Nate Barrett stretches to take the throw beating a Hamden runner during Staples’ 7-5 state tournament victory Tuesday. / Photos by Mark Sikorski
Jack Farnen had multiple hits in the Wreckers’ tourney win, including a monster shot off the outfield fence in the first inning.

By Andy Hutchison

HAMDEN — A four-run second inning carried the No. 19 Staples baseball team to a 7-5 win at No. 14 Hamden in the first round of the Class LL State Tournament on Tuesday.

With the win, the Wreckers will get at least one more home game this spring as No. 30 New Milford upset No. 3 Trumbull 2-1, and will visit Staples in the second round at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Against Hamden, Staples opened up a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning only to see the Dragons close to within 4-3 in the bottom half of the frame. 

Cooper Brundige scores a run against Hamden.

That was all Hamden would get until the last of the seventh as Staples chipped away to restore its four-run advantage.

Andrew Oppenheimer pitched six strong innings, allowing four hits and three runs.

Jack Farnen had two doubles among his three hits, including a monster shot off the fence, and drove in a run. Jules Cicero also collected three hits, including a double.

Nate Barrett had a double and drove in a run. Noah Saed drove in two runs and Max Jossen had an RBI.

Jake Goldshore walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored twice. Four Wreckers were hit by pitches with Oppenheimer plunked twice and Farnen also reaching via a hit by pitch.

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.

Staples pitcher Andrew Oppenheimer works out of a jam during playoff action Tuesday.

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