Baseball team starts season with two victories

The Sparta High School baseball team flexed its offensive muscle and also received two dominant pitching performances to highlight two victories as the 2023 spring season commenced last week.

On April 3, Evan Saulys hurled a six-inning one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and two walks. He also singled, walked three times and scored twice to power a 10-0 six-inning decision over Morris Hills in Sparta.

Josh Brancy (3-for-3, three runs), Jake Hand (2-for-3, double, three RBI, run), Braden Schappert (2-for-3, two walks, three RBI, run) and Matthew Maresca (2-for-2, double, two RBI, two runs) added to Sparta’s 11-hit output.

Against Passaic on the road April 6, Brancy went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and three runs. Schappert added three singles an RBI and a run and Liam Gallagher was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs to help fuel Sparta’s 16-0, five-inning victory.

Spartan starter Tyler Cox struck out three, walked two and allowed just two hits in five innings.

Sparta (2-0) was scheduled to play host to Mendham at 4 p.m. Friday, April 14 before hosting Lenape Valley at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15.

Here’s a look at how the other Sparta sports teams fared last week:

Softball

After a season-opening loss at Morris Knolls, the Spartans posted two straight shutout wins to close out the first week of the season.

Mason Munier (3-for-5, double, home run, RBI, three runs), Rylee Munier (2-for-2, home run, two walks, two RBI and three runs), Gabrielle Heim (3-for-5, three RBI, run), Kathryn Sutton (2-for-5, double) and Abigail Connors (2-for-4, two runs) paced a 12-0 victory over West Essex on April 6 in North Caldwell.

Heim also pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk in earning the win in the circle.

The next day, the Spartans traveled to Morris County, where they earned a 6-0 decision over Mount Olive.

Grace Conrad tossed a four-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and no walks, Heim went 3-for-4 with a run and Mason Munier added a solo home run to steer the victory.

Sparta was scheduled to play at Pope John at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 18.

Boys lacrosse

After splitting its first two contests, Sparta posted a 10-7 victory over Kittatinny on the road Saturday, April 8.

Ryan Rossi totaled four goals, two assists and four ground balls, Hunter Takacs added three goals and Adam Texiera had 10 ground balls and won 9-of-14 face-offs as the Spartans improved to 2-1.

Rossi had three goals and three assists; Jeremy Schon added a goal and two assists; Takacs had two goals and an assist; Kurtis Cina totaled a goal, an assist and three ground balls; Adam Texiera won 8-of-12 face-offs and had six ground balls; and Joe Buono made 16 saves as Sparta defeated Vernon, 10-3, on April 5 in Sparta.

Sparta (2-1) was scheduled to play host to Blair at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15.

Girls lacrosse

The Spartans were a perfect 3-0 in their opening week, led by Uma Kowalski, who totaled 17 goals, two assists, 16 ground balls, 15 draw controls and 11 forced turnovers in wins over Mahwah (15-6 on April 3), Kittatinny (13-11 on April 5) and Kinnelon (10-8 on April 8).

Leah Moore (eight goals, two assists), Aine Byrne (six goals, eight assists) and Jordyn Kelly (three goals) contributed to the three victories.

Sparta was scheduled to play at Randolph at 6 p.m. Thursday, April before playing host to Pope John at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15.