Ludlowe Baseball 2022 In The Books

The 2022 Ludlowe baseball season came to an end on Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons fell to the Staples Wreckers 7-3 in the first round of the state tournament. 

This was a really great year and personally, a really fun year for me. Then again, every year around Ludlowe baseball is fun for me. 

Coach Ken Geriak did a terrific job in year one, leading us to a 12-8 record and a trip to the state playoffs. It was a pleasure being on his staff and I appreciate him keeping me on staff when he took over. 

I love this senior class. All 12 seniors are great young men with bright futures ahead. Kyle, Will, Andrew, Andrew, Mason, Sean, Tim, Leo, Tyler, Christian, Harry and Matt. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and leadership to our program. You guys cared about the program and wanted to both be successful personally, but more importantly, wanted to be successful as a team. You will be missed. 

10 of the 12 seniors

We started the season 5-0 and then 9-2 in April. We picked up our eighth win on April 27th with a 16-6 victory over St. Joe's to clinch a state tournament berth. 

The biggest win of the year, and I don't think it's debatable, was the May 9th 3-1 win against Warde with Matt Vivona picking up a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning. 

There were plenty of ups and downs throughout the second half of the season, and throughout the entire season. That's how any season will be. These kids dealt with any adversity thrown at them, missing players, life issues, in game things that didn't do their/our way. That's one of many things that made this a special group. 

I talk about the seniors above, but this team was special from the seniors through the freshmen, and everyone in between. These kids cared about one another, and it didn't matter that grade. 

While the seniors will be missed, I am excited for the future of the program. We have a lot of underclassman who played big roles or got a good amount of time this year which should bode well for the future. 

Best of luck to the seniors, and thank you. It's been fun. 

DeJa Vu

It was a good couple day for sports in Fairfield. On Wednesday, Ludlowe softball won the FCIAC softball championship. On Thursday, Warde baseball won the FCIAC baseball championship.

If those sentences sound familiar, it's because they are. Both Ludlowe softball and Warde baseball are now repeat league champs, having also won in 2021. 

Ludlowe softball defeated Danbury on Wednesday 2-0 behind an Ellie Gallagi two-run single in the sixth inning as well as strong pitching from Alex Lewey (5.1 innings) and Anna Gedacht (1.1 innings). Gallagi was named the game's MVP..

On Thursday, Warde baseball took an early lead against Westhill and never looked back, picking up a 4-1 victory. John Heitzman and Zach Broderick each delivered RBI singles. A bases loaded walk gave Warde another run and the Mustangs led 3-0 after one inning. 

That was all Broderick would need on the mound as he allowed one (unearned) run while throwing a complete game. Broderick would be named MVP for the second consecutive FCIAC Championship. 

Warde tacked on a fourth run on a Broderick sacrifice fly in the second inning. Westhill's run came in the sixth as a steal with runners at the corners led to the run. 

Congrats to both team on their championships. Great players who are also great kids. One Town. 

On a related note, Local Live is the official broadcaster of the FCIAC. They are supposed to be exclusive. Disappointing not to see them at softball at all and there only be a video stream and no broadcaster at baseball. 

Final: Ludlowe 2 Danbury 0. Falcons are FCIAC Champions. #ctsb pic.twitter.com/0VYEwyzPrw

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) May 25, 2022

Final: Warde 4 Westhill 1. Mustangs are FCIAC Champions! #ctbase pic.twitter.com/5TsrDSpkva

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) May 27, 2022

 

The 'One Town Classic'

The final score graphic from the Ludlowe Baseball social because I didn't take any photos

I probably should have written this on Monday night but it didn't happen so I am writing it now.   

Monday afternoon was the annual Ludlowe vs Warde baseball game.*

*Softball played as well with Ludlowe coming away with the 5-0 win, but I was at the baseball game as a coach for Ludlowe, so that is the one I will discuss. 

The game took place at Fairfield University's Alumni Diamond as both teams decided to play the game there. Thank you to Fairfield University for opening your field for us. Hopefully this is something we can continue in the future. 

Warde came into the game with a record of 13-1, 8-1 in the FCIAC. The Mustangs were ranked number two in the GameTime CT state poll. Ludlowe held a record of 9-4, 5-4 in the league. 

The game was a terrific one, with Ludlowe coming out on top 3-1. 

Warde took a 1-0 lead in the the third as John Heitzman scored from third on a wild pitch. The game would remain that way until the sixth as Warde's Zach Broderick and Ludlowe's Kyle Carozza were dealing. Carozza gave way to Harry Tavella in the fifth and Tavella kept up the strong pitching. 

In the sixth, Ludlowe loaded the bases with two outs. Leo Randazzo reached on an error to lead off the inning and Sean McAdams reached on a bunt single. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Matt Vivona drove a ball over the glove of the outstretched Warde outfielder to clear the bases and give Ludlowe a 3-1 lead. Tavella shut the door and Ludlowe came away with the victory. 

It was a great atmosphere as their were people from both schools and just the town in general. I know there were other people who wanted to be there but it's tough with so many other sports going on and the fact that the game was at 4pm on a Monday. 

The town needed this game, as it was a couple week stretch of some tough times for many people in the town/associated with sports in the town. 

So many people who were instrumental in making the game happen and making it special for the players, and at the end of the day, that's who it's about. The athletes. 

Thank you to Art Cockerham for your work on the music, PA and scoreboard. Thank you to Rob Adams for broadcasting the game so that those who could not make the game could follow along. It's also a memory for many people to have that call and go back and listen to it, days, weeks and years later (present company included!). 

Rob jokingly was calling the game the "One Town Classic" because of my role at both schools. Love it! 

You can hear Rob's broadcast here. 

It's one game on the schedule on 20 regular season games, and that's all it counts for in the standings. That's how I feel as a coach. 

As someone who loves this town, sports and baseball in this town, it means so much more. We have great baseball in this town, from Little League on up, and it's awesome for everyone to come together and put on a display for the town. #OneTown 

Best of luck to both teams as the regular season winds down. Maybe the teams meet again in the FCIAC tournament. That would be.....something. 

I love this game and I hate this game, for personal reasons. But it's great for the town. And great for the student-athletes. And that's what it's about. The athletes