Spring sports start at HVRHS

FALLS VILLAGE — The spring season is underway for the Housatonic Mountaineers.

The track and field team will open their season at home on April 26, after participating in a league invitational at Terryville on April 11. Each member of the small team (seven boys and thirteen girls) was able to compete in two events each.

The girls lacrosse team opened its season on the road with a 10-4 loss against out-of-league opponent Notre Dame Fairfield. Lou Haemmerle, a first-year player, scored her first goal and had an assist with returning players Maggie Raftery and Marissa Zinke scoring two and one goals, respectively. The team faced Watertown at home on April 15. Zinke stepped into goal and recorded 15 saves while Catherine Bushey, Josie Marks and Raftery each scored two goals in the 15-6 loss.

The varsity softball team took to the diamond facing last year’s state tournament quarterfinalist, Thomaston, on April 4. Centerfielder Grace Riva went three for three with four RBIs, Shortstop Kaitlyn Cunningham went one for two with a walk and senior pitcher Emma Crane went two for three in the 20-4 loss. On April 13, the team battled back from being down 8-0 against Shepaug, but lost 20-8. Crane had four strikeouts and went two for four with two RBIs. Senior Mackenzie Ongley went two for three with a run scored.  Riva went one for four with four RBIs.

The junior varsity softball team played a jamboree at Northwestern on April 16. The team won both games, defeating Wolcott Tech 18-11 and Northwestern 27-13. Diana Portillo went three for four; Riley Marshall had a two RBI single; Haley Leonard and Mary LaFond had a single and a double each. Daniela Brennan had three singles, three RBIs and contributed to the solid defense while Kylie Leonard went two for four and Abigail While had a double.

The tennis teams have struggled to get their season started thanks to the weather. The second doubles team of Spencer Jasmin and Westyn Doyen recorded the only win in the boys tennis home opener against Litchfield. First doubles team, Zim McAuliffe and Gus Dekker, lost in a close match that went to a super tiebreaker. The team went on to beat Northwestern 5-0 on April 8. Manny Matsudaira (first singles) and Jasmin (third singles) won without giving up a game while Harry Sanders (second singles) and McAuliffe and Dekker (first doubles) won in straight sets. The second doubles team of Doyen and Nick Dorn won in a super tiebreaker.

The girls tennis team under the direction of new coach, Bill Markey, lost to Northwestern in their home opener. Melody Matsudaira won her match at first singles in straight sets. Both second singles, Dana Saccardi, and third singles, Mia Bayer, lost their matches in super tiebreakers. Yaritza Vega and Caroline Barber lost their match at first doubles. Due to lack of players only two matches were played during the April 11 win against Gilbert.

Because of field reconstruction, the baseball team will play the first half of its season away. In its first game the team was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth but ended up losing 4-3 to Thomaston. Seniors Harry Schopp and Brayton Wood pitched well. Schopp had a triple, a single and two RBIs. After the April 4 loss the team has gone on a three-game winning streak. Schopp pitched a four-hitter with three strikeouts while Aiden Miller and Joey Brennan each doubled in the 5-4 win against Terryville on April 11. Schopp continued to contribute with a three-run double in the 6-4 win against Shepaug on April 13. Wood pitched a five-hitter and had a double with an RBI. Russell Sears had two hits.

The team rallied for seven runs in the seventh inning to rack up their third win against out-of-league Mt. Everett 16-10 on April 15. Schopp and Sears each had two hits with four RBIs. Sears took the win on the mound after coming in as relief for Logan Dean, who pitched three solid innings. Miller and Austin Bayer had two hits each.

For up-to-date schedules, go to the weekly athletic schedule at www.hvrhs.org.

Anne MacNeil is the Region One athletic director.