Senior Mike Damone pitched a complete game, allowing only five hits and two runs while striking out five as North Branford defeated Valley Regional 6-2.
The Warriors scored first in the initial frame, taking advantage of Damone's wildness as he tried to find the strike zone on a very cold day. A walk, a single and a hit batter loaded the bases, but then a ground ball to first was fielded at first by Robert Picone who threw home for a force out. Randy Schmidt then drove a sacrifice fly to left to give Valley Regional a 1-0 lead and the bases remained loaded. Damone got out of further damage by getting another ground ball out to end the inning.
The T-Birds came right back in the bottom of the first and scored as Mike Forgione walked and then stole second. One pitch later, Forgione took off and stole third base as well, and when the throw down from home sailed into left field for an error, Forgione got up and scored the tying run.
Find out what's happening in North Branfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Forgione got things going again for North Branford in the fourth with a shot in the hole at short, which he beat out for an infield single. After stealing second, Forgione scored on Danny Esposito's single into left center to put the T-Birds up 2-1.
The Warriors came back in the top of the fifth with a lead-off single and a wild pickoff throw to get a runner into scoring position. Damone looked to be working his way of trouble by inducing a pair of groundouts, but then Nate Narducci crushed a double into the wind to the center field fence to tie the score at 2-2.
Find out what's happening in North Branfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In the bottom of the fifth, the T-Birds took the lead for good when a pair of walks put runners at first and second to start the inning. Cameron Smith and Anthony Vorio then pulled off a double steal and Smith scored when the throw down from home sailed past third and rolled down the left field line for another error and a 3-2 North Branford lead.
North Branford added some insurance runs in the sixth with an RBI single by Mike Cattaruzza and a two-RBI single by Taylor Gamache to put the game out of reach at 6-2.
With the win, North Branford improves their record to 4-1 and will next play Coginchaug on Monday at home at 3:45 p.m.
