Cromwell pitcher Lily Kenney strikes out H-K’s Annabelle Zajac to end the fifth inning in Monday’s Shoreline Conference softball game in Cromwell. H-K won 7-0. (Paul Augeri photo)
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Haddam-Killingworth’s Callen Powers and Liam Gordon combined on a five-hitter Monday as the Cougars defeated Cromwell 3-0 in Higganum to open the 2023 high school baseball season.
H-K scored single runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings to give Powers, a right-hander who is committed to the University of Massachusetts, enough cushion to win. Gordon pitched the seventh inning for the save.
Matt Shea scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Shea to give the Cougars an early lead. Gordon scored on an infield out in the fourth. Todd Butler walked in the sixth and came around on a double by Shea.
“Our pitching was good and our offensive execution was excellent,” said H-K coach Mark Brookes.
Cromwell junior Connor Slifer, who took the loss, allowed four hits over six innings.
In other ballgames around the area:
Hale-Ray 8, Portland 5: Nate Parker relieved starter Austin Sevigny in the fourth inning and got the win for the Noises, striking out eight. Parker also had a triple.
Ryan LaPila took the loss for the Highlanders.
Valley Regional 10, East Hampton 0: Braeden Sparaco pitched a three-hitter over five innings, striking out nine and walking just one, to lead the Warriors to the Shoreline win in Deep River. Sam Hutchinson was 3 for 4 to lead Valley’s offense. Luke Buccaro, Brayden Shea and Braden Karcich had two hits each as the Warriors racked up 12 hits in the five-inning game. James Quinn led the Bellringers with two hits.
Old Saybrook 14, Westbrook 4: Connor Lane was 3 for 3 with a 2-run home run, three RBIs and three runs scored and Marin Stavola picked up the win as the defending Shoreline champion Rams rolled. Stavola drove in three runs and leadoff hitter Charlie Carmichael was 2 for 3 with three runs scored for the Rams, who also got two RBIs from John Witczak and one each from Auggie Albert and Connor Barry. Will McCarthy took the loss for Westbrook.
Old Lyme 4, Coginchaug 1: Santiago Rodriguez pitched six strong innings, allowing a run on five hits while striking out two, as the host Wildcats beat the Blue Devils. Grady Lacourciere threw one inning in relief to earn the save. Rodriguez (2 for 3, 2 RBIs) and Grady Lacourciere (2 for 3, run) led Old Lyme at the plate, while Jordan Hanes and Owen Snurkowski also had hits. Tyler Ufferflige (2 for 3) was driven in by Henry Bugai for the lone Coginchaug run. Bugai pitched five innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three.
North Branford 8, Morgan 1: Dominic Larabee had two hits for Morgan in its season-opening loss at North Branford. Huskies freshman left-hander Nathan Levy pitched a clean fifth inning, striking out the side.
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SOFTBALL
Haddam-Killingworth 7, Cromwell 0: The Cougars tagged the defending Class S champion Panthers for nine hits and took advantage of six Cromwell errors to win their opener on the road. Kaleigh Bodak struck out 12 with no walks to notch the win for H-K. She was helped by an inning-ending double play in the sixth to preserve the shutout. Lily Kenney took the loss for Cromwell. Bodak had three hits and scored two runs. Annabelle Zajac had two hits including a triple and drove in four runs, while Cheyenne LaTouche provided two hits and scored a run for H-K.
Old Lyme 5, Coginchaug 4: Jenna Schauder’s two-run single propelled the Wildcats to a season-opening Shoreline Conference victory over the visiting Blue Devils. Ava Roth was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI to power Old Lyme’s offense, while Anna Eichholz was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Old Lyme’s Emma Bayor struck out 11 for the win and hit a two-run home run. Bayor allowed one earned run on six hits and struck out 11. For Coginchaug, Jackie Kelly was 3 for 3 with a run scored and RBI, Paige Konopka had two hits and scored a run.
Mercy 17, Wilbur Cross 0: Winning pitcher Gwen Religa had nine strikeouts, with Jaina Geisler and Pip Karch combining on the one-hit shutout. The Tigers scored 11 runs in the first inning. The game was called after the top of the fifth due to the 15-run rule. Amelia Andruskiewicz and Kate Bailey had two hits with a double, while Skylar Swanson tripled for Mercy.