THE HOME OF WEST HAVEN SPORTS
WestieBlue
BASEBALL 2023
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 fall to Amity
Spartans top West Haven in season opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 3, 2023) - The season got off to a slow start for the West Haven baseball team. Scoring in each of the first four innings, Amity topped West Haven 9-1 at Amity High Monday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.
The Westies never got going offensively, managing only six hits in the game. Cam Cruz led the way with a double and single in three at bats for West Haven.
Chase Supan started for West Haven on the mound and took the loss. The junior pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs, seven of which were earned. Supan gave up just four hits, while walking three and striking out five.
After West Haven went down quietly in the top of the first, Amity struck first with a two-out rally. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases, before Derek Porto singled to left to score a pair of runs.
West Haven had a pair of hits in the second, but a double play ball erased a single by Supan, and Cruz was left stranded after his two-out single.
Two hit batters helped Amity take a 4-0 lead in the second, before K.J. Harp reached on a two-out error but was left stranded. A sacrifice fly by Porto in the third gave the Spartans a 5-0 lead.
Jose Padilla doubled with two outs in the fourth, but was left stranded, before Amity put the game away with four more runs in the bottom of the inning, all coming after two were out.
West Haven’s lone run came in the sixth when Ray Gilbert hit a one-out single, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored when Padilla reached on an error.
West Haven combined to hit six Amity batters in the game.
Rally falls Short
Westies fall to Norwalk 8-6
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 5, 2023) - Looking to pick up its first win of the season, the West Haven baseball team battled, but came up short in an 8-6 road loss against Norwalk Wednesday afternoon.
The Westies trailed early, before rallying in the last three innings. West Haven had the tying run on base in the last inning, but the Westies could not complete the comeback.
Evan Jones and Ray Gilbert each drove in a pair of runs, while K.J. Harp had two hits, two walks, drove in a run, and also scored. Jose Padilla also added a pair of hits in the loss.
Connor Hume took the loss for the Westies, allowing eight runs, six earned, on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. Hume walked eight and struck out three in the game. Haygen Axelrod pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
After West Haven left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, Norwalk took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.
The Westies had a golden opportunity to get on the board in the fourth with two on and one out, but they could not push a run across.
West Haven cut the deficit in half in the fifth when Harp led off with a triple to center and scored on a one-out double to left by Gilbert. Chase Supan walked, and Padilla singled to load the bases, before Gilbert scored on a ground out by Cam Cruz.
The rally was short-lived as Norwalk took advantage of a pair of errors, three hits and a walk to plate four runs for an 8-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.
The Westies got one run back in the sixth as three straight walks started the inning before a sacrifice fly by Jones scored Haygen Axelrod.
The Westies then used a two-out rally in the seventh to get within striking distance as Harp, Jones, and Gilbert each walked with the bases loaded to score three runs. West Haven could not get closer in suffering its second straight defeat to open the year.
First of the Year
Westies top O'Brien Tech 7-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 6, 2023) - After two attempts, the West Haven baseball team finally gave Steve Carden his first victory as a head coach.
Behind a complete-game 5-hitter from Evan Jones, along with a three-hit day by Jones at the plate, West Haven topped O’Brien Tech 7-3 at Piurek Field in the home opener for the Westies. Jones struck out eight and walked three in the victory.
K.J. Harp had a pair of hits, while Jones also drove in a pair of runs.
“We had a tough start to the year and we are really focusing on doing the little things right,” Carden said. “Getting win number one was great, but we have a lot of work to do. We're eager to keep improving.”
The Westies got off to a quick start, scoring twice in the first inning and once in the second for a 3-0 lead.
In the first, Harp led off with a single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single to right by Jones. Jones stole second and scored on a double to left by Ray Gilbert for a 2-0 advantage.
“Our captain, K.J. Harp, is off to a great start, both in center field and at the plate,” Carden said. “Today, Evan Jones got the job done on the mound, pounding the strike zone. Freshman Hudson Axelrod came in late with an RBI single that helped get some insurance runs to seal the win.”
West Haven took a 3-0 lead in the second as Cam Cruz led off with a walk, Haygen singled to right to put runners on the corners, before Cruz scored on a wild pitch.
West Haven left runners on base in each of the next three innings, before pulling away with four runs in the sixth to take a 7-1 lead.
With two outs, Connor Hume reached on an infield single, Haygen Axelrod walked and Hudson Axelrod hit a pinch-hit single to score pinch-runner Joe Malangone. Harp reached on an error to score a pair, before Harp scored on an infield single to short by Jones.
O’Brien rallied in the seventh with a pair of runs, but Jones got the final out with two on with a pop out to third.
Jones did not allow a hit until one out in the fourth.
Westies fall to NDWH
Green Knights top WH 9-4
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 10, 2023) - After picking up its first win of the season, the West Haven baseball team was looking to keep the momentum going against cross-town rival Notre Dame. Unfortunately for the Westies, Notre Dame jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back in a 9-4 victory over the Westies at Piurek Field in West Haven Monday afternoon.
Haygen Axelrod took the loss for West Haven, tossing five innings and allowing six earned runs. The West Haven junior walked six and struck out two.
Connor Hume allowed three runs on two hits in two innings of work. Hume walked two.
Jose Padilla led the offense with three hits and a run scored, while Hudson Axelrod had two hits and three runs batted in.
After Haygen Axelrod escaped a bases loaded jam in the first and stranded another in scoring position in the second, the Westies had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the second.
Padilla led off with a double in the second and Haygen Axelrod was hit by a pitch with one out, but a double play grounder ended the inning for the Westies.
The Green Knights took a lead they would not relinquish in the third with a run as James Mascari walked with one out, went to third on a single by Dylan Altermatt, and scored on a wild pitch, before Haygen Axelrod escaped without further damage.
Notre Dame then took a 4-0 lead in the fourth as Will Panza was hit by a pitch, Tim Fiengo walked, and an error by Haygen Axelrod put runners on the corners. After Fiengo stole second, Matt Cinque delivered both with a single, before Connor Martinello’s two-out single scored another run.
The Westies responded in the bottom of the inning when Padilla singled with one out, Hume walked, and Haygen Axelrod singled to left to load the bases. With two outs, Hudson Axelrod doubled to left to clear the bases and get West Haven within a run.
Any momentum the Westies gained quickly went away when the Green Knights responded with two more runs in the fifth. Panza hit a one-out double, moved to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored along with Fiengo on a double by Nick Hunkele.
West Haven left the bases loaded in the fifth and two on in the sixth, while the Green Knights added to the lead with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh.
The Westies looked to rally in the seventh with the first two runners on, but a double play grounder stalled the threat. A Notre Dame error allowed West Haven to score its final run.Notre Dame pitcher Lucu Stavrevski pitched five innings of five-hit ball, allowing three runs, while walking three and striking out four.
Rally Time
WH scores 8 in 6th to top Guilford
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 12, 2023) - The West Haven baseball team looked as if it would drop its second straight contest late in the game against Guilford Wednesday afternoon. That all changed in an instant.
Sending 13 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, West Haven rallied and scored eight runs to defeat Guilford 11-5 at Piurek Field in West Haven. The Westies improved to 2-3 on the year.
After taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning, West Haven was dealt a tough blow when starting pitcher Chase Supan exited the game with a leg injury. Evan Jones picked up the Westies with five innings of relief allowing five runs on eight hits, while walking four and striking out one.
The Grizzlies scored four times in the third and another in the fourth for a 5-3 lead, but the Westies took over in the sixth.
Cam Cruz reached on a one-out error, pinch-hitter Josh Osborne singled to right, and K.J. Harp reached on an infield single to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and one out, Jones reached on Guilford’s second error of the inning to score a pair and even the game at five. The flood gates then opened.
Ray Gilbert singled to right to score Harp for a 6-5 lead, Brady Price tripled to right to score Jones and Gilbert, before a single by Jose Padilla increased the lead to 9-5. Padilla scored on a double by Connor Hume, and Haygen Axelrod delivered the final run with a single to left.
West Haven took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Gilbert’s one-out single scored Harp, and Haygen Axelrod hit a two-out single to score Gilbert and Supan.
Gaels top Westies
Shelton scores 5 in 6th to top WH
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 15, 2023) - After a hard-fought victory over Guilford three days earlier, the West Haven baseball team was looking to build off that momentum. The Westies were unable to do so.
Scoring five times in the bottom of the sixth, Shelton broke open a tie game and rolled to a 9-5 victory over the Westies at Shelton High Saturday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 2-6 on the year.
The Westies had opportunities throughout the game, but could not come up with the big hit. After stranding Ray Gilbert on third in the first inning, West Haven jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second.
Haygen Axelrod started the rally with a one-out walk, Cam Cruz walked with two outs, and Mike Madera was hit by a pitch to load the bases. K.J. Harp walked to force in Axelrod for a 1-0 lead, but the Westies did not add on in the inning.
The Gaels used three hits off starter Connor Hume to take a 2-1 lead over West Haven in the third, and after West Haven left two on in the fourth, Shelton took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.
The Westies got within 3-2 in the fifth as Evan Jones was hit by a pitch and Jose Padilla walked. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners, before a wild pitch scored Gilbert.
Trailing 4-2 in the sixth, the Westies rallied to tie the game as three straight walks opened the inning, before Jones singled to scored Cam Cruz, and Gilbert hit into a fielder’s choice to score Hudson Axelrod. West Haven loaded the bases with one out, but could not score again in the inning.
Shelton then won the game in the sixth when a two-out rally saw a double, triple and three singles produce five runs.
Harp singled to score Cruz, who hit a one-out single in the seventh, but West Haven left a pair of runners on to end the game.
Westies fall to Lyman Hall
WH drops 4-1 decision
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 17, 2023) - After a tough loss at Shelton, the West Haven baseball team was looking to get back on the winning track. A solid pitching performance by junior Haygen Axelrod could not do the trick.
Despite Axelrod pitching a complete game, West Haven fell to Lyman Hall 4-1 at Pat Wall Field in Wallingford Monday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 2-5 on the year.
Axelrod was on throughout the game using 87 pitches to move through six innings. The West Haven pitcher allowed six hits and two earned runs, while walking three and striking out three.
West Haven went down in order the first three innings and trailed 1-0 entering the fourth.
K.J. Harp started West Haven’s fourth when he hit an infield single and moved to second on an error on the play. Harp went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right by Ray Gilbert to even the game at one.
Jose Padilla followed with a single to center, but a double play ball ended the inning for the Westies.
After the Trojans stranded a pair in the bottom of the fourth, the Westies had another opportunity to go ahead in the fifth.
Cam Cruz opened the inning with a single to center and moved to third on a one-out single by Connor Hume. The opportunity again went for naught when the Westies hit into their second double play to end the inning.
Lyman Hall took the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and put the game away with two more runs in the sixth.
West Haven blanks Cross
Westies win 10-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 19, 2023) - The West Haven baseball team got back on the winning track with a 10-0 victory over Wilbur Cross in a five-inning mercy rule contest at Piurek Field in West Haven Wednesday afternoon. With the victory, West Haven improved to 3-5 on the year.
Evan Jones picked up the victory with five strong innings, allowing just two hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. Jones threw 69 pitches, 45 for strikes.
Ray Gilbert led the offense with three hits and three runs scored, Jose Padilla had two hits, drove in a run and scored once, while K.J. Harp added a hit, drove in two runs, and scored once.
West Haven took the lead with single runs in each of the first two innings, before scoring eight times in the third for a 10-0 lead.
In the first, Gilbert singled to right, and went to third on the play, before scoring on Padilla’s single to short for a 1-0 lead.
West Haven increased the lead to 2-0 in the second when Hudson Axelrod walked, moved to third on a single to center by Mike Madera, and scored on Harp’s sacrifice fly to right.
The Westies put the game away with eight runs in the third as Gilbert and Padilla opened with singles and Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cam Cruz singled to left to score Gilbert, Hume singled to center to score Padilla and when the ball was misplayed for an error, two more runs came across to score for a 6-0 lead.
Harp followed with a two-out single to score Hume, Haygen Axelrod walked, before Harp stole third and scored on an error on the play. After Padilla walked, Jones reached on an error to score Haygen Axelrod, and Gilbert scored on a wild pitch for a 10-0 lead.
Hamden blanks Westies
WH falls 9-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 21, 2023) - Looking to build some momentum after a victory over Wilbur Cross, the West Haven baseball team knew it was in for a tough contest against Hamden.
Hamden pitcher Aiden Jovia proved to be tough, allowing just three hits, while walking two and striking out eight in a 9-0 Hamden victory at Piurek Field in West Haven Friday evening.
Three Green Dragons scored four times in the second and added another in the fifth, before putting the game away with three runs in the fifth.
Connor Hume started for the Westies, allowing seven runs, three earned, on six hits, while walking two in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Ray Gilbert led the West Haven offense with two hits, while Evan Jones added a double. West Haven also walked four times, but the Westies could not generate any offense.
West Haven had its best scoring chance in the fourth.
Gilbert led off the fourth with a single and Jones doubled with one out to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Jovia got out of the inning with no damage as he recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
Hand rallies past Westies
Fifth inning hurts WH
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 23, 2023) - For four plus innings, West Haven and Hand played to a pitcher’s duel. The bottom of the fifth did the Westies in.
Committing four errors in the inning, West Haven allowed nine runs in a 10-2 defeat against Hand in Madison Monday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 3-7 on the year.
After stranding runners on in the first two innings, and leaving another on in the fourth, West Haven evened the game at one in the fifth when Cam Cruz singled, moved to third on a single by Hudson Axelrod and scored on K.J. Harp’s fielder’s choice.
West Haven’s defense let starting pitcher Haygen Axelrod down with four errors in the bottom of the fifth to go along with five hits to put the game out of reach.
Cruz finished the game with two of West Haven’s five hits.
Green Knights blank Westies
WH falls 10-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 1, 2023) - Heading into the third inning of Monday’s city rivalry contest both West Haven and Notre Dame looked as if they were getting ready for a fight to the finish. The third inning proved otherwise.
Taking advantage of three West Haven errors, the Green Knights scored four times on their way to a 10-0 victory in a game stopped in the sixth inning due to the mercy rule.
The win was Notre Dame’s eighth in a row, while the Westies fell to 3-9 with their fourth consecutive loss and sixth defeat in the last seven games.
West Haven made five errors, leading to four unearned runs in the contest. On the flip side, West Haven never got going offensively, managing just two hits in the game.
Notre Dame pitcher Jesse Buonocore retired the first nine batters, before K.J. Harp reached on an error to start the fourth and Cam Cruz also reached on another error to put a pair of runners on with no one out.
Buonocore got a double play ball to stall the inning, before getting a fly out to end the frame. Buonocore tossed a complete game, striking out six and not walking a batter.
West Haven had only one other runner in scoring position when Cam Cruz doubled to left with two outs in the fifth, but Buonocore got a ground out to end the inning.
The Green Knights got the only runs they would need in the third inning, scoring four times. Nick Hunkele reached on an error, moved to third on a single by Kevin Milewski and scored as part of a double steal, which included an error on the play.
Connor Crowley singled, before a single by Connor Martinello gave the Green Knights a 2-0 lead. An error and a single by Dylan Altermatt scored two more for a 4-0 advantage.
A pair of West Haven errors led to three more Notre Dame runs in the fifth.
Just Short
Westies fall to Guilford 5-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 3, 2023) - The window for qualifying for the postseason is closing for the West Haven baseball team. Despite playing a crisp game, the Westies suffered their fifth straight defeat and seventh in their last eight games with a 5-3 loss at Guilford Wednesday afternoon.
Despite falling behind early, the Westies rallied, coming within a run on two separate occasions, before falling short to drop to 3-10 on the year.
The Grizzlies scored once in the second and twice in the third for a 3-0 lead, before the Westies chipped away in the fourth with a pair of runs.
With two outs, Ray Gilbert reached on an error, Chase Supan reached on an infield single, and Jose Padilla singled to left to score Gilbert and get West Haven within 3-1. Evan Jones then reached on an error to score Supan, but West Haven stranded a pair in scoring position.
After Guilford got a run back in the bottom of the inning, West Haven scored again in the fifth to get within 4-3 when K.J. Harp singled to score Haygen Axelrod, who opened the inning with a single.
The Grizzlies added a run in the sixth, before West Haven went down in the seventh with the tying run at the plate.
Westies top Shelton
Losing streak snapped at five
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 5, 2023) - The West Haven baseball team snapped its five-game losing streak and improved to 4-10 with a 7-1 victory over Shelton Friday evening at Piurek Field in West Haven.
K.J. Harp, Ray Gilbert and Jose Padilla led the Westies with two hits apiece, with Harp also scoring twice. Evan Jones pitched 6.2 innings, allowing three hits and one run, while walking four and striking out five.
West Haven scored all the runs it would need in the first as Harp hit a one-out single, Cam Cruz walked, and Gilbert doubled to score Harp. Cruz scored on a sacrifice fly by Chase Supan, and Gilbert scored on a single by Padilla.
West Haven pulled away in the second inning as a Shelton throwing error with two outs allowed three runs to score.
Westies top Lyman Hall
WH inches closer to postseason
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 8, 2023) - In a game which may have been a must win, the West Haven baseball team responded. Behind the 5-hit pitching of Haygen Axelrod and an opportunistic offense, West Haven topped Lyman Hall 3-1 at Piurek Field in West Haven Monday evening.
The win allowed West Haven to remain in the hunt for a postseason bid, needing three wins in its final five games to qualify.
Axelrod picked up his first win of the year, tossing a complete game, allowing five hits and one earned run, while walking three and striking out two.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Hudson Axelrod started a two-out rally with a single, K.J. Harp reached on an error, and Cam Cruz singled to score Hudson Axelrod with the tying run. With runners on the corners, Ray Gilbert reached on an error to score Harp for a 2-1 advantage.
With only five hits in the game, West Haven picked up an insurance run when three walks led to a run, scoring Jose Padilla.
The rest was up to Haygen Axelrod as he needed just 11 pitches in the seventh inning to retire the Lyman Hall batters in order and preserve West Haven’s fifth victory of the season.
Westies rally past Cross
Padilla leads WH to 8-4 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 10, 2023) - After a slow start, the West Haven baseball team rallied for its sixth win of the season with an 8-4 victory over Wilbur Cross in New Haven Wednesday afternoon. The victory allowed West Haven to improve to 6-10, needing two wins to qualify for the postseason.
Jose Padilla led the West Haven offense with four hits, two runs scored, and one run batted in. Haygen Axelrod had three hits and three runs batted in, while Evan Jones scored twice.
Jones also picked up the victory, tossing the final 3.2 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits, while striking out four.
Trailing 1-0, West Haven took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the fourth.
Gilbert started the fourth with a double, moved to third when Chase Supan reached on an error, and scored on Padilla’s single. Jones singled to score Supan for a 2-1 lead, Padilla scored on a sacrifice fly by Brady Price, and Jones scored on a single to center by Haygen Axelrod.
Cross scored two in the bottom of the inning to get within 4-3, but the Westies added three in the fifth and another in the sixth to pull away for the victory.
In the fifth, Cam Cruz was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Padilla hit a two-out single, and Jones walked to load the bases. Price walked to force in a run, and Haygen Axelrod delivered a pair with a single to center.
Hamden rallies past Westies
7-run fifth leads Green Dragons
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 12, 2023) - Looking to get closer to qualifying for the postseason, the West Haven baseball team appeared on the verge of doing so. Hamden had something to say about that in the fifth inning.
Trailing 4-0, Hamden took advantage of plays not made by the Westies and scored seven times to defeat West Haven 7-5 at Hamden High Friday evening. The loss dropped West Haven to 6-11 on the year, with West Haven needing two wins in its final three games to qualify.
The Westies took a 2-0lead in the fourth as Cam Cruz reached on an error, Ray Gilbert singled, and Chase Supan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jose Padilla followed with a single to score Cruz, and Jones lifted a sacrifice fly to score Gilbert for a 2-0 advantage.
The lead grew to 4-0 in the fifth as K.J. Harp singled with one out, Cruz walked, and Gilbert doubled to score Harp. A wild pitch scored Cruz for a 4-0 advantage.
Hamden took the lead in the fifth with six singles and four walks, and a wild pitch.
West Haven added a single run in the seventh when Supan’s sacrifice fly scored Harp.
Hand tops Westies
WH falls to Tigers 6-2
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 15, 2023) - With two games left in the regular season, the West Haven baseball team needs victories in both if it hopes to play in the postseason.
Falling behind early, West Haven dropped a 6-2 decision against Hand at Piurek Field in West Haven Monday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 6-12 on the year.
Haygen Axelrod took the loss, allowing five hits and three runs, while walking three and striking out four in six innings of work. Jose Padilla and Evan Jones led the offense with two hits apiece.
Westies blank Bassick
WH improves to 7-12
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 17, 2023) - The West Haven baseball team inched closer to the postseason with a 15-0 five-inning mercy rule victory over Bassick Wednesday evening at Piurek Field in West Haven. The Westies improved to 7-12 and need a victory over Platt Tech on Friday to qualify for the postseason.
Connor Hume pitched a complete game, allowing one hit and striking out 13, while Jose Padilla led the offense with three hits. Cam Cruz and Hume each had a pair of hits, while Padilla, K.J. Harp, Hume and Haygen Axelrod scored twice.
Leading 2-0 after Harp tripled in a run and scored when Cruz reached on an error in the first, West Haven put the game away with 10 runs in the second inning.
Haygen Axelrod knocked in Hume with a single, Padilla delivered Haygen Axelrod with a triple, Harp reached on an error to score Padilla and scored on a single by Cruz, before Cruz scored on an error. Padilla singled to make it 10-0, and Joe Malangone had a run-scoring single for an 11-0 lead.
In the third, Hume doubled to score Josh Osborne, and Mike Madera scored on a ground out, before Madera singled to score Jeremiah Douglas in the fourth.
In the Postseason
WH improves to 8-12 with win over Platt Tech
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 19, 2023) - The West Haven baseball team closed the regular season with its third straight victory, a 19-4 decision over Platt Tech, Friday evening at Piurek Field in West Haven. With the victory, the Westies improved to 8-12 on the year and qualified for the state tournament.
Jose Padilla led the offense with three hits and two runs scored, Connor Hume had three hits and two runs scored, while K.J. Harp, Evan Jones, and Joe Malangone each finished with two hits.
The Westies took advantage of nine Platt Tech errors to go along with 18 West Haven hits. West Haven scored 10 times in the first inning and never looked back.
Jones singled in the first to score Ray Gilbert, Malangone doubled to score a pair, Haygen Axelrod singled to score Malangone, and Cam Cruz singled to score Haygen Axelrod for an 8-0 lead.
A fielder’s choice by Harp scored a run in the second, Jacob Fowler delivered a single to score Harp in the fourth for a 12-3 lead, Hume singled to score Thomas Porto, Jeremiah Douglas reached on an error to score Mike Madera, and Porto singled to score Johan Quinones to close the fourth.
Westies upset Naugatuck
WH advances to Class LL second round
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 30, 2023) - The 31st-seeded West Haven baseball team traveled to Naugatuck in the Class LL state tournament and pulled a first round upset with a 6-5 victory over second-seeded Naugatuck Tuesday afternoon.
Trailing 4-2, West Haven scored twice in the fifth, two more times in the seventh, and held on as Naugatuck rallied in the seventh.
Down by two runs in the fifth, Cam Cruz and Ray Gilbert singled with one out, and both scored on a single and error on the play to left by Chase Supan.
The trio was at it again in the seventh as Cruz led off with a double, Gilbert singled to left to put runners on the corners, and Supan singled to right to score Cruz for a 5-4 lead. A sacrifice fly to right by Evan Jones scored Gilbert for a 6-4 advantage.
Naugatuck got within 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff single and a one-out run-scoring double by Alex Teixeira, but Supan picked the potential tying run off second for the second out, and promptly recorded a strikeout for the final out.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first as K.J. Harp reached on a one-out bunt single, moved to second when Gilbert reached on an error, and later scored on a wild pitch.
Naugatuck evened the game at one with a run in the third off starting pitcher Haygen Axelrod, but the Westies got that run back in the fourth on Hudson Axelrod’s run-scoring single.
Supan relieved Haygen Axelrod in the fourth and Naugatuck took a 4-2 lead when Matt Stefan singled to score Thomas Barry, and Kevin Cestari scored when a dropped third strike needed a throw down to first and Cestari scored on a wild throw home by West Haven. Blake Stone then tripled in a run for a 4-2 Naugatuck lead.
Cardiac Kids
WH rallies past Enfield in Class LL second round
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 31, 2023) - The season continues in dramatic fashion for the West Haven baseball team. Refusing to go down without a fight, the 31st-seeded Westies kept fighting and rallied to defeat No. 15 Enfield in the second round of the Class LL state tournament Wednesday afternoon.
Trailing 4-0 after four, West Haven got within a run in the fifth, and trailing by two runs, the Westies scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. With the game even at seven, West Haven used a 3-run tenth to prevail.
Ray Gilbert led the way with five hits and four runs batted in, while Jose Padilla added four hits, drove in two runs, and scored three times.
Trailing 4-0 to start the fifth, Padilla hit a run-scoring single, K.J. Harp reached on an error to score another, and Gilbert singled to center to score Padilla, but Harp was out at the plate to end the inning.
Trailing by a run, the Westies evened the game in the seventh when Gilbert doubled to center to score Harp, who led off with a walk.
The game then became a heavyweight bout as Enfield stranded two on with no outs in the seventh, before the Westies took a 7-5 lead in the ninth. With runners on the corners, Gilbert doubled to score Padilla for an 8-7 advantage. Evan Jones then hit a two-out single to score Cam Cruz for a 9-7 lead.
The Westies came within a strike of advancing, but a wild pitch allowed Enfield to score the tying run in the bottom of the inning.
West Haven then took the lead for good with three runs in the tenth on a run-scoring double by Padilla, a sacrifice fly by Cruz, and another run-scoring single by Gilbert.
Season Over
WH falls to Westhill in Class LL quarterfinals
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(June 3, 2023) - The dream postseason run has come to an end for the West Haven baseball team. Unable to muster much offense, West Haven fell to No. 23 Westhill 3-1 in the Class LL quarterfinals at Cubeta Stadium in Stamford Saturday afternoon.
West Haven had just two hits in the game and trailed early, never catching up. Haygen Axelrod and Chase Supan combined to allow just three hits, but Westhill took advantage of its opportunities.
A walk, a wild pitch, and a passed ball helped Westhill to a 1-0 lead in the first, before the lead increased to 3-0 in the fifth when a single and a hit batter started the inning, before another hit batter loaded the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly gave Westhill a 2-0 lead, before a passed ball increased the margin to 3-0.
Westhill pitcher Kyle Kipp retired the first 14 batters before Supan was hit by a pitch with one out in the fifth. Any rally was quickly erased with a double play.
West Haven finally got on the board in the sixth when Mike Madera led off with a walk and stole second. A wild pitch moved Madera to third, before Jose Padilla walked and K.J. Harp singled to score Madera. With the tying runs on base, West Haven could not get the big hit as a ground out ended the frame.
Supan singled with one out in the seventh, but West Haven could not rally.
Haygen Axelrod pitched five innings of 3-hit ball, allowing one earned run, while walking one and striking out four.
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