The 2017 team.
Even though the high school baseball season ended several weeks ago, the honors are still accumulating for the 2017 Branford Hornets.
Jordan Botte slides into second base and breaks up a double play.
Not since the 2012 season, when they finished 14 – 6, has Branford had a winning record. Over the past four years they have won no more than nine games in any year. This past year was a break-out year when coach Steve Malafronte and the Hornets finished with a record of 18 – 7 that included a 12-game winning streak to close out the regular season.
Bill O’Brien Photo
SCC Coach of the Year Steve Malafronte of Branford with Player of the Year Max Scheps of Amity and SCC Baseball Chairman Jon Capone.
In recent weeks, coach Malafronte was awarded a coach of the year award. And four members of the baseball team, three seniors and one junior, were also honored.
Branford started the season with a 4 – 4 record in the first eight games. They lost those four games by a total of only five runs but they only scored five runs themselves. Then suddenly things changed, and the Hornets went undefeated, winning their remaining regular season games while averaging 8.5 runs per game. Alphonse Suppa (pictured) had a 6 – 2 record and recorded 26 strikeouts.
Coach Malafronte has a “friendly” conversation with umpire John Basso.
“Needless to say I was really pleased with the progress we made,” said coach Malafronte. “We all came together at the right time. The pitchers got stronger, the defense played very well and we started hitting.”
As a result the Hornets qualified for both the SCC tournament and the CIAC state tournament. Ranked no. 3 of 8 teams in the SCC tournament Branford drew the Hand Tigers in the quarter finals defeating them 12 – 1. They then drew no. 2 Fairfield Prep in the semi-finals, suffering a heartbreaking 2 – 1 loss to the Jesuits in the bottom of the seventh inning on a walk-off single.
In the state Class L tournament, Branford handily defeated both Cheney Tech, 11 – 0, and Stratford. 15 – 5, before being edged in another one run game, 4 – 3 to Watertown.
Making All Conference for Branford are (from left) Nikko Ligouri, Alphonse Suppa, Zach Washington and Jordan Botte.
n recognition of the club’s success, Malafronte was voted the SCC Coach of the Year and four of his players were chosen All SCC, including seniors Zach Withington, Nikko Ligouri, and Jordan Botte along with junior Alphonse Suppa. Withington was also selected to All State by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and recently was selected to the New Haven Register All Area Team.
Withington led the team with a .448 batting average. The Hornets’ third baseman also knocked in 32 runs and had seven doubles and three homeruns for the season. An excellent hockey player Withington, will be attending Gateway Community College and plans to play Junior Hockey.
Here is Zach Withington at third base. He was selected All Conference and All State.
Ligouri was a stellar shortstop for coach Malafronte. He batted .411 with 37 hits. He scored 30 runs, had 15 stolen bases, nine doubles and nine RBI’s. He will attend IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida, for a post-graduate year.
Here Ligouri lays down a bunt. He batted .411 and had 37 hits.
Botte (pictured) played very well roaming the outfield for the Hornets. He batted .390 with 32 hits including four doubles, a triple and two homeruns. He had 16 RBI’s and scored 27 runs. He will attend Eastern Connecticut State University where he will play baseball.
Suppa is a pitcher/first baseman. He batted .385 with 30 hits including 5 doubles and 13 RBI’s. On the mound he had a 6 – 2 record with an ERA of 1.7. He recorded 26 strikeouts for the Hornets. As mentioned he’s only a junior.
“I’m optimistic about the future,” said the coach. “We’re losing some talented players, but we have some experienced players returning and I’m excited, but for now I’m right happy to reflect on what we accomplished in 2017.”
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