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