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Westies top Foran
Big sixth inning key in 15-2 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 5, 2023) - The West Haven softball team picked up its first win of the season with a 15-2 road victory over Foran-Milford. The Westies improved to 1-0 as their opener against Amity was suspended due to darkness with the game even at 10.
Against the Lions, Taylor Alfano led the offense with two hits, four runs batted in, and two runs scored. Hannah Burrows had two hits, scored twice, and drove in a pair, while Mia Rubirosa, Gianna Carrano, and Natalie Gallo each had a pair of hits. Carramo, Juliana Petruzziello, and Shyanne Raccio each scored twice.
Rubirosa was solid in the pitching circle as she tossed a complete game, allowing four hits and one earned run, while walking three and striking out five.
West Haven took a 2-0 lead in the second as Petruzziello and Burrows opened with singles, before a single by Carrano scored Petruzziello for a 1-0 lead. A ground out by Natalie Gallo scored Burrows for a 2-0 advantage.
The Westies took a 5-1 lead with three more runs in the third. Brianna Miller reached on an error to score Melanie Jimenez, Miller scored on a wild pitch, and Carrano reached on an error to score Raccio.
West Haven blew the game open with 10 runs in the sixth. Alfano doubled to score Carrano and Gallo, Rubirosa tripled to score Alfano, Jimenez delivered a sacrifice fly to score Rubirosa, and Burrows delivered Raccio and Petruzziello with a two-out double.Burrows scored on an error, Alfano hit another double to score Carrano and Holly Waibel, and Rubirosa reached on an error to score Alfano.
Grizzlies double up Westies
WH falls to Guilford 10-5
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 12, 2023) - The West Haven softball team suffered its first defeat of the season with a 10-5 loss against Guilford Wednesday morning. With the loss, the Westies fell to 1-1 on the year.
The Grizzlies scored five runs in the second and five more in the fifth for a 10-0 advantage, before West Haven scored five of its own in the sixth.
Mia Rubirosa led the offense with two hits and two runs batted in, while Taylor Alfano and Hannah Burrows each had one hit, drove in a run, and scored once in the loss.
Rubirosa took the loss as she pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits, while walking three and striking out three. Shyanne Raccio pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits, while walking four and striking out two.
Trailing 5-0, West Haven stranded a pair of walks by Melanie Jimenez and Brianna Miller in the third, and a two-out single by Rubirosa in the fifth.
Guilford put the game away with five runs in the fifth, before West Haven rallied for five runs in the sixth.
Singles by Miller and Juliana Petruzziello sandwiched a walk to Raccio to open the inning, before Miller scored on a wild pitch, and Raccio scored on a single by Alfano. Burrows singled to score Petruzziello, and Rubirosa tripled with two outs to score Alfano and Burrows to cut the deficit in half.
The Westies tried to rally in the seventh when Raccio singled and Petruzziello reached on an error with one out, but two strikeouts ended the game for West Haven.
Westies thump Shelton
WH rolls to 21-4 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 14, 2023) - After falling to Guilford, the West Haven softball team was looking to get back on track. The Westies did that and more in a 21-4 win at Shelton Friday morning.
Nine players combined for 21 hits, with seven having multiple hits in the lop-sided victory. Brianna Miller had four hits and drove in five runs to lead the offense, while Shyanne Raccio had three hits and drove in four runs, and Mia Rubirosa had had three hits, scored four times, and drove in a pair.
Juliana Petruzziello, Taylor Alfano, and Gianna Carrano each added a pair of hits, while Petruzziello, Alfano, and Carrano each scored twice.
Rubirosa picked up the win, allowing four unearned runs on two hits, while walking five and striking out eight.
West Haven took control of the game with nine runs in the first inning and four in the second for a 13-2 lead.
In the first, Rubirosa led off with a single, Jimenez was hit by a pitch, and Miller singled to score Rubirosa. Raccio doubled to score Jimenez and Miller, Alfano singled to score Raccio, Petruzziello scored on a sacrifice fly by Burrows, Carrano singled to score Alfano, and Miller singled to score Carrano. Raccio’s single scored Rubirosa and Jimenez for a 9-0 advantage.
West Haven scored four more runs in the second for a 13-1 lead. With two outs, Natalie Gallo walked to put a pair of runners on, Rubirosa singled to score Alfano, Jimenez singled to score Gallo, and Miller singled to score Rubirosa and Jimenez.
Danbury rolls past Westies
WH falls 13-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 15, 2023) - The West Haven softball team has been waiting since June to play Danbury after suffering a gut-wrenching defeat to the Hatters in last year’s postseason. Danbury spoiled the plans for West Haven.
Scoring six times in the third inning and five times in the seventh, Danbury topped West Haven 13-3 at Biondi Field in West haven Saturday morning.
Mia Rubirosa took the loss for West Haven, allowing eight runs, six earned, on five hits, while walking five and striking out three in four innings of work. West Haven managed just three hits in the game.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first as Rubirosa led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice by Melanie Jimenez, and scored on Brianna Miller’s sacrifice fly. That was the only lead on the day for the Westies.
Danbury scored six times in the third for a 6-1 lead and never looked back. West Haven got as close as 6-3 with two more runs in the fourth.
With two outs, Taylor Alfano walked, Hannah Burrows reached on an error, and Gianna Carrano tripled to right to score Alfano and Burrows.
West Haven stranded two runners in the sixth, before Danbury put the game away with five runs in the seventh.
Westies blank Cross
WH posts 15-0 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 17, 2023) - The West Haven softball team improved to 3-2 with a 15-0 five-inning victory over Wilbur Cross Monday afternoon at Biondi Field in West Haven. Despite managing just four hits, the Westies took advantage of 19 walks to pick up the victory.
Mia Rubirosa was the winning pitcher, allowing just one hit in four innings of work, while walking three and striking out nine. Taylor Alfano pitched the fifth, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Hannah Burrows led the Westies with three runs batted in and three runs scored, while Alfano scored three times, and Juliana Petruzziello and Shyanne Raccio each scored twice. Olivia McDonnell also drove in three runs for West Haven.
West Haven took control of the game with six runs in the first inning, four in the second inning, and three more in the third.
Brianna Miller gave West Haven a 1-0 lead in the first when her double scored Rubirosa. Miller went to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Raccio.
Burrows was hit by a pitch to score Raccio, McDonnell was hit by a pitch to score Petruzziello, Rubirosa walked to score Alfano, and Jimenez walked to score Burrows for a 6-0 advantage.
In the second, four straight walks opened the inning, with the free pass by Burrows scoring Raccio. Gianna Carrano was hit by a pitch to score Petruzziello, and McDonnell doubled to score Alfano and Burrows for a 10-0 lead.
West Haven took a 13-0 lead in the third when Burrows hit into a fielder’s choice to score Holly Waibel, McDonnell reached on an error to score Alfano, and Rubirosa walked to score Burrows.
Westies roll past SHA
WH wins 20-10
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 19, 2023) - Just one game after putting up 15 runs, the West Haven softball team did even better. Pounding 20 hits and taking advantage of six Sacred Heart Academy errors, West Haven rolled to a 20-10 victory over the Sharks in Hamden Wednesday afternoon.
Every player in the starting lineup for West Haven had at least one hit, with Brianna Miller leading the way with four hits, five runs batted in, and two runs scored. Mia Rubirosa added three hits, drove in three runs, and scored four times, Melanie Jimenez had three hits, two runs batted in, and two runs scored, while Shyanne Raccio, Hannah Burrows, Gianna Carrano, and Natalie Gallo each had two hits.
Gallo scored four times and drove in two runs, Carrano scored three times and drove in a run, Raccio scored twice and drove in a run, and Burrows scored twice.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first as Rubirosa walked and later scored on a wild pitch. The Westies took a 6-0 lead in the second when Burrows scored on a wild pitch, Rubirosa singled and an error on the play scored Carrano and Gallo, before Rubirosa scored on a single by Jimenez and an error on the play. Jimenez scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Leading 6-2, the Westies scored twice in the third when Natalie Gallo hit a two-run homer to left, also scoring Carrano.
West Haven pulled away with seven runs in the fourth. Raccio doubled to score Miller, Taylor Alfano hit into a fielder’s choice to score Raccio, Carrano singled to center to score Alfano, Burrows scored on a wild pitch, and Rubirosa singled to score Carrano for a 13-2 lead. Gallo scored on a single by Jimenez, and Rubirosa scored on a single by Miller.
Ahead 15-5, a single by Miller and an error gave the Westies a 17-5 advantage in the sixth, and Alfano singled to score Raccio. West Haven’s final two runs came in the seventh when Miller tripled to score Gallo and Jimenez.
Blanked
Cheshire shuts out Westies 7-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 20, 2023) - After scoring 35 runs in the last two games, the bats went silent for the West Haven softball team. Held to just four hits, West Haven fell to Cheshire 7-0 in a road contest Thursday afternoon.
Not only were the West Haven bats silent, but four errors on the defensive side led to five unearned runs.
Melanie Jimenez led West Haven with two hits, while Mia Rubirosa and Hannah Burrows added one hit apiece.
Rubirosa singled in the first, but was left stranded at third, before Jimenez singled in the fourth with West Haven trailing 5-0. Burrows hit a one-out single in the fifth, but was erased by a double play, before a Jimenez two-out single went for naught in the sixth.
Cheshire scored one in the first and four times in the third to pull away early.
Westies top Mercy
Raccio, Alfano lead way in 14-2 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 24, 2023) - The West Haven softball team made the most of its opportunities Monday evening. Despite having just six hits, West Haven took advantage of nine walks and defeated Mercy-Middletown 14-2 in a mercy rule contest after six innings at Biondi Field.
Shyanne Raccio and Taylor Alfano led the Westies with two hits apiece, while Gianna Carrano and Mia Rubirosa each scored three times. Alfano and Gallo each scored twice in the win.
Rubirosa picked up the victory in the pitching circle, allowing six hits and two runs, one earned, while walking three and striking out four.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Rubirosa opened with a walk and later scored on a passed ball.
The Westies increased the lead to 4-0 in the second as Alfano walked, Carrano reached on a one-out error, Natalie Gallo walked, and Alfano scored on a wild pitch with Carrano also later scoring. Gallo then scored on a passed ball for a 4-0 advantage.
Leading 4-1, West Haven extended the margin to 6-1 in the third as Alfano singled to score Brianna Miller, who was hit by a pitch, and Carrano hit into a fielder’s choice to score Raccio.
West Haven took a 7-2 lead in the fourth when Rubirosa scored on a single by Raccio.
The Westies scored six in the fifth and one in the sixth to end the contest.
Westies defeat Amity
Raccio, Rubirosa lead WH in 5-2 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 26, 2023) - The West Haven softball team improved to 6-4 with a 5-2 victory over Amity at Biondi Field in West Haven Wednesday afternoon.
Shyanne Raccio was stellar in the pitching circle, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out two.
Offensively, Mia Rubirosa led the way with three hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Raccio also drove in a pair.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the second, added two more in the third, and matched Amity’s single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Taylor Alfano got West Haven going in the second when she led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice by Hannah Burrows, third on a passed ball, and scored on a ground out by Gianna Carrano.
The lead increased to 3-0 in the third as Rubirosa singled, and later scored on an error, before Raccio’s double scored Jimenez.
Raccio’s grounder to second scored Rubirosa, who had singled in the fifth, before Rubirosa singled to score Burrows, who had singled, in the sixth.
Westies thump Lauralton Hall
WH closes in on postseason
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 1, 2023) - The West Haven softball team inched closer to the postseason with a 21-2 victory over Lauralton Hall Monday evening at Biondi Field in West Haven. With the victory, the Westies improved to 7-4 on the year, needing one more victory to qualify for postseason play.
Shyanne Raccio led the offense with two hits, two runs batted in, and two runs scored, while Juliana Petruzziello had two hits and knocked in three runs, and Brianna Miller had two hits, scored four times, and drove in one run. Gianna Carrano also had a nice day at the plate with two hits, two walks, two runs batted in, and two runs scored, while Mia Rubirosa and Melanie Jimenez each drove in two runs and scored three times.
West Haven put the game away early, scoring 11 runs in the first inning and adding seven more in the second.
The Westies scored all 11 runs in the first inning with two outs as Petruzziello singled to drive in Rubirosa and Miller, Carrano walked to score Petruzziello, Taylor Alfano and Hannah Burrows each scored on a wild pitch, before Jimenez walked to score Carrano for a 6-0 lead.
A walk by Miller scored Natalie Gallo, before Raccio singled to score Rubirosa and Jimenez, with Miller scoring on an error on the play. Petruzziello singled to score Raccio with the final run of the inning.
Postseason Bound
WH tops Foran 8-2
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 2, 2023) - The West Haven softball team is headed to the postseason. Behind the 5-hit pitching of Shyanne Raccio, and three hits, three runs batted in, and three runs scored by Mia Rubirosa, West Haven defeated Foran 8-2 at Biondi Field in West Haven Tuesday.
The win was West Haven’s eighth of the season and qualified the Westies for the postseason.
Brianna Miller had two hits in the win, Melanie Jimenez and Raccio each had one hit and drove in two runs, while Gianna Carrano scored twice.
The Westies took a 1-0 lead in the first as Rubirosa led off with a double and scored on a two-out single by Raccio.
Trailing 2-1 in the third, West Haven evened the game when Miller hit a one-out single and later scored on a ground out by Raccio.
West Haven took the lead for good with four runs in the fourth on a single by Rubirosa and error on the play for a 4-2 lead. A sacrifice fly by Jimenez scored Carrano, and a triple by Miller scored Rubirosa.
Leading 6-2 in the sixth, Rubirosa singled to score Carrano, and Jimenez singled to score Rubirosa for an 8-2 advantage.
Grizzlies top Westies
Late rally falls short for WH
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 3, 2023) - WEST HAVEN – With the way Guilford’s Sophia Meade and West Haven’s Shyanne Raccio were pitching, it was obvious one swing could determine the outcome of a tight game. Guilford’s Addie Smith proved this to be true.
Smith’s long 3-run homer to center in the third inning was all Meade and Guilford needed in a 3-1 victory over West Haven in a Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision contest at Biondi Field in West Haven Wednesday evening.
Smith’s home run propelled Guilford to its third win in four games and helped the Grizzlies improve to 10-4 on the year.
“I know she (Raccio) was mixing pitches and I expected that to come,” Smith said. “When I saw my pitch, I just knew I had to drive it and do it for my team. I knew they were behind me.”
Meade was the beneficiary of Smith’s blast as she tossed a complete-game seven-hitter, striking out eight and not walking a batter.
“It was all about momentum today,” Guilford coach Kelliann Connors said. “I think that big hit gave us the momentum. It shifted back and forth here and there. They came up with some big hits too and we were able to get out of some tough situations.”
Meade worked out of four different jams, not allowing a West Haven run until Olivia McDonnell doubled to score Taylor Alfano, who doubled to lead off the seventh. Meade got out of further damage by getting Mia Rubirosa to ground to second for the final out of the game.
“We just didn’t get the big hit,” West Haven coach Joe Morrell said after his team fell to 8-5. “A few times we were knocking on the door, and they made a couple of nice plays. Obviously, she (Meade) pitched a good game.”
The Grizzlies scored the only runs they would need off Raccio in the third as Sophia Stanger hit a two-out single, Meade walked, and Smith launched the long homer to center for a 3-0 lead.
The third inning was the only blemish in the pitching line of Raccio as she went the distance, allowing eight hits, striking out eight and walking one.
“She has pitched three days in a row,” Morrell said of Raccio. “She has pitched well all three games. The pitchers were just about even, no errors by both teams, and it was a clean game. It was a playoff atmosphere. We just didn’t get the big hit at the right time.”
Guilford had one other threat, putting the first two runners on in the sixth, but a perfect double play set up by West Haven third baseman Hannah Burrows stalled the rally.
The rest was up to Meade and the Guilford defense as Meade had runners on base, but never gave in throughout the contest.
Raccio led off the second with a double for West Haven and moved to third on a sacrifice by Juliana Petruzziello, but Meade retired the next two batters to end the inning. Alfano and Burrows singled with one out in the fifth to put runners on the corners, but Meade got the next two outs to end the frame.
West Haven, which entered the contests with four straight wins and victories in six of seven, again threatened in the sixth with two-out singles by Brianna Miller and Raccio, but Meade again came up big with a strikeout to end the inning.
“That’s what it came down to,” Connors said. “It was going to be who came out of those tough situations because both teams were going back and forth hitting each other.
“Our level of play has slowly been increasing. Our play in the beginning of the season was a little sporadic. We are obviously not perfect. I am really happy with this game, but we are not done. We are going to get even better.”
Both teams played well defensively, with Adrianna Piascik making several solid plays at third for Guilford and Gianna Carrano doing the same at second for West Haven.
Smith finished the game with two hits for Guilford, while Alfano and Raccio each had a pair of hits for the Westies.
WH thumps Shelton
Westies pick up ninth win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 5, 2023) - The West Haven softball team improved to 9-5 with a 15-1 five-inning victory over Shelton Friday evening at Biondi Field in West Haven.
Shyanne Raccio picked up her fourth victory of the season, going the distance, allowing three hits, one earned run, three walks, and six strikeouts.
Brianna Miller led the offense with three hits, three runs batted in, and three runs scored, while Melanie Jimenez, Raccio, and Hannah Burrows each had two hits. Burrows drove in three runs, Gianna Carrano and Olivia McDonnell each knocked in two, while Mia Rubirosa, Jimenez, Taylor Alfano, and Burrows each scored twice.
West Haven took a 3-0 lead in the first and scored 12 times in the third to put the game away.
Rubirosa led off the first with a single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Miller. Miller scored on a passed ball, and Alfano’s ground out scored another.
Miller doubled to score Jimenez in the third, Raccio doubled to score Miller, Burrows singled to score a run, and Carrano grounded out to score Alfano for a 7-1 lead.
McDonnell delivered a two-run single, Jimenez had a run-scoring single for a 10-1 lead, and Miller doubled to score Jimenez for an 11-1 advantage.
WH tops Cross
Miller homers in victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 8, 2023) - The West Haven softball team improved to 10-5 with a five-inning 19-2 mercy rule victory over Wilbur Cross in New Haven Monday afternoon.
Taylor Alfano picked up her first victory of the season, tossing a complete-game two-hitter, allowing one earned run, while walking three and striking out nine.
Shyanne Raccio led the offense with three hits and three runs batted in, while Hannah Burrows had two hits and scored three times, and Natalie Gallo drove in four runs and scored twice. Gianna Carrano scored three runs, Juliana Petruzziello drove in two, Brianna Miller drove in three runs and scored twice, and Melanie Jimenez scored twice.
West Haven put the game away early with nine runs in the first inning and seven more in the second.
Miller came up with the big hit as she launched a 3-run homer in the first. Petruzziello singled to score Alfano, Gallo was hit by a pitch to force in Burrows, Mia Rubirosa reached on an error to score Petruzziello and Carrano, and Raccio doubled to score Gallo and Rubirosa.
In the second, Gallo walked to force in Abigail Wynus, Rubirosa reached on an error to score Burrows, Raccio singled to score Gallo, Alfano walked to score Jimenez, before Burrows and Petruzziello also walked to force in runs for a 16-0 lead.
Sharks rally past WH
Westies fall 7-5
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 10, 2023) - After winning two straight games and putting up 34 runs in the process, the West Haven softball team faced a scrappy Sacred Heart Academy team. Unable to come up with the clutch hit, the Westies fell 7-5 in eight innings Wednesday evening at Biondi Field in West Haven.
Trailing 5-3, West Haven forced extra innings with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. With two outs in the sixth, Holly Waibel reached on an error to score Gianna Carrano and get the Westies within a run.
West Haven rallied in the seventh as Melanie Jimenez led off with a single, Brianna Miller walked, before West Haven loaded the bases with one out. A passed ball allowed Jimenez to score the tying run, but the Sharks used a two-out rally in the eighth to prevail.
West Haven jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second on a homer to left by Taylor Alfano, and trailing 2-1, evened the game in the third when Miller walked and later scored on a passed ball.
West Haven again trailed by a run, before knotting the game at three in the fifth when Rubirosa singled, Jimenez walked, and Shyanne Raccio grounded out to score Rubirosa.
Raccio took the loss in the pitching circle, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, while walking one and striking out 10.
WH falls to Sheehan
Late rallies spark Titans
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 11, 2023) - The West Haven softball team fell to 10-7 with a 7-6 loss to Sheehan in eight innings Thursday evening at Biondi Field in West Haven.
Mia Rubirosa, Shyanne Raccio, Juliana Petruzziello, and Gianna Carrano each had a pair of hits, while Raccio and Taylor Alfano each drove in a pair.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first as Rubirosa walked, Melanie Jimenez reached on an error, and Raccio singled to right to score Rubirosa.
Trailing 4-1, West Haven scored four times in the fourth and once in the fifth for a 6-4 advantage. In the fourth, Carrano led off with a single and scored on a double by Rubirosa, before Jimenez walked. Raccio and Alfano delivered run-scoring singles for a 5-4 lead.
Petruzziello singled with one out in the fifth and scored on Carrano’s double to center.
Sheehan won with single runs in each of the final three innings.
WH tops Lauralton Hall
Westies post 22-6 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 13, 2023) - The West Haven softball team improved to 11-7 with a 22-6 victory over Lauralton Hall in Milford Saturday morning. The Westies scored 14 times in the sixth inning to pull away and end the contest after six innings due to the mercy rule.
Brianna Miller led West Haven with four hits, four runs batted in, and three runs scored. Melanie Jimenez scored four times, Taylor Alfano scored three times, Olivia McDonnell had three hits, three runs batted in and two runs scored, while Gianna Carrano scored twice.
Shyanne Raccio picked up the victory, allowing seven hits and two earned runs, while walking five and striking out nine.
Trailing 3-1 in the third, West Haven took the lead with four runs, then added one in the fourth and two in the fifth.
In the third, Rubirosa scored on an error, Miller singled to score Jimenez, Raccio singled to score Miller, and Raccio scored on an error.
Miller reached on an error to score McDonnell in the fourth, and Petruzziello grounded out to score Alfano in the fifth.
Miller stuns Cheshire
Walk-off homer leads WH to 5-4 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 15, 2023) - The West Haven softball team improved to 12-7 in dramatic fashion. Trailing by one run entering the last of the seventh inning against Cheshire, West Haven posted the victory on Brianna Miller’s walk-off homer at Biondi Field in West Haven Monday afternoon.
Trailing 4-3 to start the seventh, Mia Rubirosa reached on an error and scored on another error to even the game at four. Four pitches later, Miller launched a homer to center for the game-winner.
Cheshire scored single runs in the first two innings and two more in the fifth for a 4-0 lead. West Haven rallied with two in the fifth and one in the sixth to set up the seventh inning dramatics.
In the fifth, Olivia McDonnell hit a solo homer to center, and Rubirosa singled and later scored on a steal of home.
Taylor Alfano reached on an error to start the sixth, and scored one-out later on a ground out by Juliana Petruzziello.
Senior Night
Westies blank Hamden 15-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 17, 2023) - The West Haven softball team closed the regular season with an impressive 15-0 five inning Senior Night victory over Hamden at Biondi Field in West Haven Wednesday evening. With the victory, the Westies improved to 13-7 on the year.
Melanie Jimenez and Brianna Miller led the offense with two hits apiece, while Mia Rubirosa and Emma Davey each scored three times. Jimenez, Juliana Petruzziello, and Gianna Carrano each scored twice.
Shyanne Raccio picked up the win, tossing a complete-game 3-hitter, walking three and striking out eight.
West Haven put the game away early, scoring eight times in the first inning. Miller singled to score Rubirosa and Jimenez, Petruzziello singled to score Miller and Abigail Wynus, Carrano grounded out to score Hannah Burrows, Petruzziello scored on a wild pitch, Davey scored when Rubirosa reached on an error, and Jimenez tripled to score Rubirosa.
Westies fall in SCC
North Haven tops WH 15-3 in quarterfinals
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 22, 2023) - The West Haven softball team qualified for the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament as the eighth seed. The reward was facing top-seeded and undefeated North Haven.
After jumping out to an early lead, the Westies fell in the SCC quarterfinals 15-3 at North Haven Monday afternoon.
North Haven scored three times in the bottom of the first, seven more in the second, and twice in the third to put the game away.
West Haven took a quick 1-0 lead when Mia Rubirosa homered on the first pitch of the game, but North Haven hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning and added two more to lead 3-1 after one inning.
The Westies got within a run in the second when Taylor Alfano led off with a walk and scored on a two-out double to center by Hannah Burrows. That was as close as the Westies got as the Nighthawks scored seven runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning for a 10-2 lead.
Trailing 12-2, West Haven got a run back in the fourth as Juliana Petruzziello led off the fourth with a homer to center, but West Haven could not rally.
Westies top Conard
WH advances in Class LL state tournament
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 30, 2023) - The West Haven softball team made quick work of No. 21 Conard in the opening round of the CIAC Class LL state tournament with a 12-0 opening round victory at Biondi Field in West Haven Tuesday afternoon in a game stopped after six innings due to the mercy rule.
The 12th-seeded Westies scored three times in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings to advance to the second round.
Mia Rubirosa, Shyanne Raccio, Taylor Alfano, and Olivia McDonnell each had two hits in the win, with Rubirosa and Raccio each driving in three runs. Every member of the lineup got at least one hit and scored at least one run.
Raccio picked up the victory in the pitching circle, allowing one, hit, while walking two and striking out 11 in the shutout.
Leading 1-0, the Westies took a 4-0 lead in the second as Melanie Jimenez and Brianna Miller reached on errors with two outs, and Raccio singled to score both for a 3-0 advantage. Alfano then tripled for a 4-0 advantage.
The Westies increased the lead to 7-0 in the fourth when Hannah Burrows doubled and McDonnell singled, before Rubirosa homered to center.
Juliana Petruzziello singled to score Alfano for an 8-0 lead in the fifth, before Petruzziello scored on an error and McDonnell singled to score Gianna Carrano.
West Haven ended the game in the sixth when Miller and Raccio homered in consecutive at bats for the 12-0 final.
Season Over
NFA rallies past WH in Class LL second round
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 31, 2023) - The season has come to a sudden close for the West Haven softball team. Jumping out to a 5-run lead, the 12th-seeded Westies could not hold on in an 8-7 Class LL second round loss at No. 5 Norwich Free Academy Wednesday afternoon.
With the loss, West Haven finished the season with a 14-9 record.
Shyanne Raccio took the loss, allowing just four earned runs on eight hits, while walking five and striking out four.
Brianna Miller led the offense with three hits, three runs batted in, and two runs scored, while Juliana Petruzziello had two hits and drove in two runs, and Mia Rubirosa added two hits, drove in a run, and scored a run.
Despite having 11 hits in the game, and scoring seven times in the first three innings, West Haven could not push across another run in the final four innings. The Westies led 6-1 in the second inning, before NFA scored five times in the second and twice in the fourth to pull out the victory.
West Haven took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Rubirosa led off with a walk and Miller homered to left with one out.
Leading 2-1, West Haven scored four times in the second for a 6-1 advantage. Olivia McDonnell singled with one out, before the Westies continued with a two-out rally.
Melanie Jimenez singled to center, Miller singled to left to score McDonnell, and Raccio singled to right to score Jimenez for a 4-1 lead. After Taylor Alfano walked, Petruzziello doubled to left to score Miller and Raccio, but a line drive off the bat of Gianna Carrano was snared in center to leave a pair on.
With the game even at six to start the third, West Haven took its last lead of the game when Rubirosa’s one-out single scored Hannah Burrows who had walked.
West Haven had only three hits the rest of the way and just one more scoring opportunity in the fifth as Carrano led off with a double, but one-out later was out at the plate on a close play after a grounder to short by McDonnell.
SOFTBALL 2023
All-State Players - Stacey Dixon '93; Tammy Hackley '93; Kim DeMayo '94; Angelina Sousa '94; Shannon Curren '95; Laurie DelGrego '98; Liz Vaccino '98; Lindsay Connor '03; Vicci Duane '04; Krystle Denny '04; Shannon Connor '09, '10; Elaina Maio '10; Joanna Fekieta '11; Camdyn Morgillo '13; Kial Watts '15; Kailey Carrano '19; Ivy Santos '19
Retired Numbers - Tammy Hackley (Class of 1993) #13
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