Seabreeze Team Defeats North Haven

The Branford Little League provides baseball to youngsters of all ages beginning with T‑Ball for boys and girls between 4 and 6 years of age. That’s where the ball is put on top of a tube and the batter hits the ball and runs to first base. It is intended as an introduction for boys and girls aged 4 to 6 to develop ball-game skills and have fun.

The next level for players age 7 and 8 is called ​“coach pitch” where an adult pitches to the batter from the front of the mound and lobs it more than pitching it hard to the batter. The boys and girls who play in this age group called the Seabreeze Division build their confidence because the pitching is more consistent and their coach is throwing the ball so the players can hit it.

And that’s what happened at a recent game when the Branford Seabreeze team played its North Haven counterparts at Sliney Field. Behind some good hitting, the home team outscored North Haven 7 to 3 to improve their record to 7 and 2. Here Blake Barnikow smacks a single up the middle.

Before the game started, there was a brief ceremony at home plate when North Haven coach Andre Huston presented a donation on behalf of the North Haven team and parents in memory of Ben Callahan to Dave Callahan, Ben’s father, and his brothers, Cooper,11, and Scout, 9. Family friend Jake Palluzzi joined them.

Branford is coached by Ken Burton, who has a low-keyed approach to leading the team. He and assistants Brian Gallagher and Kevin Barnikow work on the fundamentals of batting and fielding and are getting the players ready for the next level. Here Pitcher Wyatt Verillo guns one o ver to first to nail the runner.

“They get better with each game,” said Burton, ​“and so does their confidence every time they step on the field.” Here Aiden Bates hustles to grab a fly ball to left.

Here First baseman Tyler Snider gets a low throw as the runner reaches first base.

And here Third baseman Chris McKittrick fires one to first base.

Here a North Haven coach tells his player, ​“you tie one and I’ll tie the other one.”

Third base coach Brian Gallagher sends the runner home.

Noel Gallagher, the only girl on the team, gets ready to whack one.

Trey Warnaka concentrates on a pitch.

Catcher Blake Barnikow reaches behind the batter to catch the ball.

Coach Burton gave the team a pep talk before the game and praised them after for playing well. He gave a game ball to Aidan Bates, who hit a homerun and made a big catch in the outfield.

Looks like the future of Branford baseball is in good shape. 
 
 
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