Cheshire Bats Hammering Opponents

The baseball team hit its run-production stride this past week as its hitters pummeled three opponents by a collective score of 38-14.

The Rams pounded 18-9 at home Monday. Matt Jefferis and Dom Severino ignited an eight-run first inning with back-to-back, run-scoring triples.

Ryan Rougeot (4-for-4, one RBI), Tyler Robertson (2-for-2, three RBI) and Greg Leonetti (4-for-4, two RBI), the 7-8-9 hitters, led the balanced offense, collecting 10 of the Rams' 21 hits.

"Those guys have been swinging the bats," Cheshire coach Bill Mrowka said. "Greg and Tyler against Guilford had three hits each, so they accounted for six of our 10 hits Friday (April 8, a 6-0 win). Greg will show bunt, he'll slap, he'll hit line drives. He's been playing real well.

"Those are our three captains (Connor David, Severino and Slade), but he's probably our fourth captain. He's our leader out in the field (at shortstop). He just takes charge. Creates energy for the team, which was really important on Friday and it was really important today," Mrowka said.

On Thursday, Cheshire (4-1), ranked No. 2 in the state, defeated 10-1 in Milford and Friday Cheshire thumped Daniel Hand 10-4 at home.

Friday, Leonetti continued his hitting surge, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Severino had two hits, including a double, and two RBI, and catcher David had three RBI. Starter Rougeot, who had two hits and an RBI, picked up his second victory of the season against no losses.

In the victory over Law, David and Severino each hit three-run home runs. Starter Max Slade struck out nine and gave up just two hits in six innings to earn the victory.

"It felt like a million bucks," Severino said of the first-inning against Hamden.

"We feed off each other," David said. "With the lineup and the pitching rotation, as long as our defense plays behind us and everyone keeps the intensity, I think it's going to be a good season."

Softball

Lauren Fountain had three hits, one RBI and two runs scored and Caroline Kushner two RBI and two runs as the Rams routed host West Haven 10-0 on Monday. Fountain and Kushner each hit two doubles.

BryAnna McIntosh added four hits, one RBI and two runs. Nicole D'Amato picked up the win for the Rams.

On Friday, D'Amato struck out 11 to pick up another win while also adding a triple and an RBI in a 10-5 victory at Branford. Ali Giannone had two hits, including a triple, and two RBI for Cheshire. McIntosh had three hits and three RBI and Kushner also added three RBI.

In a makeup Saturday of a rainout earlier in the week, Kushner hit a home run and a double and drove in three runs in an 8-1 victory over Jonathan Law at home.

The Rams (4-1) hit two other home runs, one by Anna Marcucilli (two hits, one RBI) and one by starting pitcher D'Amato (two RBI), who also improved to 4-1. D'Amato struck out nine and allowed three hits in the winning effort.

Boys Lacrosse

Kevin Adams scored eight goals, four in a five-minute period after the game was tied at 3, and four more to close out the Rams' scoring in a 10-7 non-conference victory over Thursday. John Bronke scored twice for Cheshire.

The Rams fell to SCC rival 12-2 on Monday at home. Tom Dupont and Bronke scored for Cheshire and goalie Will Devine made eight saves.

Cheshire (3-2) also lost on Saturday 9-4 to Bay Shore (N.Y.) at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Adams scored twice and Spencer Hackett once to give the Rams the early lead, but the Rams were scoreless in the second half as Bay Shore rallied. Dupont also scored and Devine had 11 saves.

Girls Lacrosse

Jess Sudock scored three goals and had two assists and Maria Blois had four goals to lead Cheshire past Fairfield Ludlowe 11-8 at home Thursday.

Other scorers included: Christy Myjack (one goal, one assist), Alyssa Hague, Alexis Sansone and Kayla Hoynes one goal apiece and Kathleen Kalbian one assist.

On Saturday, the Rams won 12-5 at South Windsor to improve to 4-1. Blois and Hague each had three goals and one assist. Other scorers included: Sansone and Alison Hoynes two goals apiece; Kalbian one goal, two assists; Sudock one goal, one assist; and Kelsie Carlette and Kayla Hoynes one assist apiece. Goalie Ashley Zane made 11 saves.

Cheshire dropped a 7-5 decision in overtime to Hand in Madison Tuesday. Blois led the Rams with four goals and Kalbian scored once. Zane made five saves.

Boys Tennis

Fairfield Prep defeated Cheshire (1-2) 4-3 Monday in Fairfield. The Rams received singles victories from Jeremy Reichenthal 6-3, 6-1 over Tim Culligan, and Brendan Pier, who defeated Shane Sutera 6-0, 6-0.

The doubles team of Drew Henderson and Tanner Barros defeated Charlie Dodge-Rich Van de Berghe, 7-5, 6-4.

Girls Tennis

Head coach Scott Matthews earned his first coaching victory as the Rams defeated Sheehan 4-3 at home on Monday.

In singles, Cheshire's Katie Seggerman defeated Jen Lange 6-4, 6-2, Erica Larson was a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Kristin Viscardi and Taylor Strange defeated Kseniya Dobrovolsky 6-1, 6-0.

The doubles team of Alyssa Carafano and Alex Hirt won in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 over Maureen Hinman-Hannah Murphy. 

Boys Volleyball

Through two more matches this week, the Rams have yet to lose a single game and now stand at 4-0.

Cheshire swept Amity by scores of 25-18, 25-18, 25-6 Friday in Woodbridge. Nate Howard had 13 kills, six blocks, Joe Bahgat 11 kills, six digs, Ryan Cuppernill 10 kills and Ray Brumleve 32 assists.

On Monday, the Rams swept Hand 25-11, 25-21, 25-18 at home. Howard had 14 kills and six blocks, Cuppernull nine kills, three blocks, Bahgat 12 kills and Brumleve 32 assists and eight digs.

Girls Golf 

Andra Frappier earned medalist honors for the fifth time this season with a 45 at Fenwick Golf Club in a 184-210 victory over Hand Friday.

Other scorers for the Rams in the match included: Jess Rotell (46), Emma Velcofsky (46) and Meg Aitro (53).

Frappier also was medalist with a 45 at Southington Country Club Monday as the Rams (192) defeated Suffield (236) and Sacred Heart (247) and then followed that with another medalist performance, shooting a 43 in a 199-209 win over Mercy, also at Southington CC, Thursday. 

Other scorers in the victory over Mercy: Rotell (54), Aitro (54), Velcofsky (48) and Emily Larkin (57).

Frappier shot a season-best 39 in a 196-228 victory over Canton earlier this season for the 5-0 Rams.

Boys Golf

The Rams lost their opener on Tuesday to Shelton 150-170 at Brownson CC. Cheshire scorers: Gil Lassen (38), Jake Ecke (42), Tom Wellspeak (45) and Eric Dietrich (45).

Track & Field

The girls team fell 90-60 at Amity on Thursday. Cheshire winners included: Ashia Wright in the 100 meters (12.69 seconds), Sarah Fusco, 400 (1:00.47), Tori Wickenheisser, 1,600 and 3,200 (5:50.56; 12:25.91), Breslyn Goodison, shot put (31 feet, 5 inches) and Ariel Greene, discus (88-11).

The boys (0-2) also dropped a decision, 77-73 to on Thursday at home. Jake Scinto was a triple-winner for Cheshire with victories in the long jump (21-7 1/2), triple jump (46-0) and high jump (6-4). 

Other Rams' winners included: Eric Zdanowski, 110 hurdles (15.4), Max Fleischman, 300 hurdles (45.5), Phil Caldwell, 800 (2:02), Nick Ritchie, shot put (36-0), David Gomes, pole vault (10-0) and James Holtman, discus (99-0).

At the Record-Journal Invitational Friday, a meet that limits participants to two events, Scinto won the long jump (21-2) and triple jump (43-9). In the girls meet, Wright won the 100 (12.8) and was a member of the winning 4x100 co-ed relay (49.4) with Katherine Seggerman, Orlando Marin and Brandon Wild.

Fusco, Jenna Hart, Caldwell and Andrew Panther won the 4x400 co-ed relay in 3:55.3.

Girls Swimming

Megan Mostoller signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Seton Hall in the fall on Monday at the high school.