Hamden Post 88 Shuts Down West Haven

By Amber Kountz

HAMDEN — On the strength of impressive pitching performances from Nick Tagliaferri and Tyler Mitchell, the Hamden Post 88 American Legion baseball team swept a doubleheader from West Haven Post 71 by scores of 6-0 and 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Legion Field in Hamden.

Hamden improved to 12-8 with the wins, while West Haven fell to7-11.

Hamden put the first game out of reach in the fifth inning when Christian Colon made it 4-0 with an RBI and Luke D’Ostillio drove in two more with a booming double.

West Haven loaded the bases late in the seventh inning but Matthew Barnett closed the game with two catches in the outfield to end any possible comeback attempt by Post 71.

West Haven struggled from the mound in the first game and three Hamden players, Sam Kirschenbaum, Ronald Grant, and Barnett, were hit by pitches but recovered swiftly and without serious injuries.

In the first inning, James Magson singled past second to drive in Barnett and Marc Masciantonio doubled to left in the second to score D’Ostillio and make it 2-0.

Avery Shugrue then drove in Masciantonio to increase the lead to 3-0.

Tagliaferri was helped by some fine defense behind him, including shortstop Paul Wetmore who turned a double play in the first inning and made acrobatic stops and clutch plays throughout the game.

In the second game, Eli Camner set the pace in the fourth inning with a double to right and came around to score on Kirschenbaum’s double to left. Colon kept the streak going and hit Hamden’s third straight double (this time to center field) to make it 3-0.

Hamden scored again in the sixth inning to close out the scoring.

Mitchell took care of the rest, striking out five and not allowing a West Haven runner to reach third base.

West Haven starter Angel Gonzales kept Hamden at bay in the early innings. The game was scoreless until Hamden broke through in the fourth inning.

Hamden completed the series sweep with a 13-2 victory Monday night at Piurek Field in West Haven.

Photo from Brett Crandall via Flickr Creative Commons.