Spring notebook: Norwich Free Academy boys volleyball win streak ends at nine games
Week 6 of the spring season featured a number of highlights and top performances.
The Killingly girls lacrosse team edged Montville, 10-9, on a goal from Molly Crabtree with just 33 seconds remaining in double overtime.
The Norwich Free Academy baseball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over New London.
The NFA boys volleyball team extended their winning streak to nine games before being edged by Glastonbury in five sets.
The Norwich Tech softball team went 4-0 behind the pitching and hitting of Autumn Hanks.
And the Norwich Free Academy softball team got another signature non-league win with a victory over Amity.
The Norwich Bulletin has you covered for what's happening this spring at Norwich Free Academy, Killingly High School, Plainfield High School, Griswold High School, Norwich Technical School, and Harvard Ellis Technical School.
Here are the highlights and top performances from Week 6:
Baseball
Dan St. George and Brayden Canny combined for the shutout as Norwich Free Academy ended a three-game losing streak with an 11-0 victory over New London at Dickenman Field.
Ayden Kempesta and Jonas Tiburcio paced the Wildcats offense with two hits apiece. Joel Tiburcio, Conner Caulfield, and Kempesta each drove in two runs.
Ryan Cleary hit a fourth-inning solo homer for NFA in a 7-1 loss against Woodstock Academy.
The pitching staff continued to be dominant for Woodstock (12-1, 5-0 ECC) as UConn-commit Brady Ericson went six innings, allowed only four hits and struck out 12 in a 7-0 win over the Wildcats, who slipped 6-7 overall, 1-5 in the ECC.
Sean Garvin allowed just one earned run while striking out six over 6.2 innings to lift Griswold past Putnam, 5-3. KinKade Rubino went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs for the Wolverines (10-5).
Dominik Kubera allowed only one earned run while striking out five over 5.2 innings but Killingly fell short against Fitch, 2-1. Hayden Larrow added two hits for Killingly (7-6).
Ashton Goodwin went 3-for-4 and Mike Fabiano Jr. and Larrow each had two hits in Killingly’s 10-2 loss to Montville.
Riley Wenzloff struck out five over five innings and also added two hits at the plate to lead Ellis Tech past Grasso Tech, 17-2. Ian Brais and Cam Fulone each had two hits, Kyle Parent drove in three runs, and Lyric Teevan added two RBIs for the Golden Eagles (10-5).
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Softball
Winning pitcher Hailey Smith allowed just one earned run in a complete game effort and also added two hits and two RBIs at the plate to lift Norwich Free Academy past Amity, 6-1. Madison Waltke and Melainey Tackling (one RBI) each had two hits for the Wildcats (9-5).
Amelia Driscoll, Dakota Bourdon, and Waltke (four RBIs) each hit home runs, while Aubrey Martin went 3-for-3 with a double to lead NFA to a 14-2 mercy-rule win over Woodstock Academy. The Wildcats scored 10 runs in the first inning.
Danielle Veillette allowed no earned runs while striking out four over 5.2 innings and Samantha Baker came on in relief and allowed no earned runs with two strikeouts over the final 1.1 innings to lift Killingly over Stonington, 2-1.
Killingly’s offense was led by Baker, who had two hits, a walk and two stolen bases; Addison King, who had a hit and a walk; and Jayden Durand, who added a hit and a stolen base as Killingly improved to 6-8.
Grace Deslauriers had a triple, Susie Fournier had a two-un double, and Brenna Baribeau had two hits in Killingly’s 14-8 loss against Woodstock Academy.
Maddy Lebrecque pitched a four-hit shutout while striking out six and walking only one in leading Griswold over New London, 9-0. Naely Diaz led the Wolverines’ offense with three hits, including a double, and two runs scored.
Kierra Neilson had two hits, including a solo home run, and Summer McLean also added two hits for Griswold (11-3).
Laurissa Gedney had an RBI double but Plainfield fell short against Bacon Academy, 5-2.
In CTC action, winning pitcher Autumn Hanks had two hits, including a double, and drove in four runs to lead Norwich Tech over Windham Tech, 25-11, in a five-inning mercy rule contest.
Evelyn Brimmer powered the Warriors’ offense with three hits, including a triple and four RBIs. Diana Kozerefski (2 RBIs) and Nyomi Barboza also added three hits, while Khai Maldonado (4 RBIs) and Morgan Cook also tripled and had two hits for the Warriors.
Hanks tossed a three-hitter with eight strikeouts in Norwich Tech’s 18-2 (5) win over Grasso Tech. Maldonado paced the offense with four hits and four runs scored, while Carden Stimson added three hits for the Warriors.
Hanks allowed just one hit in a 20–4 mercy-rule win over Cheney Tech. Hanks also went 3-for-4 with a double at the plate.
Cook went 2-for-2 with a home run, Nani Garcia had two hits, including a triple, while Lillian Luurtsema, Barboza, and Brimmer all had doubles and scored two runs each for the Warriors.
Hanks completed her 4-0 week in the circle, coming on in relief as Norwich Tech held off Windham Tech, 25-20. Hanks also added two hits, including a double and a triple, and five RBIs at the plate.
Cook paced the Warriors offense with four hits, including a triple, three RBIs and four ruins scored. Evelyn Brimmer also had four hits, including a double, and two RBIs, Garcia collected three hits, four runs scored, and three RBIs, while Brooke Ostrowski added two hits, including a double, and two runs scored for Norwich Tech (7-7).
Kylie Damble went 5-for-5 with a double, triple and four RBIs, while Liz Ploof went 4-for-4 with three RBIs to power Ellis Tech to a 22-6 victory over Cheney Tech.
Ava Ethier (4 RBIs) and Khloe Volle each had three hits for the Golden Eagles (9-3).
Damble had four hits and three RBIs in Ellis Tech’s 9-4 win over Windham Tech. Rose Lopez struck out three and allowed just two earned runs while adding two hits at the plate, while Plooff and Ethier each had two hits for the Golden Eagles.
Ethier had three hits and 5 RBIs in Ellis Tech’s 27-9 win over Grasso Tech.
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Boys lacrosse
Logan Jenkins poured in seven goals but Norwich Free Academy fell to Fitch, 18-10. Cortlan Beetle, Gavin Jenkins, and Wyatt Woodcock had one goal apiece for the Wildcats (4-8).
Logan Jenkins scored three goals in NFA’s 10-3 loss to Waterford.
Anthony Caisse scored three goals and Landon Traylor had one goal in Norwich Tech’s 21-4 loss against St. Bernard-Wheeler.
Traylor poured in seven goals but the Warriors fell short against Montville, 12-9. Josh Lodyko collected two goals and two assists, while Cayden Williams finished with 14 saves for Norwich Tech (3-7).
Girls lacrosse
Sienna Caron collected six goals and one assist, Neiara Myrick scored four goals, and Alexis Emanuele made 14 saves as Griswold/Norwich Tech defeated Woodstock Academy, 14-8. Amelia Hawkins scored two goals, while Brooke Valentine and Ella Brown had one goal apiece for the Wolverines.
Caron and Myrick netted three goals apiece in Griswold’s 14-7 loss to Wheeler.
Caron poured in six goals with five assists and Kaylin Stockwell scored six goals with two assists in leading Griswold.Norwich Tech to a 20-6 win over New London/St. Bernard.
Amelia Hawkins and Neiara Hawkins each had two goals, while Alexis Emanuele made nine saves for the Wolverines (3-8).
Caron added three goals and one assist, Stockwell had two goals, and Emanuele made 13 saves in the Wolverines, 10-7, loss to Bacon Academy/East Hampton.
Molly Page scored seven goals and dished out two assists and Alice Rourke collected five goals and two assists as Norwich Free Academy rolled past Woodstock Academy, 21-4.
Alex Tabilas scored four goals with one assist, Hayleigh Young had three goals and 12 draw controls, and Sophia Smith made five saves for the Wildcats.
Page scored three goals, while Young, Rourke, and Leah Burchman had two goals apiece but NFA fell short against Hamden, 12-8.
Page also scored three goals and Tabilas had two goals and two assists in NFA’s 12-6 loss to Fitch.
Molly Crabtree scored the game-winning goal with 33 seconds remaining in double-overtime to lift Killingly to a 10-9 victory over Montville. It was Crabtree’s fifth goal of the game.
Morgan Blanchard scored three goals, Emily Lamparelli and Riley Ritchotte each had one goal, and Erika Horne made 12 saves, including three key stops in overtime for Killingly (6-3).
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Boys golf
Nick Wigfield earned medalist honors with a score of 1-under par 34 to lead Norwich Free Academy past Killingly, 4-3, at Connecticut National Golf Club. The match was decided by the team score as NFA edged Killingly, 156-160.
Quin Crowley paced Killingly with a score of 37.
Killingly defeated Griswold, 7-0, at River Ridge Golf Course. Harrison Allard made one bogey and the rest pars en route to medalist honors with a score of 38. Layne O’Leary carded a 42 contributing to the Killingly total of 175.
Gennaro Lavado shot 42 to lead the Wolverines.
Killingly fell to Woodstock Academy at Quinnatisset Country Club with a match score of 2.5 - 4.5. Allard and Woodstock’s Brady Hebert shared medalist honors with a score of 39.
Crowley carded 42 towards Killingly's team total of 171.
Colin Williams shot a 45 but Plainfield fell to Wheeler, 7-0.
Girls golf
Caroline Goderre earned medalist honors with a 41 as Norwich Free Academy defeated Manchester, 202-216.
Goderre was also the medalist with a 44 in NFA’s 196-249 win over Bacon Academy. Erin O’Farrell shot a 47 for the Wildcats.
Boys volleyball
Alec Ferland dished out 28 assists and collected seven digs and Gage Hinkley had 11 kills, nine digs and three aces as Norwich Free Academy swept Wethersfield, 25-13, 25-14 and 25-18. Tyler McDermott added 10 kills and two blocks for the Wildcats (12-1), who have won nine straight.
NFA’s winning streak came to an end with a 3-2 loss against Glastonbury. The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead (15-25, 25-21 and 25-23) before dropping the last two sets, 27-25 and 17-15.
Angel Garcia collected 12 digs and nine assists and Jordan Glidewell added five kills as Norwich Tech swept Aerospace, 25-17, 25-23 and 25-15. Cameron Maskaly had three aces for the Warriors (6-6, 6-5 CVL).
Boys tennis
Killingly celebrated Senior Day with a 4-3 victory over Woodstock Academy. Killingly (2-9, 2-3 ECC DII) broke a five-match losing streak as it got victories from Phillip Purcell and Sai Patel at second and fourth singles and picked up the win by taking second and third doubles behind the tandems of Dante Adams and Jack Owens, and Max Richardson and Bradey Jonasch.
Ivan Tang, Ross Hill, Sai Patel and rolled to singles wins as Killingly topped Lyman Memorial, 7-0.
Girls tennis
Norwich Tech fell to New London, 4-3, but swept the doubles matches behind the tandems of Emily Pomerleau and Zerrin Ratzer, Aleza Lopez and Makenzie Stabach, and Mila Ladua and Jarelis Acevedo.
Pomerleau and Zerrin Ratzer, Lopez and Stabach, and Jasmine Williams and Acevedo swept the doubles matches in the Warriors’ 4-3 loss to Wilcox Tech.
Boys track and field
Killingly’s Everton Brown, who holds the school record, finished first in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.40 seconds in a meet against Windham. Brown also took first in the 200 (23.1).
Jaheim Card, Isaiah Benoit, Preston Surprenant and Jake Sangasy also raced well in the 100 and 200 meter events for Killingly.
Killingly sophomore Jeremiah Smith won the 110 Hurdles and long jump. Killingly’s Zeke Benoit finished first in the 400m dash, Andrew Macintyre won the shot put event, and Calvin Vandale won the 3200 with a personal best of 12:29.3.
Girls track and field
Killingly’s Sydney Mullen won the 3200, Jenna DiFusco won the javelin event, and Shanaya Brown was the runner up in the long jump in a meet against Windham.
Also for Killingly, Jessie Williams came in third in the 100 meter dash, Rebecca Gardner placed third in both the 200 and 400, and Taylor Culter came in third in 300 meter hurdles.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Sporing notebook: Norwich Free Academy softball tops Amity
