Connetquot Central School District

BASEBALL: The CHS varsity baseball team recently welcomed the baseball teams from OBMS and RMS to play at the varsity field on Saturday, June 5 for the “Middle School Baseball Challenge.” At the end of the game, the teams lined up and acknowledged their future teammates. On June 8, the CHS varsity baseball team team earned an impressive 6-1 win against Copiague. The T-Birds got off to a quick start against Copiague, scoring two runs in the first inning. Connetquot earned the win by a score of 6-1, improving its overall record to 11-3 in Suffolk league II. Freshman Ryan Kiendle earned the win, while senior Liam Doyle pitched three innings for the save. Prior to the game, coach Rob Burger honored the following graduating Ryan Appell, Mike DiFilippo, Liam Doyle, James Goff, Sean Mileti and Nick Ricci.

The JV baseball season came to an end with a 12-1 win over visiting Smithtown East High School and the team finished with an outstanding record of 14-2.

BADMINTON: Congratulations to Gabrielle Rowe and Katelin Garrone on finishing 4th in the Suffolk County badminton doubles tournament. They are the first All-County players for the badminton program.

LACROSSE: On June 4, the CHS varsity boys’ lacrosse team played at home against Ward Melville HS. Connetquot got off to a quick 4-0 lead in the first period, and Melville came back to narrow that deficit to 5-4, and then lightning appeared, causing the game to be called. On June 5, Ward Melville returned to play the second half of the game, down one goal. The visitors scored the first three goals of the second half to a 7-5 lead. Connetquot lacrosse coach Brett Jefferes pulled his team together for the fourth and final period in which they outscored Melville 4-2 to tie the score (9-9) late in the final period. In the final second of the game, Connetquot’s Brayden Stellwagen scored the winning goal, assisted by Tyler McCarthy for the lead, and the 10-9 win. Brian Zicchini scored four goals, James Engley and Stellwagen scored two apiece while Tyler Moore and Tyler McCarthy added one each. Shaun Hill went 18-22 on faceoffs. Connetquot improves to 11-3 in Suffolk Division I, and has been seeded #7 for the Suffolk County playoff tournament. The T-Birds begin their pursuit of the championship with a first round game on Tuesday, June 8th with an opponent to be determined.

The Connetquot’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team won against Middle Country on June 9 by a score of 10-8, advancing them to the next round of the Suffolk County Championships. In truly competitive-level championship play, The T-Birds took the 6-3 lead into the half. The visitors would not be denied though, and came back in the second half to score 5 goals on their own.

SOFTBALL: CHS girls’ varsity softball celebrated the following graduating seniors prior to their league game with Riverhead on June 7: Sydney Gabay, Julia Kurzrock, Julianna Levanti and Jordan Cole. Capping off the special day for the seniors, the team then earned an impressive come-from-behind win, outscoring the visitors by a score of 5-4. The T-Birds scored four runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to earn a 5-4 win, improving its record to 8-6. Kaylee Coburn hit a two-run homer in the 7th inning to take the lead and the win. Julianna Levanti had two hits and two RBIs. Isabella Andres pitched in relief and earned the win.

On June 9, the team improved its record to 10-6 with an exciting 5-4 win over visiting Northport. Paige Dreyfus had two hits including a two-run homer for the latest league II win. Ariana Palminteri had two hits and two RBIs. Jordan Cole recorded the win, and Isabella Andres pitched the last three innings and earned the save. The Connetquot T-Birds have advanced to the first round of the Suffolk County championships, playing at Smithtown East, on Friday, June 11th.

TENNIS: Connetquot freshman Greg Baldinucci won the Suffolk County Division II Singles Championship on June 7. “Greg won 5 matches in a three-day period without dropping a set,” according to coach Cavanagh. Baldinucci will be competing in the Suffolk County Championship tournament on June 10, with a chance to earn All New York State honors. Greg is the fourth player to win the singles title in the Connetquot school history, one of whom was his older brother Ciro who won in in 2016.

Congratulating College Athletes

The 36 Connetquot High School student-athletes who have committed to pursuing athletics at the collegiate level were recently recognized during a ceremony at the school. With parents and coaches in attendance, each student-athlete was honored individually for their accomplishments both in and out of sports. Peter Melore, district director of physical education, health, athletics and recreation, also reminded the students that they are an inspiration to the district’s younger students and have been a great source of pride for the coaches, the community and their families.

Connetquot Central School District congratulates the following student-athletes:

Division I

• Katherine Cuozzo - lacrosse, University of Massachusetts
• Morgan Elliott - soccer, Stony Brook University
• Kayla Hansen - cheerleading, Hofstra University
• Katie Hickey - volleyball, Stony Brook University
• Nicolette Pasquarella - soccer, Stony Brook University
• Anna Thornton - lacrosse, Arizona State University

Division II

• Ryan Appell - baseball, St. Thomas Aquinas College
• Oliva Blas - track, Seton Hill University
• Kevin Campbell - track, St. Thomas Aquinas College
• Micah Cooper - track, Holy Family University
• Erin McLoughlin - lacrosse, University of Tampa
• Sean Mileti - baseball, Molloy College
• Sarah Moussa - gymnastics, Southern Connecticut State University
• Angelica Polcini, bowling, Roberts Wesleyan College
• Benjamin Taylor, lacrosse, Caldwell University

Division III

• Matthew Brennan - baseball, SUNY Canton
• Jordan Cole – softball, SUNY Herkimer College
• Matthew Coleman - lacrosse, SUNY Geneseo
• Isabella Cottone - track, SUNY Geneseo
• Mike DiFilippo - baseball, St. Joseph’s College
• Liam Doyle - baseball, Russell Sage College
• Jenna Drapala - swimming, SUNY Geneseo
• James Engley - lacrosse, Farmingdale State College
• Christian Figalora - track, Marywood University
• Sydney Gabay - softball, Johnson & Wales University
• Tyler Goldofski - track, Alfred State University
• Brett Harvey - wrestling, SUNY Cortland
• William Immel - football, Utica College
• Amelia Laible - swimming, Utica College
• Michael Monahan - lacrosse, SUNY Maritime College
• Nicholas Rizzuto, lacrosse, Farmingdale State College
• Anna Stahurski, swimming, SUNY Cortland
• Grace Wichelns, lacrosse, SUNY New Paltz
• Kylie Wixted, volleyball, Springfield College
• Tyler Youmans, football, Endicott College
• Julia Kurzrock, softball, University of Toronto