Branford’s All Stars Defeat Hamden, 8 – 4

The Branford 11-year-old all stars evened their divisional playoff record to 1 – 1 with a 8 – 4 win at home against the Hamden all stars at Sliney Field on Friday evening.

“That was an important win for us,” said coach Jake Palluzzi after the game. ​“We lost to a very good Orange team the other night and didn’t want to get down 0 – 2 like we did last year.” Palluzzi was referring to his 10-year-old all-star team from last season that started out 0 – 2 in the Divisional Playoffs before running off three straight wins to qualify for the District Playoffs.

Branford jumped out early against Hamden going up 2 – 0 in the bottom of the first inning on singles by Jack Linder, TJ Shields, and Tim Rice, a walk to Will Henderson, and a sacrifice fly by Jakie Palluzzi. They made it 3 – 0 in the third on back-to-back doubles by Henderson and Palluzzi. Leadoff batter Jack Linder (pictured)had a single and double in the game.

Behind the solid pitching of Jack Smith, who only allowed five hits in the game, Hamden was shut out until the fourth inning when Tyler Stone walked and Ethan Berman hit a home run over the fence in left center field to cut the score to 3 – 2. Smith (pictured)only gave up five hits and struck out four.

There’s always drama in a game like this. Despite his father’s safe sign, Jaeden Konesky was called out in a rundown.

Here Jakie Palluzzi (pictured)drives in a run with a long sacrifice fly in the first inning.

That was as close as it got as Branford unloaded for three more runs in the bottom half of the inning on doubles by Giuseppe Piscitelli (pictured), Harrison Smith, and Linder along with a single by Henderson. The frosting on the cake came when Shields hit a line drive homerun to right center in the bottom of the fifth. Piscitelli had a double and scored a run.

Here Smith heads to second after hitting a double and driving in a run. 

Here Shields shows his sweet swing as he hits a home run in the fifth inning. 

Anthony Fusco is seen here getting the putout at first.

Will Henderson is seen here beating the throw to second.

The momentum unfortunately didn’t carry over as Branford met ​“a very good” Milford team on Sunday that jumped on them for 11 runs the first two innings en route to a 12 – 3 rout. When asked about the game, coach Palluzzi said, ​“Yes…Milford got the boys’ attention… but… we’ll be ready for the T‑Birds (of North Branford) on Wednesday.” Here Jim Rice (pictured) gets a single in the first inning.

Afterwards, Coach Jake Palluzzi talks to his team.

Today’s game will be played at Wall Field in North Branford next to the North Branford Police Station. Game time is 8 p.m.

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