2019 Ludlowe Baseball -30-

The seniors and coaches at Senior Day 

The 2019 Ludlowe baseball season came to an end with a state quarterfinal loss to Southington.

I had an absolute blast in my first year on the coaching staff. I know I continued to be around after gradating, but it was definitely different this year being on staff. I can't thank Coach Francese enough for bringing me on staff. I hope I was helpful.

This is not about me though in the least. I have already said too much in that regard. It was a great job by our collective coaching staff, which was up to 10 people at times. It's not even about that though. It's about our players, who ranged from 24-31 during the regular and postseason, and the 15 seniors who put their heart into this program for the last four years.

While we didn't win anything, it was a great season, It wasn't a "season for the ages", though, as some people have said. We finished the regular season at 16-4, the best regular season record in school history. We also tied the record for most overall wins in a season, with 20. 

We had a fantastic start to the season, winning our first eight, including three in traditional walk-off fashion and one on a mercy rule walk-off. The biggest win of the regular season, in my opinion, came when we defeated Staples 14-0. That being said, there were a bunch a great wins.

We were the two seed in the FCIAC tournament. We opened up the conference tourney by facing cross-town rival Warde, who had beat us 8-0 a week prior in the regular season match-up. We had to come from behind in both the seventh and the ninth but came away with an exciting 5-4 win on a walk-off wild pitch.

A great semifinal win over Darien lifted us to the FCIAC Championship against Staples. It was the first FCIAC Championship appearance since the 2010 team took home the title. We came up one out short as Staples came up with two runs in the seventh to win the title, 2-1.

We faced Warde for a third time to open up the Class LL State Tournament. The offense started fast, scoring four runs in the first en route to a 7-2 win. In the second round we faced Simsbury and it was the same story, as we won 8-2.

Against Southington, we got down 3-0 early, but the guys kept battling as they cut it to 3-2 and had a chance in the seventh.

This has been a team all season that kept continuing to fight until the last out and I love the resilience they showed. You guys played for each other and the name on the front of the jersey.

To the fifteen seniors: Derek, Vince, Chris, Brian, BK, Greg, Tom, Jack, James, Matt, Ryan, Liam, Jake, Jeff and Trey - Congrats on great careers and a fanatic senior season. Thank you for being great teammates and leaders and best of luck in the future.

To those coming up through the ranks and those returning from this seasons team, there is a bright future and be hungry to continue what has been built.

Long live Ludlowe Base 2019 (Apparently it will go back to being Ludlowe Baseball going forward and Ludlowe Base leaves with the seniors). Can't wait for Ludlowe Baseball 2020. But for now, thank you seniors!

Falcon Pride!

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