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Team members include 1st row L-R Rob Miller, Dom Viscuso, Pete O’Leary, Mike Nelson, Jayson Greenberg, Brennan Hynes,, Kyle Givner and Nathan Criscuolo. 2nd row L-R Dan Cruz, Kevin Nelson, assistant coach, Sam Medelung, Tom Medelung, head coach, Antonio Porto, James Madelung, assistant coach and Matt LaCroix.
The Branford 11-year-old Little League team gave it all they had in the recent District 4 playoffs, winning three in a row until they met up with West Haven in the finals last week.
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Third baseman Dom Viscuso has the ball knocked away on a play at third.
Then Branford fell 12 – 1 and they were eliminated from the competition. Prior to the West Haven game, Branford defeated North Haven 9 – 8 in 8 innings, Cheshire 10 – 6, and North Branford 21 – 7.
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Jayson Greenberg scores on a close play at the plate.
“We had a great showing in the All-Star tournament and I’m very proud of our players,” said Coach Tom Madelung of his club. “I think we represented Branford well in the single elimination tournament. Against West Haven, things just didn’t go our way.”
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Danny Cruz (pictured) had four hits, including a double, and scored four runs.
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Coach Madelung (pictured) completed his 15th year coaching Little League this year and coached all three of his sons. He coached his oldest son James (pictured), now 21, and an assistant coach on this year’s team, his middle son, Owen, 17, and now Sam (pictured), who is 12.
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Winning pitcher Sam Madelung (pictured here) set the tone early in the game with a leadoff double opening the gates for Branford, who scored four in the first and eight in the second to take a big league early. Sam went 3 for 4 and pitched the first two innings not allowing any hits or runs.
Along with some of the other Branford teams in the playoffs, the Eagle covered the 11-year-olds in their game with North Branford.
In that game the youngsters banged out 24 hits, including 8 extra base hits in crushing North Branford 21 – 7. Five players made 20 of the hits and Branford had built up a 13 – 0 lead by the fourth inning.
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Jayson Greenberg had four hits along with a walk.
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Dom Viscuso (pictured) had three hits, including two doubles.
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So did Matt LaCroix.
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Nathan Criscuolo (pictured) had two hits including his first home run of the season in the fifth inning.
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At one point, Rob Miller, Dan Cruz and Peter O’Leary take a breather during a pitching change
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