Branford Baseball Club Competes in Cooperstown

The Branford Baseball Club competed in the 2010 American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament in Cooperstown, New York, last month and went 4-2 to place 30th out of the 103 teams that competed.

Branford opened the tournament against the North Coast Sluggers from New York. Max Condon started for Branford and scattered six hits, but Branford was beaten 4-2. The offense was led by Tanner Giddings, Luke DiStasio, and Marco Fontana.

Branford won its second game as Mike Gogliettino homered in the bottom of the fifth to lead a 9-8 victory over the Andover Warriors of Massachusetts. It was Gogliettino's second homer of the game and Lucian Pizzonia also homered with Tyler Criscuolo and Tanner Giddings each scoring two runs for Branford. Joe Carbone pitched a solid game to stake Branford to an 8-2 lead.

Branford then lost 17-4 to eventual tournament champions, the Hard 90 Phenom Premier Team (California). Ben Lacroix, Criscuolo, and Gogliettino had homeruns in this game and Marco Fontana made several fine defensive plays in center field.

Branford bounced back and defeated the Wayne Warriors Sheriffs Posse (New Jersey) 13-1 as Greg Bradshaw went the distance on the mound, scattering three hits, and also got the scoring started in the top of the first with a solo homer. Luke DiStasio and Gogliettino also homered for Branford.

Geoff Yasevac carried Branford to an 11-3 victory over the Southern Maine Dawg Pound by striking out six and allowing only six hits. Ben LaCroix played a great game in center field and Lucian Pizzonia led the Branford offense with two monster homeruns. DiStasio also homered for Branford and Tanner Giddings chipped in with a double off the wall.

In the final game of pool play, Branford came out swinging and plated 10 runs in the second inning on its way to a 16-2 victory over Fairless Hills Athletic Association (Pennsylvania). Christian Lupoli and Dawson Frawley combined to toss a three-hitter and Frawley led the Branford offense, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Criscuolo had three hits and scored twice, Greg Bradshaw had two hits with three runs scored, and Max Condon homered as well for Branford. DiStasio played a solid game at third base.

Branford was eliminated in tournament play by Federal Way Knights (Washington) 8-4. Branford did not go quietly as Gogliettino hit two towering homeruns to raise his total to six for the week. Criscuolo, Condon, and Joe Carbone all had singles and Christian Lupoli just missed a homerun off the wall for a double for. Fontana (second baseman) and Greg Bradshaw (left fielder) each made fine running defensive plays for Branford with Criscuolo (shortstop), Gogliettino (catcher), and Pizzonia (first baseman) also playing well defensively all week.

Information courtesy of Michael Bradshaw