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Westies top Cross in opener
WH nips Governors 6-5
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 3, 2019) - The West Haven baseball team opened the 2019 season with a 6-5 road victory over Wilbur Cross. Led by two hits from freshman Gianni Gambardella and a solid pitching outing from Juan Contreras, the Westies improved to 1-0 on the year.
Contreras went the distance, allowing seven hits and three earned runs, while striking out six and walking three.
Juan Contreras pitches against Wilbur Cross, April 3, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
"Both teams played extremely hard and tough today," West Haven coach Ron Luneau said. "We got one more break than Cross did. Our seniors stepped up in their leadership. It was a very good baseball game."
Trailing 1-0, West Haven took a 2-1 lead in the second. Mike Tonucci led off with a walk, Mike Boni reached on an error, and Tonucci scored on an error. With two outs, Kaden Morgillo singled to score Boni.
West Haven increased the lead to 4-1 in the third. With one out, Chris Cavallaro was hit by a pitch and scored on a triple by Contreras. Tonucci drove in Contreras for a three-run advantage.
West Haven celebrates a win against Wilbur Cross, April 3, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
"Our seniors are showing our younger guys how to compete," Luneau said.
The Westies took a 5-1 lead in the fifth when Dom Cambino singled, moved to third on a ground out by Cavallaro, and scored on an error.
Cross scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to get within 5-3, but West Haven got that run back in the sixth. Gambardella singled with one out, went to third on an error and scored on a ground out by Hunter Axelrod.
Westies rally past Platt Tech
Six in seventh leads WH to 13-7 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 4, 2019) - The West Haven baseball team won its second straight contest to start the year with a 13-7 decision over Platt Tech Thursday afternoon in Milford.
The Westies used a balanced attack as eight different players were in the hit column, eight different players drove in runs, and nine different players scored at least one run. West Haven also turned to its youth to help in the win.
Mike Tonucci led the way with three hits, three runs batted in, and two runs scored, while sophomore Tyler Jones had three hits, drove in one run, and scored a run. Seniors Dom Cambino and Chris Cavallaro each had two hits and drove in a run, while Cambino scored twice and Cavallaro scored once.
Sophomore Tyler Jones had three hits against Platt Tech, April 4, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Tyler Green pitched four innings, allowing six hits and four runs, two of which were earned, walking two and striking out two. Freshman Gianni Gambardella pitched the final three innings, allowing three runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out three.
Freshman Gianni Gambardella pitches against Platt Tech, April 4, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The Westies scored three times in the first inning as Cambino led off with a single, stole second, and scored on a triple by Juan Contreras. Tonucci singled to score Contreras, before Tonucci stole second and scored on a single by Hunter Axelrod.
"We had a problem throughout the game picking up the ball, but we overcame that with some timely hits," West Haven coach Ron Luneau said. "Our pitching was solid, but we need to make more plays behind our pitchers. Platt Tech turned out to be very stubborn. Their coach deserves a lot of credit for that."
After Platt Tech got two runs back in the bottom of the inning, West Haven took a 5-2 lead in the second. Kaden Morgillo walked, stole second. and scored on a single to left by Jones. Cavallaro doubled to score Jones for a three run lead.
Leading 5-4 in the fifth, West Haven added another run when Cambino scored on a sacrifice fly by Contreras. West Haven increased the lead to 7-4 in the sixth as Gambardella doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike Boni.
The Panthers evened the game in the bottom of the sixth, before West Haven rallied with six in the seventh.
Cavallaro singled, Contreras walked, and both scored on a double by Tonucci. Axelrod followed with a walk, Gambardella reached on an error to score Tonucci, Boni singled to score Axelrod and Gambardella, and Cambino grounded out to score Boni.
Green Knights top Westies
ND hands West Haven first loss of season
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 8, 2019) - The West Haven baseball team was looking to continue its offensive surge which started the season when the Westies took on cross-town rival Notre Dame Monday afternoon. Instead. it was the Green Knights who had the hot bats.
Using 13 hits off three West Haven pitchers and taking advantage of a pair of West Haven errors, Notre Dame cruised to a 10-3 victory over the Westies at Piurek Field.
The Green Knights handed West Haven (2-1) its first loss of the season by breaking open a tight game with six runs in the fourth inning, and holding a hot West Haven offense to just two hits in the game.
Chris Cavallaro hits against Notre Dame, April 8, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Notre Dame took a 2-0 lead in the second as Max Mariano singled with two outs to score a pair, before blowing the game open with six runs in the fourth.
Notre Dame sophomore Zachary Peters retired the first ten batters of the game before Chris Cavallaro and Juan Contreras walked with one out in the fourth. Peters escaped without any damage as he got a pair of ground outs to end the frame.
Kaden Morgillo against Notre Dame, April 8, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Trailing 10-0, West Haven finally got on the board in the fifth. Hunter Axelrod and Branden Coggins walked with one out, and Dom Cambino reached on an error to score Axelrod.
The Westies added another run in the sixth as Contreras singled, stole third and scored on a ground out by Mike Tonucci. West Haven scored its final in the seventh as Steven Byrd doubled and scored on a ground out to short by Jake Lentine.
Sheehan holds off Westies
13 hits not enough in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 10, 2019) - If someone had told the West Haven baseball team it would knock around 13 hits and hold Sheehan to just five, the expectations would have been for a West Haven victory. Such was not the case.
Scoring four times in the first inning on three hits, Sheehan held off West Haven 4-3 in Wallingford Wednesday afternoon as the Westies fell to 2-2 on the year with their second straight defeat.
The Westies had chances throughout the game, but only capitalized with three runs in the third. West Haven saw singles by Mike Tonucci and Gianni Gambardella go to waste in the second, before striking in the third.
Tyler Jones started the rally with a single to right and scored on a double to left by Dom Cambino. Chris Cavallaro followed with a double to center to score Cambino, and Juan Contreras walked. Mike Boni followed with a single to load the bases with one out, before Gambardella delivered Cavallaro with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Westies continued to threaten in the fourth as Hunter Axelrod led off with a single, and Jones hit a one-out single to put a pair on base, but the Westies could not deliver.
West Haven’s best chance to even or take the lead in the game came in the fifth as Contreras led off with a single and Tonucci doubled, but Contreras was thrown out at the plate. Boni singled to put runners on the corners, then stole second, before Sheehan escaped without any damage.
In the sixth, Cambino singled with one out and Cavallaro walked, but each was left stranded. Gambardella singled with one out in the seventh, and Axelrod walked, but Sheehan again recorded the final two outs.
Cambino, Tonucci, Boni, Gambardella, and Jones each had two hits in the loss.
West Haven falls to Hand
Westies drop third in row
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 12, 2019) - Knowing it was going to be in for a tough battle, the West Haven baseball team hoped to get off to a quick start Friday afternoon in Madison. Unfortunately for the Westies, that quick start did not occur.
Scoring twice in the first inning, Hand never looked back in a 8-2 victory over West Haven. With the loss, West Haven fell to 2-3 on the year, suffering its third straight defeat.
West Haven looked as if it would get off to a strong start as Dom Cambino led off the game with a single and Mike Tonucci worked a two-out walk, but the Westies could not capitalize. Hand took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and the lead held as the Westies went down in order the next two innings.
West Haven cut the deficit in half in the fourth. Contreras led off with a single, moved to second on a ground out by Mike Tonucci, and scored on a single by Mike Boni after moving to third on an error.
The Tigers answered with two in the bottom of the fifth, before West Haven got within 4-2 in the sixth. Contreras opened with a single, stole second, and later scored when Boni grounded to second.
Contreras led the offense with two hits and two runs scored, while Boni drove in both runs.
Hamden tops Westies
Westies drop fourth in row
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 16, 2019) - Looking to snap a three-game losing skid, the West Haven baseball team squared off against Hamden Tuesday afternoon in West Haven. Despite 10 hits on offense and a solid pitching performance by freshman Gianni Gambardella, West Haven dropped its fourth straight with a 5-2 loss against the Green Dragons at Piurek Field.
West Haven was led offensively by Dom Cambino, Juan Contreras and Hunter Axelrod as each had a pair of hits. On the mound, Gambardella, tossed a complete game, allowing eight hits and three earned runs, while striking out four.
Hamden took control of the game from the start, leading 2-0 in the first inning and 4-1 after three.
After squandering singles in the first by Contreras and in the second by Lorenzo Espinal, West Haven finally got on the board in the third after trailing 4-0.
Axelrod and Tyler Jones led off with singles, and Cambino followed with another single, but Axelrod was thrown out at third. Mike Tonucci followed with a single to center to score Jones, but that was all West Haven could muster n the inning.
After going down in order in the fourth, Cambino doubled with two outs in the fifth, but was left stranded.
Trailing 5-1 in the sixth, West Haven rallied once again. Contreras led off with a double, moved to third on a single by Chris Cavallaro and scored when Gambardella reached on an error.
Axelrod led off with a single in the seventh, but was left stranded as Hamden retired the next three hitters in a row.
Shelton blanks Westies
Westies drop fifth in row
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 23, 2019) - The box score was easy to tell the result when Shelton came to town to meet West Haven afternoon.
Shelton's Anthony Steele needed just 89 pitches to no-hit the Westies, striking out eight and walking just one. Steele threw 58 pitches for strikes.
Steele's effort was needed to defeat West Haven as pitcher Juan Contreras, who allowed one earned run on five hits, while walking three and striking out four.
For Steele, only a leadoff walk to Chris Cavallaro in the second, a hit by pitch to Tyler Jones in the third, and Mike Tonucci reaching on an error in the sixth prevented a perfect game.
Westies snap Skid
Offense explodes for 20 hits
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 24, 2019) - The West Haven baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 20-0 thumping over Bassick Wednesday afternoon at Piurek Field. West Haven pounded out 20 hits in the win.
Hunter Axelrod led the offense with three hits and two runs scored, Kaden Morgillo had two hits, drove in two runs, and scored twice, Gianni Gambardella added a pair of hits and drove in a pair, while scoring once, Chris Cavallaro had two hits and three runs batted in, while Mike Tonucci scored twice and drove in four runs.
West Haven started strong and never looked back, scoring eight runs in the first inning, five more in the second, and seven in the third to cruise to the victory. Lorenzo Espinal and Morgillo combined on a no-hitter, with Espinal striking out five in two innings of work, and Morgillo striking out seven in three innings.
The Westies started quickly as Dom Cambino led off the game with a triple to right and scored when Tonucci followed with a homer to right. Juan Contreras then doubled, scored on a pair of passed balls, and Cavallaro walked.
After Mike Boni hit into a fielder’s choice, Boni scored on a single by Gambardella for a 4-0 lead. Axelrod doubled to right to put a pair of runners in scoring position, before Morgillo singled to score Gambardella and put runners on the corners.
Axelrod scored on a single to right by Tyler Jones. With two runners in scoring position, Morgillo scored on a ground out by Tonucci, and Cambino scored later in the inning when Contreras reached on an error.
The Westies increased the lead to 13-0 in the second when Gambardella singled to score Boni, Jones reached on an error to score Espinal, and Cavallaro singled to score Cambino and Tonucci.
West Haven added seven more in the third. Morgillo singled to score Derek Baker, Branden Coggins doubled to score Axelrod and Morgillo, and Cavallaro singled in Jake Lentine for an 18-0 advantage.
Xavier tops Westies
Falcons thwart WH
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 25, 2019) - The Westies kept the offense going against Xavier scoring three times in the first inning, but could not hold on in a 7-4 loss at Palmer Field in Middletown Thursday evening.
West Haven was held to just five hits in the contest and watched as the Falcons scored once in the second and took a 5-4 lead in the third inning with four more runs.
With one out in the first, Tonucci was hit by a pitch, Contreras singled and Cavallaro grounded out to put two runners in scoring position. Tonucci scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Boni, Contreras scored on a single by Gambardella, and Cavallaro scored on a single to center by Axelrod.
After West Haven failed to push across another run and trailing 5-4, Xavier added two more in the sixth to seal the victory.
Gambardella allowed five earned runs on 10 hits, while walking two and striking out three in five innings of work.
Upper Hand
Tigers top WH 12-7
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 29, 2019) - Looking to get back to its winning ways, the West Haven baseball team fell behind early and never recovered in a 12-7 loss to Hand Monday afternoon at Piurek Field in West Haven.
Despite the loss, West Haven had runners on base throughout the contest with 11 hits and four walks.
Sophomore Tyler Jones led the offense with three hits, while Juan Contreras, Dom Cambino, and Mike Boni each had a pair of hits. Contreras and Axelrod each scored twice.
Brian Pataky went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits, while walking one.
Derek Baker pitches against Hand, April 29, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Trailing 3-0, West Haven got back into the contest with single runs in the second and third innings.
In the second, Boni led off with a single, Jones singled to left with two outs, and Cambino followed with a single to score Boni. The Westies quickly got within a run in the third as Contreras tripled to center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gianni Gambardella.
Hand took a 5-2 lead in the fifth, but the Westies answered with a run. Contreras opened with a walk, stole second and third, and scored on a grounder to short by Gambardella.
West Haven against Hand, April 29, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The Tigers responded by blowing the game open in the sixth with six runs for 11-3 lead.
The Westies did not quit and responded in the bottom of the inning with two more runs as Hunter Axelrod led off with a single, Lorenzo Espinal walked and Jones grounded out to advance both runners into scoring position. Axelrod scored on a single by Cambino, and Espinal also scored on the throw.
The Westies capped the scoring in the seventh on run-scoring singles by Espinal and Jones.
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BASEBALL 2019
Championship teams - 1967, 1973, 1984, 1988, 2009 (No. 1 in Ct.)
All-State Players - Anthony Pacileo '84; Mel Wearing '85; Mike Anquillare '86; Nick Piombino '88; Paul Mulligan '88; Dave Anquillare '89; Aaron Sellner '92; Kevin Jason '92; Shane Russell '93; Rob Farnen '94; Jason Criscio '95; Gary Tarquino '95; Pete O’Neill '96; Joe DeCrescenzo '97; Jerry Gambardella '00; Matt Cavallaro '02; Rich Mordente '03; Matt Gianini '03, '04; Nico Gambardella '05; Tom Lawrence '09; Eric Stone '10; Tyler Gambardella '13
Retired Numbers - Jerry Gambardella (Class of 2000) #21
Westies sweep Career
WH improves to 5-8
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 3, 2019) - The West Haven baseball team improved to 5-8 with a doubleheader sweep of Career Friday evening at Piurek Field in West Haven. The Westies took the first game 11-3, then posted an 8-2 victory in the nightcap.
In the opener, freshman Gianni Gambardella went the distance, allowing six hits and three earned runs, while striking out six. Gambardella did not walk a batter.
Mike Boni against Career, May 3, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Mike Boni, Gambardella, and Hunter Axelrod each had two hits for the Westies. Mike Tonucci and Lorenzo Espinal drove in two runs apiece, while Juan Contreras, Boni and Gambardella each scored twice.
West Haven took a 4-0 lead with a two-out rally in the first as Contreras, Boni and Gambardella walked before Tonucci singled to score Contreras and Boni. Gambardella scored on an error, and Tonucci scored as part of a double steal for a 4-0 lead.
West Haven took a 6-1 lead in the third when Axelrod singled to score Boni, and Espinal grounded out to score Gambardella. Espinal knocked in Chris Cavallaro with a sacrifice fly in the fifth for an 8-2 advantage, and Gambardella doubled in the sixth to score Derek Baker.
West Haven scored its final two runs in the seventh when Dom Cambino grounded out to score Seth Noble, and Contreras singled to score Justin Medina.
Lorenzo Espinal against Career, May 3, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
In the nightcap, Espinal went the distance, allowing five hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out two.
Tyler Jones, recently moved to the leadoff spot, led the way with three hits and three runs scored, while Contreras had one hit, scored a run, and drove in two runs.
West Haven put the game away with six runs in the first inning, and added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
Jones led off the game with a single to right, Cambino reached on an error, and Contreras singled to score Jones.
With one out, Gambardella walked to load the bases, Tonucci forced in Cambino with a walk, and Cavallaro forced in Contreras with another walk. Espinal singled with two outs to score Gambardella and Tonucci for a 5-0 lead, before Cavallaro scored on an error.
West Haven took a 7-1 lead in the fourth when Jones singled with one out and scored on a grounder by Contreras. The Westies increased the lead to 8-2 in the sixth when Jones, who singled, scored on a wild pitch.
Shelton rallies past Westies
Gaels post 9-5 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 6, 2019) - The last time the West Haven baseball team faced Shelton's Anthony Steele, the Westies could not manage a hit. The second time around proved to be different as far as the hits were concerned, but the result was the same as Shelton again came out on top.
Scoring four times in the second and adding four more after falling behind in the third, Shelton rallied to defeat the Westies 9-5 in Shelton Monday evening.
With the loss, West Haven fell to 5-9 on the tear and needs to win three of its remaining six games to qualify for the postseason.
The Westies managed just three hits in the game and made four errors in the field to aid the Gaels. Dom Cambino led West Haven as he drove in three runs, while Cambino, Juan Contreras and Gianni Gambardella all posted one hit apiece.
Trailing 4-0 after two innings, the Westies scored all five of their runs in the third inning.
Chris Cavallaro and Lorenzo Espinal opened the inning with walks, Tyler Jones was hit by a pitch with one out to load the bases, and Cambino drove in all three with a double to center. Contreras then brought in Cambino with another double to center to even the game at four, and Gambardella singled to center to score Contreras for a 5-4 lead.
That would be all the offense for the Westies in the game as they did not get another hit in the final four innings. Shelton answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning and never looked back from the three-run lead.
West Haven managed just a walk by Contreras in the fifth after the third inning, and Shelton scored an insurance run in the sixth to pull away with the win.
Green Knights nip Westies
WH falls 2-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 10, 2019) - It is getting closer to must win time for the West Haven baseball team. With the regular season ticking away, the Westies need three more wins if it wants to play in the postseason.
West Haven's latest loss came in tough fashion, falling to cross-town rival Notre Dame, 2-1, Friday afternoon at Quigley Stadium in West Haven.
Lorenzo Espinal pitched well in going the distance as he did not allow an earned run. Espinal gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out two.
West Haven was held to just four hits in the game by Zach Peters, and scored it's only run in the first inning.
Tyler Jones led off with a walk, moved to second on a grounder to second by Dom Cambino, and third on a single by Gianni Gambardella. Mike Boni's sacrifice fly to right scored Jones for a 1-0 lead.
Espinal hit a two-out single in the second, but was left stranded.
The Green Knights took the lead for good in the second.
Milone led off with a single to right, Jason Ostrowski reached on an error, and Tanner Belcher hit a one-out single to even the game at one. The Green Knights used a two-out rally to take the lead as Thomas Ellis singled to score Colby Cusano.
Chris Cavallaro singled with two outs in the fourth, but was left stranded, before the Green Knights used three walks to load the bases in the fifth.
That threat ended when Cavallaro fired to Jones for a pickoff to end the inning.
West Haven threatened in the sixth as Cambino led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice by Gambardella, but went no further.
Notre Dame stranded a runner on third in the sixth before West Haven had one last opportunity in the seventh.
Cavallaro reached on an error to start the frame, but West Haven could not push across the equalizer.
To the Brink
Sheehan puts WH postseason hopes on line
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 14, 2019) - The West Haven baseball team suffered its fourth straight loss Tuesday evening. The 6-3 defeat at the hands of Sheehan puts West Haven's record at 5-12, with the Westies having to win their final three games to play in the postseason.
The Westies were unable to come up with the big hit in the contest, and two costly errors led to a pair of unearned runs.
Gianni Gambardella pitched five innings, allowing four earned runs, while walking one and striking out three. Kaden Morgillo went the final two innings, allowing three hits, two runs, none of which were earned, while walking one and striking out two.
Trailing 1-0, West Haven evened the game in the second as Mike Tonucci led off with a single, advanced to second on a grounder by Hunter Axelrod, third on a grounder by Morgillo, and scored on a single to center by Lorenzo Espinal.
Sheehan took a 2-1 lead in the third and increased the margin to 4-1 in the fourth.
Trailing by three runs in the sixth, West Haven inched closer. Mike Boni was hit by a pitch with one out, Chris Cavallaro singled, and Tonucci walked to load the bases. Boni scored on a wild pitch, and Cavallaro scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Axelrod.
Sheehan added two more runs in the seventh to pull away with a 6-3 victory.
Staying Alive
Westies roll past O'Brien Tech
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 15, 2019) - With the postseason on the line, the West Haven baseball team responded in fine fashion. Behind a 13-hit attack, West Haven cruised to an 18-5 victory over O'Brien Tech Wednesday evening in a game stopped after five innings, keeping its postseason hopes alive.
West Haven (6-12) needs to win its final two regular season games of the year, both at home, against Wilbur Cross and East Haven.
Tyler Jones, Juan Contreras, and Mike Tonucci led the offense with two hits apiece, while Gianni Gambardella, Chris Cavallaro and Tonucci each drove in three runs.
Brian Pataky threw the first four innings, allowing five runs, two of which were earned, on three hits, while walking two and striking out one.
Leading 1-0 after West Haven's Gambardella singled to score Jones in the first, the Westies put the game away with 12 runs in the third and five more in the fourth.
Kaden Morgillo opened the inning with a walk, Jones picked up his second hit of the game with a single to short, and Dom Cambino was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gambardella and Contreras were also hit by pitches to force in two more runs, before Cavallaro singled to score Cambino and Gambardella for a 5-0 advantage.
Tonucci followed with a single to score Contreras and Cavallaro, Derek Baker hit a sacrifice fly to score Tonucci, and Morgillo reached on an error to score Lorenzo Espinal.
With two outs, Gambardella reached on an error to score Morgillo, Cavallaro walked to force in a run, and Tonucci singled to center to score Gambardella. Espinal capped the inning with a single to left to score Contreras.
Leading 13-5 in the fourth, sacrifice flies by Cambino and Gambardella each produced runs, before Seth Noble and Branden Coggins had run-scoring singles.
Ousted
Cross ends WH postseason hopes
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 17, 2019) - The postseason hopes for the West Haven baseball team have ended. Facing University of Connecticut - bound Andrew Marrero, the Westies managed just three hits in a 10-0 five-inning loss to Wilbur Cross Friday evening at Piurek Field in West Haven. The loss dropped West Haven to 6-13 on the year.
Hunter Axelrod (8) against Wilbur Cross, May 17, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Chris Cavallaro picked up two of the three West Haven hits, while Lorenzo Espinal added the other.
Sloppy defensive play also hurt West Haven as seven of the 10 runs were unearned for Wilbur Cross.
Lorenzo Espinal (28) against Wilbur Cross, May 17, 2019. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske..
The Governors gave Marrero all the run support he would need with five in the third, two in the fourth, and three more in the fifth. West Haven made five errors in the contest.
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