Cromwell senior captain Tino Gagliardi hit a three-run home run in the second inning and a solo shot in the sixth, and starter Zach Zajac for the fourth time this season as the Panthers defeated East Hampton 9-3 Friday in Shoreline Conference baseball action.
Gagliardi, who hits out of the three-spot, entered the game with a team-best .541 batting average. He also leads Cromwell in hits and RBIs.
“He’s been phenomenal,” coach Christian Budzik said. “He is leading us in every aspect of the game. Offensively and in his leadership role, he’s as good as anybody in the state.”
Cromwell jumped on East Hampton starter Nate Bigelow early, scoring twice in the first inning and tacking on four more runs in the second.
Ian McMillan was 3 for 4, Zajac was 2 for 4 with an RBI, Ethan UCol was 2 for 3 with a run and RBI and Justin Valentin scored three times as Cromwell (8-4) bounced back from Thursday’s loss to Haddam-Killingworth.
Zajac (4-0) went the distance, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, with one walk and one strikeouts.
James Quinn homered for the Bellringers (6-6), Josh Wagner was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Javy Diaz had two hits.
Cromwell plays at Old Saybrook on Saturday (1pm).
C 240 101 1–9 11 x
EH 101 010 0–3 8 x
In other baseball games Friday:
Coginchaug 10, Westbrook 0 (5)
W 000 00–0 3 2
C 322 03–10 12 1
WP: Griffin Biro; LP: Charles Schneider
Highlights: Biro scattered 3 hits over 5 innings, walked two and struck out 6 for the win. Evan Faiella hit his second home run of the season for the Blue Devils, while Jeremy Mangiameli continued a torrid hitting streak with 2 hits, 2 RBIs and a run scored. Owen Clancy was 2 for 3 with a run and RBI, pinch hitter Ethan Kupec hit a 2-run double and Connor Willet, Kolby Pascarelli and Anthony Morro each drove in a run for Coginchaug. Zach True had 2 hits for the Knights.
Records: Coginchaug 10-2, Westbrook 0-13.
North Branford 6, Haddam-Killingworth 5
HK 001 400 0–5 9 1
NB 003 101 1–6 5 0
Batteries: HK–Alex Sheehan, Andrew Conti (3), Matt Miranda (6) and Nick Glynn; NB–Jeremy Bunnell, Mike Virginelli (4), Cam Garrett (5) and Ryan Michonski. WP: Garrett. LP: Miranda.
Highlights: The Thunderbirds won it in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk. Nick Tranquilli had 2 hits for North Branford. Luke DiMauro and Alex Erskine had 2 hits for the Cougars.
Records: H-K 10-3; North Branford 9-4.
Hale-Ray 12, Portland 4
HR 323 110 2–12 10 1
P 100 000 3–4 4 6
WP: Matt Lauria; LP: Spencer Rosado
Highlights: Miles Gagne tripled with the bases loaded in the top of the first to give Hale-Ray a lead that it did not relinquish. Matt Lauria allowed 1 run on 2 hits in 5 innings and struck out nine for the win. Oliver Ross had 3 hits including a solo home run and scored 3 runs for the Noises. JT Jagoda had 2 hits and scored a run for Portland.
Records: Hale-Ray 7-5; Portland 1-11.
Old Lyme 17, Old Saybrook 2 (5)
OS 000 11–2 4 1
OL 507 5x–17 17 1
WP: Tait Sawden; LP: Gabe Kaar.
Highlights: Eight Wildcats had 2 hits apiece: Colbe Andrews, Tait Sawden (3 runs scored), James Creagan (3 runs), Jaden Reyes, Alex Roth (3 RBIs), RileyJohn Warecke (3 runs), Jesper Silberberg and Grady Lacourciere (team-high 3 RBIs). Sawden allowed 4 hits, walked none and struck out 8. Connor Lane hit a solo home run for the Rams and Kaar drove in a run.
Records: Old Lyme 4-8, Old Saybrook 4-8.
SOFTBALL
Mercy 5, Branford 0
B 000 000 0–0 1 1
M 022 001 x–5 4 0
WP: Alexa Boone; LP: Marzia Johnson
Highlights: Mercy clinched the SCC’s Quinnipiac Division title at 7-0. Alexa Boone, who took a no-hitter into the seventh, struck out 12, bringing her season total to 173 and her ERA down to 1.15. Amelia Andruskeiwicz had a hit and RBI for the Tigers, Katelyn Bailey tripled and Boone contributed 2 hits. Marzia Johnson had Branford’s only hit.
Records: Mercy 9-3, Branford 4-9.
Cromwell 7, East Hampton/Portland 1
Crom 220 002 1–7 12 0
EHP 000 000 0–1 3 4
WP: Lily Kenney; LP: Woods
Highlights: Sophomore Lily Kenney struck out 11 in 6 innings and recorded her 100 strikeout of the year as the Panthers won their 10th straight. Madison Tessmer had 3 hits, Victoria Witrak added 2 hits and Jamie Anderson homered for Cromwell. Malena Signarello pitched the seventh, striking out one. Leah May hit a home run for East Hampton.
Old Lyme 15, Old Saybrook 3
WP: Victoria Gage (gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, struck out 5 and walked none); LP: Christine Lombardi (struck out 3 and walked 6).
Highlights: Old Lyme led 4-3 through 5 innings, then blew it open with 8 runs in the sixth and 3 in the seventh. For the Wildcats, Jamie Bucior was 2 for 4 with a solo homer and a 3-run HR in the same inning ( top of 6th); Emma Bayor was 3 for 5 with a HR and 3 RBIs; Gage was 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs; Grace Lathrop had a 4-for-4 with 5 runs scored, a double and 2 stolen bases; Paige Kolesnik was 2 for 5 with a double and 1 RBI.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mercy 14, Haddam-Killingworth 10
Halftime: Mercy, 7-5.
Goals: M–Shae Kelley 5, Lily Schoonmaker 4, Ava Arcesi 2, Kylie Fordyce 2, Maddy Carbone 1; HK– Sophie Gromala 5, Yumi Imai 3, Morgan Madore 2.
Assists: M–Schoonmaker, Arcesi, Fordyce, Carbone; HK–Carly Rettberg, Gromala 2.
Goalkeepers: M–Reilly Keegan 10 saves; HK–Rhianna Phipps 12 saves.
Records: Mercy 4-7, H-K 2-7.
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Old Lyme 8, Valley Regional 4
Scoring: OL–Caroline Crolius 4 goals; Emily Mesham 2 goals; Ella Curtiss-Reardon 1 goal, 1 assist; Schuyler Greenho 1 goal; Sadie Bowman 2 assists; VR–Emi Bisson 3 goals.
Goalkeepers: OL–Hayden Saunders 15 saves; VR–Saida Hatush 7 saves.
BOYS TENNIS
Middletown 7, New Britain 0
Singles
Jonathan Baldwin (M) def. Sebby Taragiuk (N) 6-0, 6-0
Nathan Robillard (M) def. Jacob Rulka (N) 6-2, 6-0
Ryan Huston (M) def. Pat Chrobak (N) 6-1, 6-1
Kendon Fignar (M) def. Joseph Levegne (N) 6-0, 6-0
Jessie Baldwin (M) def. Durjoy Bairati (N) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
Matt Cavanaugh/Marcello Pollak (M) def. Phinnios Root/Tomas Porvilli (N) 6-0, 6-0
Connor Cavanaugh/Matt Bogli (M) def. Alex Dementiev/Ronnie Bourgen (N) 6-0,6 6-1
Records: Middletown 1-7, New Britain 4-3.
MORE TO COME …