Branford defeats Orange 7-2 at Brinley Field

Orange Post 127’s flickering hope of another of its patented late season surges into the state tournament was officially extinguished Tuesday night. Branford Post 83 defeated Orange 7-2 at Brinley Field. With that loss, Orange saw its record dip to 7-12. With only 5 games left on its schedule,   Post 127 was eliminated from having any possibility of winning 13 games and qualifying for the state tournament that begins next week. It was also the first time in his Bob Mirto’s 15 years as head coach that Orange did not advance to post season play. On top of all that, Branford improved its record to 17-1 and extended its current winning streak to 14 games in a row. Post 83 also has the highest winning percentage in the state (.944).

Mirto felt that he key point in the game came in the bottom of the second inning. Orange loaded the bases with no one out as both Brian Speer and Sean Butler knocked out base hits. Post 83 hurler Anthony Pellegrino then hit Adam Kyasky with a pitch. With a chance to take an early lead, Orange failed to cash in on the big scoring opportunity.  Pellegrino struck out Jim Martino and Brian Kernan. Sandwiched between those whiffs was Grayson Amoroso’s fly ball to center field.

“Not scoring when we had the bases loaded and no one out was huge,”

Mirto said. “It was the difference in the game. We only trailed by 2 runs (4-2) in the sixth inning. That situation was a microcosm of our season.”

The losers also left 10 runners stranded on base,

After Orange failed to score with the bases loaded, it was Branford’s turn in the top of the thirds inning to see what it could do in the same situation. Amoroso walked Alec Janotta to start the inning. Following that free pass, both Connor Moriarty and Mike Forgione dumped bunts down the third base line and beat them out. Buddy Shea forced Forgione at second base but Janotta scored on the play. After Oliver Hart walked, Jeff Stoddard slapped a run-scoring single that brought home Moriarty with his team’s second run of the inning. Shea would then score on a wild pitch from Amoroso to give his team a 3-0 advantage.

Post 127 came to bat in the bottom of the third and once again filled the bases. This time with one out, Nick Baviello and Speer singled while Ted Ballou reached base on a throwing error by Hart, Branford’s veteran shortstop. Baviello raced home as Butler was retired on his infield out. Kyasky made it 3-2 as he punched an RBI single into left center field that drove home Ballou.

Branford Post 83 added an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning, expanding its lead to 4-2. Dylan Palluzzi led off with a base hit but was erased on a fielder’s choice by Janotta. Following an error by Baviello at shortstop, Forgione singled home Janotta.

The score remained 4-2 until Branford tacked on 3 insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning.  After seeing his starter, Dane Simione walk Janotta with one out, Mirto replaced him with Ballou, the hero of the previous night’s come-from-behind 7-5 victory over Post 16 of Shelton. Moriarty greeted him by beating out a bunt single. After Forgione was retired, Shea singled home Janotta. Hart walked to fill the bases. Shea was forced at home by Stodard but Hart scored on a Ballou wild pitch.

“I thought Dane pitched well tonight,” Mirto said. “He changes speeds very effectively and is very deceptive. For the most part, our team is young but has a lot of potential. We know we have some holes to fill by next summer.

For the most part, our guys have played well this season.  Even though losing isn’t fun, I still think they have had some fun this summer. It’s tough to win in Zone 2. We have teams like Branford and Milford that are perennial powers. On top of that, this summer, East Haven is very strong too. We’re starting to do things that will upgrade our baseball program.”

Speer had 2 base hits for Post 127 while Branford was led by Forgione (3 singles), Shea (a single and 2 RBI), and Janotts (2 walks and 3 runs). Pellegrino went the distance to earn a complete game victory. In addition to allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, he also walked 3, hit a batter with a pitch, and struck out  7.

Orange visits Branford tonight in a 5:30 PM game at Branford High School. The same 2 teams also return to Brinley Field on Thursday night at 7 PM