News

List of 10 news stories.

• New England Tournaments: Boys Lax Shipwrecks Mariners to Advance; Baseball Starts Wednesdayto Advance

  5/21/2019
  Bud Kohler
  It did not take long on Monday to see that the quarterfinal match-up between the Hornets and the Mariners of  Rocky Hill School from Rhode Island was indeed a mismatch, and the Hornets quickly pulled away for a 17-4 victory that was actually much more one sided than the score might suggest. The Hornets are again the #1 seed from the West bracket, and they looked very comfortable throughout the game against a Rocky Hill team which was making its first New England appearance. The Mariners never quit, but simply had no answer for the Hornets' speed and passing on attack, and ferocity on defense. Sharpshooting Alex DiVincentis led the offensive disply while Jeff Nugent, known most for his cannon-like shot, buzzed at both ends of the field and did a great job distributing the ball. The Hornets pulled away quickly and Coach Warnock was able to get everyone plenty of playing time.  As a result, Nate Venditto stepped in for senior faceoff specialist Jackson Lalonde, who is nursing a foot injury, for most of the game, and did a great job. Newcomer Connor Massey struck for his first two varsity goals, and Josh Baehring also got in the scorebook. Aiden Cheney switched back from longstick to help at midfield, while 8th grader Bennett DellaValle looked sharp in his stead on defense. Liam Kohler plus Sam and Max Tomak also added to the dominance, and Grant Curtis was steady in goal, after replacing Sam Jewett who had barely been tested.
  
  With the victory, the Hornets advance to host a semifinal game against fellow FAA member King School on Wednesday at 4:15.
  
  Also on Wednesday, Varsity Baseball squares off in a New England quarterfinal match-up at home. As the #2 seed from the West bracket, the Hornets received a bye for the first round, and now host #3 seed MacDuffie School from Massachusetts, who defeated St. Luke's on Monday to advance. MacDuffie had defeated the Hornets earlier in the season; however, the Hornet bats have been lively and they have enjoyed solid pitching. The Hornets recently lost to Hopkins in the FAA tournament championship, but look poised to make a deep run in the New Englands.
  
  Good luck to both teams and Go Hornets!!!
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• Sweet Repeat! Boys Lax Win 16-15 to Win FAA!

  5/19/2019
  Bud Kohler
  It was a tale of two halves. The #1 seed Hornets dominated the first frame against Rye Country Day in the FAA Final played on Friday at Skiff St. However, the visiting Wildcats hung in and capitalized on a number of Hornet errors to remain within reach throughout the second half to create a fitting nailbiter final. 
  
  As the first half unfolded, the Hornets seemed to score at will and cruised into halftime with a 12-7 lead, thanks in large part to junior Chase "Chili" Lilly who had 2 goals and 2 assists, and sophomore Kai Bruneau with a goal and assist. Rye, however, made sure that the contest was far from over, and dominated the third quarter, outscoring HH 5-1 to end the period with the Hall clinging to a slim 13-12 lead. Things got no better early in the final quarter when Rye tied it up. The offense sputtered a bit, but made the clutch plays when it counted to regain the lead and stifle any final Wildcat comback. Alex DiVincentis was the go-to guy down the stretch and came up big with 6 goals, while also putting in key minutes at midfield on the counter. Fellow juinor Jeff Nugent added two goals and 5 assists, while Sam Tomak found the back of the net twice. Faceoff specialist Jackson Lalonde, despite hindered by a foot injury, won over 50% of the faceoffs, while the defense bent, but refused to break. Goalie Sam Jewett overcame a few setbacks, but still came up big when it counted to help cement the win.
  
  With the victory, the Hornets earned a Championship repeat title. But there is little time to savor the win as they now prepare for the New England Prep Tournament. The Hornets host Rocky Hill School of Rhode Island on Monday in the quarterfinals.
  
  Congratulations to the team, Coach Warnock, and all the coaching staff, as well as the faithful fans and parents for a terrific season!
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• On to the Finals! Baseball & Boys Lax Advance to Title Games

  5/16/2019
  Bud Kohler
  Meatloaf likely did not have sports in mind as he crafted his songs, but to sing "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" hits the target when assessing the performance of the Hornet teams in Wednesday's Fairchester League tournament semifinal contests, as Boys Baseball and Lax advanced, while Girls Lax fought bravely but came up short.
  
  Boys Lax might have been looking in the rearview mirror at their previous trouncing of Hopkins, as they found themselves struggling throughout its matchup against the crosstown rival. But they emerged 14-9 winners with a solid 4th quarter that finally saw the Hornets display their talents. After an early 2-0 lead, Hamden went flat and the Hilltoppers dug in at the defensive end and countered with a balanced and patient attack. By halftime, the teams had continued to exchange goals with the Hop clinging to a slim 6-5 lead. A major challenge for the Hornets developed because FoGo specialist, Jackson Lalonde, who had previously dominated the Hilltoppers, was saddled with a foot injury, and this made every faceoff look like a rugby scrum. Both Lalonde and the Hornets made the necessary adjustments, however, and finally regained the lead, yet still could not edge out ahead by more than two goals throughout the 3rd quarter. The Hornets finally put it all together in the last frame to put the game away and reassert their dominance over the Hop. Jeff Nugent came up big and led the Hornets with 6 goals overall, including a number of cannon blasts. Zach Giugno, Chase Lilly, and Alex DeVincentis all found the back of the net as well. The defense leaked a few goals to give Hilltopper fans false hopes, but Sam Jewett was stellar between the pipes, and a total team effort made the difference down the stretch. With the win, the team advances to their third consecutive final appearance. They will host the Wildcats of Rye Country Day on Friday at 4:30 in an attempt to achieve the "Repeat".
  
  Just across the way from the lax field, #2 seeded Varsity Baseball squared off against #3 seed Brunswick, and the drama was no less intense as they emerged with a thrilling 2-1 victory. The Hornets yielded a soft early run, but senior ace, Ryan Doherty, did his best Chris Sale imitation as he dazzled the visiting Bruins with a 7 strikeout gem with no walks. Doherty gave up 7 hits in total, but kept battling back each inning to stifle some very potent Bruin bats. Fellow senior Billy Gioulos provided the key hit, lacing a run scoring triple, and Doherty's batterymate, Dennis Gamester, had the other RBI. Joe Liucci and Cam Maldanato scored the two Hornet runs. With the victory the Hornets advance to the FAA Final against #1 seed Hopkins on Friday at 4:30 up on the hill.
  
  Regardless of final results, both programs are virtually assured of bids to the upcoming New England tournaments next week.
  
  Kudos to Coach Emily Anderson and the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team for their excellent run of victories this season. Having defeated St. Luke's in a Fairchester quarterfinal matchup, the #4 seed Hornets lost 20-4 on Wednesday in a semifinal match-up against a formidable #1 seed Sacred Heart down in Greenwich. The Hornets never quit while battling a team with a 16-1 record and a roster full of college bound players. 
  
  So winning two out of three certainly was not bad in the semifinals. Here's hoping that Friday's games produce some gold for the boys in green.
  
  
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• "The Game is Afoot!" - FAA Playoffs

  5/13/2019
  Bud Kohler
  It’s the middle of May (already), and you do not need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that the league playoffs have begun. Girls varsity lacrosse team has posted an impressive regular season record of 8-6. This included a 6 game win streak in the middle of the season, where they beat crosstown rival Hopkins and powerhouse Suffield Academy. The team earned the #4 seed in the Fairchester Athletic Association tournament and on Monday hosted a quarterfinal contest for the first time in quite awhile. The Hornets defeated #5 seed St. Luke’s 16-10, despite the inclement weather that the Storm brought with them. The team next faces off against #1 seed Sacred Heart of Greenwich on Wednesday.

  
  

  Baseball earned a #2 seed in the FAA tournament and is riding high after finishing the regular season on an up note with two solid wins last week. On Monday, the Hornets stung the Vikings from King School 12-2. Senior ace, Ryan Doherty, improved his record to 5-3 on the season. Eight runs in the bottom of the 5th inning was enough to invoke the “mercy rule”. Doherty helped his own cause with a triple, while his battery mate, catcher Dennis Gamester, struck for two doubles. Jamie Walker and Mike Coggins registered hits and Justin Lucibello knocked in two RBIs. On Thursday, the torrid combination of dominant pitching and timely hitting continued when the Hornets quelled the Storm of St. Luke’s 6-0 in New Canaan. Hard throwing sophomore Danny Carbone went the distance and limited Luke’s to only 2 hits while striking out 8 to improve his pitching record to 3-1. Three baggers was the daily special on the menu as Cam Maldonato, CJ Kuselias, and Carbone each hit triples. Joe Liucci combined with CJ Kuselias for 2 RBIs apiece. The Hornets plated runs in five of the seven innings played.

  
  

  With the wins, the Hornets finished in second place in the league and will host the winner of the Brunswick vs. Greens Farms on Wednesday at 4:30. The team is also fairly certain of earning a spot in the New England tournament next week.

  
  Congratulations to the Boys Lax team in repeating as FAA regular season champs. The Hornets finished tied with Rye Country Day, but earned the #1 seed in the upcoming tournament because of their 15-11 head-to-head win over the Wildcats last week. The team also cruised past St. Luke’s 16-6 to close out the regular season. The Hornets have been strong at both ends of the field. Alex DiVincentis and Jeff Nugent lead the balanced attack with support from the likes of Zach Giugno, Chili Lilly, Kai Bruneau, and Sam Tomak. Sam Jewett is a rock in goal, supported by Jared Morrissey, Paul Gregory, Aiden Hebert, and Konye Taylor. Senior Jackson LaLonde is the faceoff specialist, and even though midfield standout LJ Pezzolesi sustained a season ending knee injury, others like Liam Kohler and Connor Massey have stepped up to fill the void.The team enjoys a first round bye and will host the winner of King vs. Hopkins on Wednesday afternoon.

  
  

  So it’s pretty elementary, my dear Watson; come on out to cheer on the Hornets !!!

  
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  Baseball Earns Another Split

  4/30/2019
  Bud Kohler
  As the season heats up, even if the weather doesn't, every FAA league game is hotly contested. With a split of their last two games, the Hornet Baseball team finds itself smack in the middle of the race for the Fairchester League title. On Saturday, Billy Gioulos took the mound against Greens Farms down ay Westport. The Hornets had handled the Dragons fairly easily in the previous match up; however, this time hits were tough to come by. Danny Carbone had 2 hits including a double, and CXJ Kuselias had two hits as the Hornets carved out a slim 2-1 lead, thanks, as well, to Gioulos striking out 8. But the Dragons put one across in the bottom of the 6th to tie it. The Hornets responded by bringing in Ryan Doherty to shut down GFA, and the game went into extra frames. The Hornets finally managed to punch one home in the top of the 8th to go home with the 3-2 win.
  
  Earlier in the season, the Hornets recorded their best win, downing FAA power Brunswick 5-0 at Skiff St. Unfortunately on Tuesday, the host Bruins returned the favor and topped the Hornets 5-1 down in Greenwich. The Green & White clung to a 1-0 lead through great innings thrown by ace Ryan Doherty. But the Bruins roared back with 3 in the 5th and 2 more in the 6th to seal the victory. Doherty pitched a complete game but took the loss, and now holds a 4-2 record. Cam Maldonato had a pair of hits, and catcher Dennis Gamester had the only RBI. With the loss, the Hornets fall to 7-2 in the league and tied with the Wick for 2nd place. Wednesday, the Hornets will host the Hopkins Hilltoppers, who currently sit atop the league with a single loss.
  
  
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  Benigni is All Area MVP; Breland NE Player of the Year! Hornets Garner Winter Trophies & Post-Season Honors

  4/29/2019
  Bud Kohler
  Game of Thrones fans know all about the idea that “Winter is coming.” Well the winter sports season for Hamden Hall has come and gone, and clearly the good guys won. This week junior basketball sharpshooter, Jackson Benigni, was named MVP All Area by the New Haven Register, capping off a slew of individual and team achievements.
  
  

  In case you were out “beyond the Wall” and unaware, Benigni helped lead the Hornets to the Fairchester League Tournament title with 34 points in the 88-85 double OT win over St. Luke’s in the final. A week later he dropped another 32 points to lead the team to the New England Class B title.

  
  

  Benigni was part of an incredibly talented hoops squad. Senior Tre Breland was named the New England Prep Player of the Year. Christian Adams and Benigni were also named All New England Prep, and Tim Dawson and Jahkai Pettway received Honorable Mention. Breland, Adams, and Benigni were also accorded Fairchester All League honors, and Dawson also received an Honorable Mention.

  
  

  The winter also saw a superb effort from the Swim team, who finished Runners-up in New Englands, and the Boys were CISAC champs. Duncan Farquharson was named to the Register All Area squad.

  
  

  The Wrestling team was just as impressive. The team finished as Runners-Up at the Oxford Invitational and won the Williston-Northampton “Snow Brawl.” They also finished 7th in the State Tournament. Senior Klyde Auba was Fairchester Champion at 182 lbs., as was 8th grader Pierson Hill at 152. Hill was also the CT Prep State Champion in his class. Wyn Veiga and Connor Massey recieved FAA All League Honorable Mention.
  
  Girls Varsity Basketball finished with an 11-10 record, a very respectable achievement given the parade of unfortunate injuries that they had to battle. Jayda Johnson, another outstanding 8th grade athlete, earned a spot on the Fairchester All League team.

  
  Who knows the outcome for the characters in Game of Thrones, but the Hornets certainly were fearless and resilient this winter. Congrats to all the team members and coaches.
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• Doherty Blanks King & Rye; Hornets in First

  4/25/2019
  Bud Kohler
  Though Varsity Baseball took one on the chin yesterday in a frustrating 6-4 non-league loss to MacDuffie School that went into extra innings, they have battled their way to the top of the Fairchester League with three straight wins over King, St. Luke’s,  and Rye.

  
  

  Last Tuesday, the Hornets blanked King 13-0 in Stamford. Senior ace, Ryan Doherty, went the distance, allowing only two hits in a dominating performance. The Hornet 15 hit barrage was led by Joe Liucci who had 4 hits and 3 RBIs. Both CJ Kuselias and Cam Maldonato went yard and hit a double and finished with 3 hits and 3 RBIs apiece.

  
  

  The next day, Maldonato, a freshman, took the mound at home and pitched 5 strong innings to defeat the St. Luke’s Storm 5-2. He also helped his own caused with a pair of RBIs. Danny Carbone came on in the 6th inning to seal the victory.

  
  

  On Tuesday, the team traveled to Rye in NY where Doherty returned to the hill and threw another shutout, blanking the Wildcats 4-0, while striking out 8.

  
  

  The Hornets currently sit atop the FAA with a 6-1 league record and are 6-4 overall.

   
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• Baseball and Boys Lax Earn Splits

  4/15/2019
  Bud Kohler
  Only the older readers can fully appreciate the phrase "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." This was uttered by sportscaster Jim McKay in his introduction to the weekly sports wrap show Wide World of Sports, which dates back to 1961. Though neither the Varsity Baseball nor Boys Lax team wiped out like that downhill skier, by the end of last week both teams could have related to McKay's classic line as they split their games against some stiff competition.
  
  On Monday, fresh off their 21-10 demolition of Hopkins, Boys Lax hosted the Canterbury School of New Milford and emerged with a 16-9 victory. The Hornets were eager to atone for one of their poorer performances last season, and came out firing to take a respectable 6-3 lead after just one quarter of play, led by sharpshooting Alex DiVincentis’s early hat trick. In the second quarter, the game was more even as the Saints grew stubborn on defense and climbed back to trail 7-5 at half. However, the Hornets reasserted their dominance in the 3rd, outscoring the visitors 5-2, and added 3 more in the final frame to seal the well-deserved W. On offense, the Hornets spread the wealth around: DiVincentis finished with 4 goals and assist; Jeff Nugent also netted 4 while dealing out 2 assists; both Chili Lilly and LJ Pezzolesi had 2 and 2, while Zach Guigno had a goal and 3 assists. Kai Bruneau and Sam Tomak also got into the scorebook with a goal apiece. Jackson Lalonde did not win every faceoff (see Hopkins game); however he was still a force, besting his counterpart 16-10. Sam Jewett was rock steady in the goal, and the defense provided him with plenty of good support. Middie LJ Pezzolesi is on a record setting pace for ground ball pick ups and he helps decisively at both ends of the field.

  
  

  On Friday, the team had the opportunity to square off against Marblehead HS, a public school located north of Boston, which makes an annual trip during their spring break to take in college games and play local schools. The Hornets eventually fell 14-13 in triple overtime, but the thrilling comeback to force the overtime will be what most fans remember about the contest.
  
  The teams traded goals in the first quarter of what quickly shaped up to be a cagey affair, with HH taking a 3-2 lead. The Magicians then won the second quarter 3-1 to edge out to a slim 5-4 lead at half. Marblehead’s zone defense and standout goalkeeping continued to frustrate the Hornets attack in the 3rd quarter, and the visitors seemed to be on the verge of putting the game out of reach with an 11-7 lead with only 2 minutes remaining in the game, when it finally all came together for the Hornets. Jackson Lalonde provided the spark, winning each faceoff to enable the Hall to mount their fierce comeback. Chase Lilly scored to make it 11-8 with 1:41 left on the clock; seven seconds later it was 11-9 from a strike by Alex DiVincentis; and then he scored again with a minute to go. Marblehead called timeout to stem the tide but to no avail as LJ Pezzolesi completed the comeback with only 17 seconds remaining. After the defense held strong, both teams geared up for overtime. By this time, the momentum was clearly with the Hornets and they almost grabbed the winner early in OT. But neither offense could find a way through the opponent’s wall of defense as the first OT gave way to a second, and then a third OT. HH longsticks Jared Morrissey, Aiden Hebert, and Konye Taylor, in particular, were outstanding. The play of the game, however, was a phenomenal double save by Sam Jewett on what looked to be a certain goal. But the Marblehead defense wove their own magic to deny the Hornets until their attack finally slipped in the winner.
  
  After the game Coach Kevin Warnock assessed the game by saying, ”The coaches have been stressing to the players what each one needs to do to achieve the total team effort. It was not a perfect game, but that comeback and overtime was the best we have played as a team thus far, and the guys got a glimpse of what we coaches have been talking about. Hopefully, the players will do their best to replicate that effort in our upcoming games.”

  
  

  Varsity baseball’s fortunes worked out in reverse order as they first fell 7-5 against Hopkins up on the Hill on Thursday. Senior ace Ryan Doherty was solid in the early innings and the Hornets hung tough, trailing only 2-1 after the top of the 4th. But in the bottom of the frame, the Hilltoppers put up 5 runs and seemed to be on their way to a win. However, the Hornets responded with 4 of their own in the 5th, only to see a potential game tying rally fall short in the 6th. Doherty, Cam Maldonado, CJ Kuselias, and Justin Lucibello all hit doubles, and Maldonado drove in two runs, with Doherty and catcher Dennis Gamester getting an RBI apiece. Though he took the loss, Doherty finished with 9 strikeouts and gave up only one walk.

  
  

  Undeterred, the team rebounded on Friday by stunning previously undefeated FAA foe, Brunswick School of Greenwich, 5-0! Sophomore Danny Carbone threw a three hit gem and got help from outfielder, Mike Coggins, who gunned down the only Bruin baserunner to reach beyond first. Carbone helped his own cause by stroking two hits, including a double, and scoring twice. Freshman Cam Maldonato’s bat again came alive as he drove in 2 runs, matched by senior Joe Liucci. CJ Kuselias also scored twice. With the win, the Hornets improve to 3-3 on the season. The team returns to action this week with back-to-back games again, first traveling to King School in Stamford on Tuesday, and then hosting St. Luke’s on Wednesday.
  
  Jim McKay and Wide World of Sports have passed on, but his words should always live on as a reminder to our athletes of the dual nature of sports competition and how both results can bring out the best in those who compete.

   
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  Boys Lax Flattens Hilltopppers

  4/7/2019
  Bud Kohler
  Many fans would say that ideally a game against the crosstown foe should take place at the end of the season when the hype and intensity are at an all time high. However, an early showdown gives the winner bragging rights for the season with an anticipation of a potential match-up in the playoffs later on. On Saturday, with two non-league wins under their belts, the Hornets opened the defense of their Fairchester League crown with a convincing 21-10 victory over rival Hopkins on their home turf.
  
  

  The Hornets were brilliant for all of 40 seconds, seizing a quick 2-0 lead. However, some inconsistent play at both ends of the field enabled the Hilltoppers to edge out to a 6-2 lead in the first quarter. Two difference makers emerged in the game: the Hopkins goalie kept coming up big against the Hornet swarm, but senior captain Jackson Lalonde countered by winning almost every faceoff (32/35!!!), enabling the Hornets to reassert their dominance and take an 11-8 lead at the break. No matter what the Hopkins FoGo tried, Lalonde had a response, and gave the Hornets an immeasurable advantage. A potential game changing incident occurred, though, when freshman defensive standout Konye Taylor went out with a game ending injury. However, fellow frosh Aiden Cheney came up big, as did fellow longsticks Jared Morrissey, Aiden Hebert, and Paul Gregory, in patrolling the defensive perimeter.

  
  

  The third frame was all HH, as the offense came alive, in large part from starting much of the attack from behind the Hopkins net, thanks to the likes of Chase Lilly, who had 3 assists and a goal, and Zach Giugno, who finished with a slick goal and 5 assists. Junior Alex DiVincentis was an absolute beast, with a game high 8 goals, some from power, but others from some nifty finesse moves that faked the Hopkins defense right off of their hilltop. Jeff Nugent notched 4 goals and a pair of assists and fellow middie LJ Pezzolesi had 2 and 2. Sophomore Sam Tomak was one of a number of unsung heroes, providing a steady performance and a goal and an assist. Senior Charles Manger also got in the scorebook with a goal. Junior goalkeeper, Sam Jewett, rebounded with an excellent second half, making 13 saves in all. Freshman Grant Curtis also made 3 key stops to stuff the Hopkins attack in the fourth quarter as the Hornets turned what had been early drama into a very comfortable victory, essentially going from down 7-3, and responding with an 18 goal barrage.

  
  

  Despite the impressive final score, the Hornets certainly have their work cut out for them. On Monday they host a very tough foe in the Canterbury School of New Milford, and they will need to up their game with better movement, with and without the ball, if they wish to maintain their winning ways. Congratulations to the team and coaching staff on a terrific win. Hopefully the Hornets will see the Hop again later in the season.

   
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• Baseball Wins Two Game Homestand

  4/6/2019
  Bud Kohler
  Varsity Baseball got off to a solid start in league competition, defeating FAA foes Greens Farms Academy 10-3 on Tuesday and Rye Country Day 15-1 on Wednesday. The team rebounded with complete efforts after struggling in their non-league season openers the week before. Sophomore Danny Carbone went the distance against the Dragons on Tuesday and looked sharp while recording 12 strikeouts. The game was tight throughout the early frames, with the Hornets holding a 4-3 edge through four innings. But in the bottom of the fifth, the Hornets exploded for 6 more runs to which the Dragons had no response. Ryan Doherty had a two hits including a double. CJ Kuselias, Joe Liucci, Dennis Gamester and Billy Gioulis  had 2 RBIs and scored two runs apiece, while Carbone added two hits to help his own cause.

   
  The team figured to have a tougher time on Wednesday against a Rye program that has had the Hornets' number in recent seasons. However, senior ace Ryan Doherty tamed the Wildcats, giving up four hits and only the single run. Meanwhile, the offense did not waste any time getting at the visitors' pitching. The Hornets scored four in the 1st, added another in the 2nd, and then ran away with it with eight more in the 3rd before tacking on rwo more for good measure in the 4th. The offensive barrage came on fifteen hits, including three by Doherty. CJ Kuselias, Joe Liucci, Cameron Maldonato, and Billy Gioulos each stroked a double. Liucci, Gioulis, and Danny Carbone all had two RBIs, and Mike Coggins, Dennis Gamester, and Justin Lucibello scored 2 runs each.

  
  Week #2 ended with a rainout on Friday when they were scheduled to play a non-league game at Suffield Academy, so the Hornets' record now stands ar 2-2. The Hornets host Harvey School on Monday before traveling across town to face off against the Hop. 
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