 p.m.
No. 12 Windsor Locks at No. 5 Cromwell, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday's state tourney results

SOFTBALL
Class LL - 1st round
No. 5 Bristol Eastern 6, No. 28 Middletown 0: Middletown’s five errors in the second inning led to five Bristol Eastern runs as the Dragons wrapped up their season in the first round of the Class LL tournament in a 6-0 loss in Bristol.
Bristol Eastern’s Sarah Belliveau pitched a two-hit shutout and teammate Kristy Benvenuto was 3-for-3 with two runs.
“We’re a young team, and our mistakes during the year kept biting us,” Middletown coach Scott Ahlers said. “That’s what took us out of this game — one bad inning, a few mistakes. Overall, though, the team played really well this season. We have a good base going into next year.”





BASEBALL
CLASS S - 1st round
No. 5 Cromwell 3, No. 28 Wamogo 0: Cromwell’s B.J. McNaughton pitched a four-hit shutout as the Panthers advanced to the second round of the Class S tournament with a 3-0 win against Wamogo Tuesday in Cromwell.
McNaughton struck out seven.
Cromwell scored a pair in the first inning as John McMahon scored on a sacrifice fly by Pat Sirois, then Steve Radziewicz singled to score Kevin Radziewicz.
The Panthers added another run in the fourth inning on a throwing error. Wamogo starter Sam Shurberg pitched a complete game and scattered four hits in the loss.
Cromwell will host the winner of No. 12 Windsor Locks/No. 21 Bolton today.

Xavier golf wins SCC title

Xavier's Geoff Vartelas
ORANGE Xavier golf won the Southern Connecticut Conference crown today at Racebook Country Club in Orange, beating out Hand by four strokes in the 18-hole championship. It is Xavier's first SCC title since 2008, and their third overall (2002).
Xavier senior Geoff Vartelas finished with a 2-over 73, one stroke behind medalist Brian Carlson of Hand. Xavier's Geoff DeVille tied for sixth individually with a 5-over 76.
Xavier will play in the Division I state tournament Monday at Tallwood Country Club in Hebron, looking to better last year's sixth-place finish.

Final Team Results: 1. Xavier (307), 2. Daniel Hand (311), 3. Amity (318), 4. Shelton (324), 5. Fairfield Prep (334), 6. Cheshire (336), 7. Notre Dame (341), 8. North Haven (341), 9. Guilford (357) 

Medalist: Brian Carlson (Daniel Hand), +1 (72)

Other Top Finishers: Geoff Vartelas (Xavier), +2 (73), Eric Dietrich (Cheshire), +4 (75), Eric Austin (Notre Dame), +4 (75), Alex Marieb (Amity), +4 (75), Geoff DeVille (Xavier), +5 (76), Ryan Moore (Guilford), +5 (76)

Monday, May 28, 2012

BASEBALL: Tuesday's state tournament schedule

Class LL (click for bracket)

No. 23 West Haven at No. 10 Xavier (Palmer Field), 3:30 p.m.

Class M

No. 24 Wolcott Tech at No. 9 H-K, 3:30 p.m.
No. 26 Vinal Tech at No. 7 North Branford, 3:30 p.m.

Class S

No. 4 East Hampton - BYE
No. 28 Wamogo at No. 5 Cromwell, 3:30 p.m.
No. 17 Sacred Heart at No. 16 Hale-Ray, 3:30 p.m.
No. 19 Coginchaug at No. 14 Terryville, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

In 9-inning thriller, Coginchaug walks off with Shoreline title against H-K


There’s really only one reasonable thing to do after you walk off with a Shoreline softball title.
Dance.
One day after Coginchaug’s prom, Shoreline Conference Player of the Year Lauren Esposito led a brief but joyous dance party after Coginchaug earned a thrilling nine-inning win against H-K in the Shoreline championship game Sunday at Westbrook High School, 5-4.
“I said at prom, ‘If we win, I’m ‘Dougie’ing,’” Esposito laughed.
And she did — though it took two extra innings, four lead changes in the final three frames and a rousing walk-off single by teammate Kayla Votto in the bottom of the ninth.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

SOFTBALL: No. 1 Coginchaug, No. 2 H-K will meet in Shoreline final

It'll be Coginchaug and H-K in this year's Shoreline title game. Here are all the details:


SEMIFINALS:
  • Coginchaug def. Morgan, 8-1 ... L. Esposito: CG, 9 Ks; 2 hits, R
  • H-K def. Old Saybrook, 10-2 ... S. Waskowitz: HR, 3B (2), 4 RBIs, 3 R
CHAMPIONSHIP GLANCE
  • Sunday, 2 p.m. at Westbrook High School (all-conference honors at 1:30)
  • This year's Shoreline title game will be a battle of the bats, folks. Coginchaug is averaging 8.5 runs/game in the tournament, and H-K is averaging 12.
  • Look for Ashley Cook to start on the mound for H-K. Could be Mari Handley or Lauren Esposito (who spun a gem in the semis) for the Blue Devils.
  • A couple of super juniors could play a deciding role in who wins this one. H-K's Sam Waskowitz has homered in the last two games (she also had two triples against Old Saybrook) and Coginchaug's Kayla Votto has a penchant for big hits (she had two extra-base RBI knocks against Morgan).
  • Coginchaug beat H-K twice in the regular season: 3-2 on April 20 in Durham; 4-1 in Higganum on May 14.


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

BASEBALL: SLC seedings, schedule (updated 5:57 p.m.)


Seedings:
1. East Hampton
2. Haddam-Killingworth (tiebreaker with Cromwell)
3. Cromwell (tiebreaker with North Branford)
4. North Branford
5. Westbrook
6. Old Lyme


Quarterfinals
(Thursday at higher seed)
Cromwell def. Old Lyme, 4-0
North Branford def. Westbrook, 3-2
(Byes: East Hampton, H-K)

Semifinals
Friday at higher seed
North Branford at East Hampton, 3:45 p.m.
Cromwell at H-K, 3:45 p.m.

Championship game
Saturday at Indian River Complex, 11 a.m. 

SOFTBALL: SLC seedings, schedule

Seedings
1. Coginchaug
2. H-K
3. North Branford
4. Hale-Ray
5. Morgan
6. Old Saybrook
7. East Hampton
8. Westbrook

Friday -  Quarterfinals:
Westbrook at Coginchaug 4:00 p.m.
East Hampton at H-K 4:00 p.m.
Old Saybrook at North Branford 4:00 p.m.
Morgan at Hale-Ray 4:00 p.m.

Saturday - Semifinals (at higher seed):
8/1 winner vs. 5/4 winner, time TBA  (if at Coginchaug 11:00 a.m. due to prom)
7/2 winner vs. 6/3 winner, time TBA

Sunday - Championship (at Westbrook 2:00 p.m):
Semifinal winners


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Monday, May 21, 2012

BASEBALL: Shoreline Championships schedule


The Shoreline baseball tourney is scheduled to kick off Thursday (as long as Mother Nature allows it). There were some unfinished games Monday, so seedings are still up in the air. We do, however, know the six teams that will play: North Branford, East Hampton, Cromwell, H-K, Westbrook and Old Lyme. Here’s the schedule:

QUARTERFINALS
(Thursday at higher seed)
No. 6 at No. 3      
No. 5 at No. 4


SEMIFINALS
(Friday at higher seed)
No. 4/5 winner at No. 1
No. 6/3 winner at No. 2


CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Saturday at Indian River Complex, 11 a.m.


LAST YEAR
East Hampton defeated North Branford in the title game, 6-5. The Bellringers went on to win the Class S state tourney.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

BASEBALL: East Hampton def. Cromwell, 3-1

CROMWELL East Hampton’s Ryan Massie hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and the Bellringers won in extras at Cromwell Wednesday, 3-1.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Massie scored teammates Marvin Gorgas and Spencer Daly to put East Hampton ahead.
Gorgas pitched all eight innings for the Bellringers (12-4), scattering three hits and striking out 12.
Cromwell led 1-0 after three innings when a John McMahon double scored Mike McNally. East Hampton evened the game an inning later when Adam Michaud scored on a groundout by Joe Tuxbury.
Cromwell’s B.J. McNaughton pitched eight innings for the Panthers (10-4), striking out seven and giving up five hits. Each team had two errors.
Gorgas reached on an error in the eighth inning, then Spencer Daly drew a two-out walk before Massie’s two-run hit. Massie was called out trying for third to end the top of the inning.
Both teams are back in action Friday, when Cromwell hosts Valley and East Hampton hosts H-K.