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Sam Russo hits a home run.
It’s that time of year when the regular Little League baseball season comes to a close and those players who had an exceptional year are selected to represent their communities in district play as All-Stars.
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Jake Elpi gets one of his two hits and drove in a run.
The Branford team, ages 9 and 10, opened their playoffs on Tuesday at Sliney Field with a masterful 9 – 0 victory over their District 4 challengers from Cheshire. But they lost at North Haven last night, 12 – 0. Their next two games are Sunday at Milford National Lou Gehrig and Monday at Sliney vs Milford International at 5:30 p.m.
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Ava Cosgrove sang the National Anthem in the press box as prelude to the start of the game .
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Adam Chasse tries to jump out of the way but gets hit by the pitch.
Branford is in the same pool with 6 other teams from the region. They play each team and the top two will play a single game for the district title.
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Ten-year- old Mike Bonfiglio pitched an outstanding game for Branford, a two-hit shutout going all six innings and striking out 10. “All of our boys played well tonight,” said coach Rich Elpi.
“Mike Bonfiglio was on the mound and was instrumental in our win tonight with his great performance,” the coach said.
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Teammates celebrate Sam’s home run greeting him at home plate.
Branford jumped on Cheshire early when Jake Elpi singled and Sam Russo smacked a fastball over the left field fence knocking in Elpi for a quick 2 – 0 lead in the bottom of the first.
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Russo finished the game with 3 RBI’s and Elpi, Mike Farricielli (pictured here) and Zack Turbert all had 2 hits and one RBI each to pace the Branford 9 hit attack.
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David McDonald makes contact for a hit driving in a run.
“Our boys put the ball in play and also played great defense,” said coach Elpi. Several close defensive plays, along with Bonfiglio’s performance on the mound, added to victory.
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Dylan Sachs gets the throw just before the hard running Cheshire runner hits the bag.
One play in particular was in the final inning when a Cheshire batter hit a line drive down the right field line, and despite being down by 9 runs, tried to stretch his hit from a double to a triple.
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Zack Turbert leaps for the throw and gets the runner heading for third.
Right fielder Matt Morgan fired a relay to second baseman Jake Elpi who gunned the runner down on a throw to third baseman Zack Turbert.
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Team members include 1st row L-R Colin Deane, Jake Elpi, Mike Farricielli, Dylan Sachs, Sam Russo and Mike Bonfiglio. 2nd row L-R coach Mike Russo, Avery Atkinson, Matt Morgan, Adam Chasse, coach Rich Elpi, Zach Turbert, David McDonald, Nate Mathis and coach Roger Chasse.
“Cheshire always brings a tough team to district play and we were happy to get the win”, said Elpi after the game.
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