North Branford freshman Kiley Mullins pitched seven shutout innings, striking out nine with no walks, to lead the Thunderbirds to their 10th straight softball victory, 6-0 over visiting Old Lyme on Thursday.
“I’m proud of Kiley’s outing today,” coach Nick DeLizio said. “She stepped up to take on a big-time role. Bella (Hills, a junior) has pitched a lot of innings this week and I had to rest her arm today. Old Lyme has been competitive this year and Kiley has proven that we can rely on her this season.”
The T-Birds (11-1) have won five games in the last four days and look to sweep the week on Saturday when they host Morgan (10:30am). Hanna Senerchia was 3 for 3 with three runs scored in Thursday’s win, Erica Piercy was 2 for 4 and Sophia Ouellet was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Mullins won for the second time this week. She relieved Hills late in a wild 10-inning, 10-9 victory over Cromwell.
“That win has built her confidence up to pitch on the varsity level,” DeLizio said.
Old Lyme’s Victoria Gage, who took the loss, struck out eight and walked two. Ava Roth had both hits for the Wildcats (9-5), who next play Monday at home against East Hampton/Portland.
North Branford was 3-1 when the program went into a two-week pause because of COVID-19 contact tracing. Since resuming play on May 3, the team has taken on all comers in its condensed schedule and is now chasing Haddam-Killingworth (12-1) for the top seed in the Shoreline Conference tournament.
In other softball action Thursday:
Cromwell 15, Valley Regional 0 (5)
CR 561 12–15 17 0
VR 000 00–0 2 3
WP: Lily Kenney; LP: Anna Benson
Highlights: Kenney allowed 1 hit and struck out 4 in 3 2/3 innings, while Erica Dewey got the final 4 outs while yielding a hit and striking out 1. Malena Signorello sparked the Panthers’ offense with 4 hits and 3 RBIs and Erica Dewey added two hits and drove in 3 runs. Abby Amara and Kenzie Mule had the lone hits for Valley.
Records: Cromwell 12-3, Valley 5-10.
Next: Cromwell at Coginchaug, Saturday, 10am; Valley at Coginchaug, Monday, 4pm.
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BASEBALL
Old Lyme 12, Hale-Ray 0
OL 800 04–12 10 3
HR 000 00–0 3 2
Batteries: OL–Tait Sawden and Alex Roth; HR–Aiden Clarke, Avery Gugliotti (5) and Camron Watkins. WP: Sawden; LP: Clarke.
Highlights: Sawden allowed 3 hits and no walks with 4 strikes to help the Wildcats stay in contention for berths in the Shoreline and Class S tournaments. Colbe Andrews had 3 hits, David Evers had 2 hits and 4 RBIs, Jesper Silberberg had 2 hits and Grady Lacourciere drove in 2 runs for Old Lyme. Oliver Ross, Watson and Espinosa had the Noises’ hits.
Records: Old Lyme 6-9; Hale-Ray 9-7.
Friday: Old Lyme vs. Portland at Palmer Field/Middletown, 6:30pm; Hale-Ray at Westbrook, 3:45.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mercy 16, Morgan 8
Halftime: Mercy, 7-6
Goals: Mercy–Catharine Harrison 1, Ava Arcesi 2, Kaylie Zemke 2, Kylie Fordyce 5, Lily Schoonmaker 6; Morgan–Carley Schmidt 4, Lindsay Narracci 3, Maeve Madura 1. Assists: Mercy– Ava Arcesi 1, Shae Kelley 1, Kaylie Zemke 2, Maddy Carbone 2, Lily Schoonmaker 2. Morgan: Carley Schmidt 1.
Goalkeepers: Mercy–Reilly Keegan 15 saves; Morgan–Marin Stopkoski 10 saves.
Record: Mercy 5-7, Morgan 6-5.
BOYS GOLF
North Branford 184, Old Saybrook 186
Shoreline Conference match at Fenwick GC
Medalist: Jack O’Brien (NB), 41.
Old Saybrook: Garrett Brady 43, Drew Kulmann 44, Jacob Speed 44, Rylan Murphy 55 (Joe Sinibaldo 59)
North Branford: O’Brien 41, Dakota Cooper 46, (Blake Pearson 52), Jalen Rossicone 49, Ryan Monde 48