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| Holy Cross pitcher Nick Hernandez talks with catcher William Marshall during Wednesday’s game against Waterbury Career Academy at Holy Cross High School. Third baseman Michael Keating, far right runs in for the conference. |
NOTE: I’m trying something different this week. The roundup will be more geared toward highlights instead of trying to cover everything that goes on in the area. Hope you like it. As always, you can reach out to me with a highlight candidate during the week on Twitter @SportsonCT69, Facebook at www.facebook.com/sportsonct69 and by email at sportsonct69@gmail.com
BASEBALL
Holy Cross goes 4-0: It was four wins in four chances for the Crusaders this past week as they improved to 5-0 on the season.
Holy Cross gave up just four runs in the first two games, then followed that up with none in the next two contests. The Crusaders scored 44 in that same four-game stretch.
Holy Cross blasted Torrington 19-1 Monday behind two homers and seven RBI from Connor Goggin. Goggin had three more RBI and Fran Phelan collected four hits in a 9-3 win at Pomperaug on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Nick Hernandez collected a complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win over Waterbury Career Academy at home. Thursday brought a 12-0 whacking of Kennedy, led by two RBI each from Goggin, Matt Bonvicini, William Marshall and Michael Keating. Brian Parzyck had two doubles in the Kennedy win.
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| Peyton Stephens arrives home after his homer in the Crosby game. |
Brothers play for Hearts: A Wednesday morning game against Crosby at Fulton Park saw the Stephens brothers both get in on the action.
Senior Peyton Stephens had a monster game in the 21-1 win, tallying five RBI on three hits, including a laser three-run homer to the opposite field over the right center field fence. Stephens singled in that same second innings, and the Hearts scored 11 times in the frame.
Peyton’s freshman brother Justin got in on the action and had a hit, a RBI and two runs scored.
Eagles rally to stun Wildcats: Wilby took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning of Wednesday’s game at a rainy Waterville Park.
Kennedy had the final say in the final score, though, and came back to stun Wilby 6-5. Derek St. Hilaire began the rally by drawing a hit by pitch. Xavier Frias doubled to put runners on second and third, then Pablo Barrera singled to center field to bring home Jake Desjardins, who was running for Hilaire. Barrera took second on defensive indifference, then it was Angel Galindez’s chance to play hero.
Galindez doubled the other way to drive home Frias and Barrera, setting off a wild celebration.
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| The Waterbury Career Academy boys are off to a 5-0 start. |
OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Spartan boys undefeated so far: Like nearly all Brass City schools, Waterbury Career Academy doesn’t have a track and field facility to call home.
That hasn’t stopped the Spartans from collecting wins over their first five opponents this season. After taking down Holy Cross, Wilby and Kaynor Tech in the season-opening meet at Holy Cross, WCA defeated Kennedy and host Wolcott on Tuesday.
The Spartans had a bunch of individual winners, led by two from Josiah Rivers (400, long jump). Zheki DeSouza, Giovasky Caquias, Jalen Edwards, James Richardson and Trevor Glymph all won an event for WCA.
SOFTBALL
Erin Keeley lighting it up at the plate: The Sacred Heart junior catcher has been a big spark on offense.
In the first five games of the season, Keeley was 13-for-18 with 11 RBI. Keeley had nine singles, one double, one triple and two home runs to her credit.
“She has been playing great and has helped us get three wins this past week and a half,” head coach Molly Blake said in an email on Thursday.
And the offensive outburst continued Saturday in a 20-12 win at Wolcott Tech. Erin Keeley had two doubles and four RBI in that game.
Erin’s sister, junior Kaitlynn Keeley, also plays for the Hearts.
Abdul-Lateef slam part of 39-run outburst: Kaynor Tech freshman slugger Jade Abdul-Lateef launched a grand slam during Tuesday’s 39-8, five-inning win.
Abdul-Lateef also had a single to go with six RBI and two runs scored.
Jamie Strileckis had five hits, including a home run. She drove in four runs and scored six of her own.
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| Alexandra Lombardo makes contact during the WCA game. |
Holy Cross rolls to two wins: The Crusaders buried their opponents — WCA and Kennedy — by a 38-1 tally and improved to 3-1 on the season.
Holy Cross began the week with a 13-run first inning against WCA on Wednesday in a 24-1 win at Huntingdon Park. Sarah Lawton had four RBI in that first inning, which included a two-run home run. Lawton had four hits, Alexandra Lombardo and Gabby Goldman added three hits each, and Allie Brown and Valerie Nobrega tallied two apiece.
Holy Cross rocked Kennedy 14-0 in its next game, with Allie Brown, Lombardo, Nobrega and Lizzy Diorio picking up two hits each. Nobrega tallied three RBI while Julia Joyce drove in two.
BASKETBALL
Rodriguez realizes a dream: Taft senior and Waterbury native Jalissa Rodriguez committed to Simmons College on Wednesday.
By doing so, Rodriguez realized a dream, something her father Felix shared on Twitter on Wednesday. Rodriguez shared a photo of a then four-year-old Jalissa with pro basketball star Diana Taurasi. Rodriguez wanted to be like the former UConn star. She now gets the chance to play in college, and Simmons is happy to have her.
