Shelton hasn't had much luck against East Haven recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Gaels will head out on the road to challenge the Yellowjackets at 4:00 p.m. One thing working in Shelton's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last four contests.
While Shelton didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-12), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They put the hurt on Sacred Heart Academy with a sharp 10-1 win on Wednesday. The Gaels might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven matches by nine runs or more this season.
Sammi Denihan spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on six hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Avery Wheeler was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Jeanise Serrano, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Shelton kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in four consecutive games.
Meanwhile, East Haven fell victim to Foran and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They came up short against the Lions, falling 10-0. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Yellowjackets have suffered against the Lions since April 8, 2015.
Shelton pushed their record up to 7-1 with the victory, which was their fourth straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for East Haven, their loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 3-1 and their overall record down to 5-3.
Shelton suffered a grim 8-2 defeat to East Haven when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Gaels avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
