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The New Canaan Fury U12 baseball team finished third out of 17 teams in a Memorial Day Shootout Tournament in North Branford.

The Fury defeated the Technique Tigers 3-2 in their first game. Mikey Pelli pitched four solid innings and Robby Jones closed the door with two innings of relief for the save.

In their second game, the Fury lost 6-4 to Pro Swing Pride.

In the first game of the playoff round, the Fury ran into the Technique Tigers again and beat them 7-5. Matt Burger had a double and a triple. Zach Lopez pitched four strong innings while allowing two runs with five strikeouts. Jones closed the door in the sixth for the save with three strikeouts.

In the next playoff game, the Fury beat the CT Outlaws 11-9. The Fury trailed 9-4 in the top of the sixth inning but scored seven runs with two outs to win the game. Kyle DeMayo led off the inning with a single, Justin Greco walked and Dillon Abate singled with one out to load the bases. After another out, Jones hit a monster triple to clear the bases. Matty Evans doubled to make the score 9-8. Justin Stemerman got a base hit to tie the score at 9-9. Lopez then singled to knock in two runs to give the Fury an 11-9 lead. JD Sparks pitched the final three innings, allowing only one run to get the win.

In the semifinal game, New Canaan lost 6-4 to the Bellport Braves. Trevor Donnelly and Evans each hit a double. Jones had a double and a triple. The Fury capped a very successful season by finishing 7-7 in tournament play against some of the best competition in the northeast.

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From left, Darien’s own Ophelie Tousignant, Jennifer O’Neill, Hannah Vogel, Katie Greco, Camilla Kline, Emily Roney and Alice Chidley were a large part of the New Canaan YMCA’s Aquinas synchronized swim team’s success in recently qualifying for the National Championships to be held in June at Miami University in Ohio. Other Darien residents participating but not pictured were Katie Chidley, Emma Greco, Larsen Klein, Julia Tong, and Finley and Eliza Wetmore.

The New Canaan YMCA Aquianas synchronized swim team qualified 48 athletes for the upcoming Age Group Nationals at the recently completed Regional Championship held May 19-20 in Schenectady, NY to include numerous Darien residents. Age Group Nationals will be held June 22-30 at Miami University in Ohio.
The Aquianas started the competition off strong with the 10 & Under Intermediates. In the team event, Darien’s Emma Greco was a member of the winning team and also took second in trio.
The 11/12 Intermediate trio that took first place included Darien’s Rory Washecka. She was also a member of the second place 13 & Under Intermediate Team. Although the intermediates do not move on to nationals, they will compete in the upcoming Zone Championship in Buffalo.
The Aquianas continued to show high scores with the 11/12 Age Group teams. First place included Darien teammates Katie Chidley and Eliza Wetmore who were followed closely by a second place finish in team with Darien’s Larsen Klein and Julia Tong participating. In the trio event, gold went to the team that included Chidley and Wetmore. Chidley’s duet placed first, while Wetmore’s took second.
The 13/15 Age Group teams kept pace, with first place going to the team that included Darien teammates Alice Chidley, Hannah Vogel and Camilla Kline and second place going to the team that included Darien’s Katherine Greco.

In the trio event, gold also went to Chidley and Vogel’s trio and silver went to Kline along with Darienite Ophelie Tousignant. Second place in duet went to Chidley as well.
The 16/17 Age Group Team followed suit with Darien’s own Emily Roney and Jennifer O’Neill bringing home the gold. Soloist Roney earned gold as well.

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Registration is open for the 2012 Connecticut Challenge, and in its efforts to have participation from every community in the state, organizers are inviting New Canaan and Darien residents to ride. The Connecticut Challenge is a charity bike ride that helps hospitals around the state to create special programs for cancer survivors.

The Connecticut Challenge is also seeking volunteers to help with the eighth annual event on Saturday, July 28 in Westport. More than 1,000 cyclists from across Connecticut are expected to ride in the event and volunteers are needed to help in all areas.

Anyone interested in riding, putting a team of riders together or volunteering for the Connecticut Challenge is encouraged to visit the event website at http://bike.ctchallenge.org.

Proceeds from the ride support a growing statewide network of hospitals that have cancer survivorship programs. By screening for long-term health and psychosocial effects from the disease and treatments, the goal of these programs is to educate and empower survivors to take back control of their lives from cancer and improve their quality of life.

The Connecticut Challenge, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, founded in 2005, that creates and supports unique survivorship programs and research to empower cancer survivors to live healthier, happier, longer lives. More than $6 million has been raised to benefit programs for cancer survivors. The annual CT Challenge Bike Ride is the primary fundraiser for the CT challenge and takes place this year on July 28 in Westport. Learn more at www.ctchallenge.com.

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The New Canaan U12 boys soccer team got back to its winning ways with a pulsating 6-5 victory over Ridgefield on Sunday.

Early on, Ridgefield piled on the pressure and was eventually rewarded with a goal. The early deficit seemed to wake New Canaan up and three goals in quick succession put the Reds in control. Nathaniel Bozzella scored twice and Thomas Richardson scored the other goal after good set up play by Mead Savage and Nicholas Toldalagi.

By halftime, Ridgefield took a 4-3 lead with three goals of its own.

New Canaan stepped up its game in the second half and dominated for large parts of it and was rewarded with three stunning goals to give the Reds a 6-4 advantage. The goals came from Cole Kammerer, Mead Savage and Alex Zarikos.

The game looked to be over, but Ridgefield cut New Canaan’s lead to one and had several close chances, but New Canaan hung on for a well-deserved victory.

It was a high scoring game, but the New Canaan defense performed well with some great play by Dylan Healey, Grant Carlson, Tom Freiberg, Quinn Murphy and Charlie Burns.

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The New Canaan U14 girls red team continued its good run of play and moved into second place with its third straight win, a come-from-behind 3-2 home victory over Fairfield on Sunday.

New Canaan’s Emily Walshin opened the scoring on a nice one-on-one finish around the keeper after New Canaan had just missed on some other scoring opportunities. Lili Ferguson, Kylie Murphy, Erin Williams, Josephine Hardman and Jordan Smith all provided good passes, shots and possession, but two later goals had Fairfield ahead at the break.

New Canaan came back strong in the second half, keeping the pressure squarely on the Fairfield defense. Sophie Salomon, Taylor Corbett, Julianne Reilly and Rachel Beyer all led a strong defensive effort by keeping the ball on Fairfield’s side of the field.

Murphy tied the game on a great through ball from Smith. Ferguson put on a ball-handling clinic and scored on a solo effort for the win.

Goalkeeping duties were provided by Jane Isherwood in the first half and Sally Clayton, Lindsay Miller and Murphy in the second half.

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New Canaan goalie Lucy Coutts makes a save during her team's 3-0 win over Westport.

The New Canaan U11 Girls Red Team brought their mothers a nice Mother’s Day gift on Sunday when they pounced on the Westport White team at Wakeman Field in Westport by controlling the ball for most of the game and bringing home a 3-0 win.

New Canaan’s defense was led by Katelyn Sparks, Meghan Kloud and Olivia Cosco, who were all key in helping New Canaan win via shutout.

Ryan Mushkin had a breakaway goal to give New Canaan a 1-0 lead. Goalie Lucy Coutts had three great saves to preserve New Canaan’s lead going into halftime.

In the second half, Kayla Beck, Abby Carstensen and Jessie Dolby continued dribbling around Westport’s defense, allowing Claire Ross to run up the field and center the ball to Jessie Dolby. Dolby passed to Mushkin for her second goal to make it 2-0.

New Canaan goalie Lauren Bisceglia made several great saves.

Joelle Anselmo anchored the defense, keeping pressure on Westport strikers and helping New Canaan’s KK Marcus score another to close out the scoring at 3-0.

New Canaan's Claire Ross makes a pass during her team's 3-0 win over Westport.

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The Darien Y gymnastics team stretches during the warm-up session before the start of the 2012 YMCA Regional Championships in Glen Falls, NY. Photo by Reina McCuskey.

It was an outstanding weekend for the Darien Y Gymnastics team at the YMCA Regional Championships in Glen Falls, NY. The travel and house teams combined for first place showings in five out of seven levels in a competition that drew over 30 YMCA gymnastics teams.

One of the team’s youngest gymnasts, 8-year-old Christina Pizzani, placed first overall among the Level 4 competitors, with a 37.5 all-around score. Teammates Elizabeth Canelli and Tam Hao Ngyuyen both placed 12th.

Nine-year old Katie Asness finished third, while Juliana Jordao placed sixth and Montana Osinski captured 12th with an 8.85 on floor.

Within the 10-year-old age group, Hannah Knight took fifth place. Other contributors included Kerry McDermott, Alexa Carrero, Emma Williams and Emma Koerner.

Eleven-year-old Sophia Font and Lily Fairleigh finished in the top ten on vault, scoring 9.025 and 8.85, respectively.

Twelve-year old Sophia Blue finished first on floor, while Caroline Kiesling finished 14th on beam.

Over 23 Level 5 gymnasts from the Darien Y qualified for the meet. Nine-year old Octavia Molkenthin placed fourth overall. Lana Schmidt scored a 9.1 on floor for eighth and Tess Keating scored an 8.9 on vault for fifth.

Ten-year old Annsley Martin, Ginna Cardini, Kaitlyn Moussignac and Emma Hunter took second, third, sixth, and eighth, respectively, in the all-around competition. Other contributors included Tiffany Chan, Lucy Holzinger, Mackenzie Biele, and Dorothy Browning.

Elana Savas finished first overall among the 11-year-olds, including a notable 9.65 on floor. Teammates Wren Stewart and Natalie Bravo finished fifth and eighth, respectively.

Twelve-year old Emma Hinton’s sixth place in the all-around competition included a notable 9.55 on beam. Other 12-year old contributors included Jennie Spellman, Meredith McCuskey, Caitlin Spellman, Laura Germishuys, Lydia Groves and Toni Cardini.

Sisters Fiona Brock and Aisling Brock took the top two spots within the 13-year-old age group, while Sarah Brindisi placed ninth.

Level 6 gymnasts Kellie Arevalo and Kelsey Fedorko completed the competition with the team’s highest overall scores of 38.025 and 37.850, respectively. Quin Wolters and Isabel Hansen, also age 11, contributed with fourth and fifth place finishes overall. Teammate Tierney Schiff scored an impressive 9.35 on beam.

Nicole Carlo finished at the top of her 10-year-old age group, placing first on every apparatus, and scoring an outstanding 9.675 on floor.

Charlotte Henry finished second among the 13-year olds, scoring a 9.3 on vault.

Kajsa Lundeen and Courtney Duker finished first and seventh overall in the 15-18 Intermediate Prep division.

Ellie Lufkin and Julia Murray finished fourth and seventh overall in the 13-14-year-old competition. Halie Metz and Emily Medwid finished in the top ten on bars.

Samantha Gunn led the Level 7 gymnasts with third place overall within the 15-year old age group, while Perri Mirabile and Lauren Chung contributed sixth and seventh places, respectively, among the 14 year-old age group.

Level 8 gymnasts Adnerys DeJesus, Christina Crowell and Jessica Freiheit swept the competition with first, second, and third place finishes overall in the 9-13 year old age group.

Alissa Chan placed first on beam, while teammate Samantha Karpenos finished eighth on bars in the 14-15 year old age group.

In the 16-18 age group, Hayley Holzinger won first on vault, and Lauren Medwid took second on beam and floor.

Within the 14-16 year old age group at Level 9, Perry Kindel finished first on vault and floor, while Stephanie Klokiw placed first overall, scoring 34.175.

Due to conflicts, injury and illness, the Darien Y gymnastics team missed several standout gymnasts during the competition, including Samantha Aparicio, Christina Brandt, Samantha D’Andrea, Maeve DeGulis, Charlotte Frank, Kelly Houston, Stella Kamensky, Elise Mercein, Mary Pat Murtagh, Alexandra Nason, Katherine Mosher, Jane Ogden and Kate Wolters.

Gymnastics Director John Schwartz was impressed with the team’s efforts.

“Darien Y had a fantastic showing at Regionals,” Schwartz said. “Once again we showed the thirty-plus teams that we have a top-rate program with amazing gymnasts. Along with the many, great individual performances, we were quite successful in the team category, capturing first place in five out of seven levels.”

Both the travel and house teams will compete at the YMCA National Championships in Milwaukee, WI at the end of June.

Darien coach Erin Hunter spots Meredith McCuskey on the vault during the warm-up session before the start of the 2012 YMCA Regional Championships in Glen Falls, NY. Photo by Reina McCuskey.

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The New Canaan girls tennis team went on the road to score a 5-2 victory over Fairfield Ludlowe on Friday to give the Rams their ninth consecutive victory.

In perhaps the most competitive match of the day, New Canaan’s top singles player Courtney Gallagher picked up a three-set win over Lindsey Evans, defeating her Ludlowe counterpart 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4. At second singles, New Canaan’s Jensen Lee defeated Daria Efimov 6-2, 6-4. Ludlowe’s only singles win occurred when its No. 3 player Cami Adajian scored a 6-1, 6-2 victory over New Canaan’s Emily Brand. At fourth singles, New Canaan’s Kate Howard notched a 6-2, 6-4 win over Erica Elmslie.

New Canaan’s top doubles tandem of Sara Greene and Kristen Laub defeated Ludlowe’s Page McCormick and Liz Walvogel 6-2, 6-2. The Rams also won second doubles when Amanda Merjian and Phoebe Wilks got past Morgan Hilliker and Ellen Kovaleski by a 7-6 (4), 6-3 margin. At third doubles, Fairfield Ludlowe’s pairing of Meghan Daley and Molly Boyd defeated Tyler Kendall and Sarah Lovejoy by winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.