Fairfield Champions

Note: I started writing this post on Saturday afternoon with plans to finish it Saturday night. Got back too late, so I'm finishing Sunday morning. 

This weekend is spring sports state championship weekend around Connecticut. 

Warde baseball and Ludlowe softball were both playing in championship games on Saturday. 

Warde was playing Staples at Palmer Field in Middletown, while Ludlowe played Southington at UConn. 

I went to the softball game, but not baseball. I should have gone to both, but for numerous reasons, did not. 

I did however, follow intently on Twitter. Thanks to Scott Ericson of GameTimeCT and Dave Ruden of The Ruden Report for the updates. 

Warde defeated Staples 2-1 in 10 innings in a classic game. The game-winning hit came from senior starting pitcher Griffin Polley, who threw a terrific game to finish off a great season. Polley was named Championship game MVP. 

The Mustangs are now back-to-back Class LL State Champions to go along with three FCIAC Championships in a row. 

On the softball side, Ludlowe defeated Southington 5-2 to capture the school's first softball title. 

The last out and the celebration as Ludlowe softball won the Class LL State Championship #ctsb pic.twitter.com/UgbVw1pldS

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) June 11, 2023

The loss for Southington snapped a 40-game win streak. 

Chelsea Villar was named Championship game MVP for the Falcons, who got the job done with small ball, defense and great pitching. 

Of Ludlowe's five runs, four came off squeeze bunts. 

On the mound for the Falcons Alex Lewey was dealing, allowing just one hit through the first four innings. 

In the fifth, she ran into some trouble. Southington homered to get on the board and then loaded the bases with nobody out. Anna Gedact came in in relief and got out of the inning, allowing just one more run to score and preserving a 4-2 Ludlowe lead. 

Gedacht would shut Southington down the rest of the way. 

Ludlowe got an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Villar doubled to lead off the inning, Later in the inning, with Villar now at third, Katie Tournas laid down a squeeze bunt to push Villar across the plate. 

This was the third time Ludlowe and Southington had met in the last three years late in the postseason and the second time in the championship. The third time was indeed the charm for the Falcons. 

It was a great day for Fairfield public school sports, with both Warde and Ludlowe picking up the championships. 

This concludes not only the spring sports season, but the 2022-2023 sports year for high school sports. 

As with every season, lots of great moments and many tough moments as well, But there's no better way to end a year than with championships, and Warde and Ludlowe did that. 

Long Saturday Of Baseball

I always think, when the Ludlowe baseball season ends, my games will slow down. Most of the time, I'm wrong. I'm just at games in different capacities. 

Today, I was at two baseball games. 

First, I was at Warde as the Mustangs hosted Southington in the Class LL quarterfinals. It was a terrific baseball game, with Warde coming up with the 2-1 win on a base hit by freshman Jimmy Dobbs. 

Southington took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and the game remained that way until the sixth. 

Warde tied the game on a home run by Garrett Larsen in the sixth. The Southington left-fielder attempted to "rob" the homerun and went over the mesh fence. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the home run, whether it was a home run, a catch, or a ground rule double. It was controversial in terms of the umpires had to discuss it and both coaches had to get explanations. I'll be honest, from where I was standing, I couldn't see the play, so It wouldn't be fair for me to give an opinion. I've seen pictures but it's different in real time.

The game then remained tied until the bottom of the inning. Aidan Dowd reached on a leadoff walk. He moved to second on a bunt and third on a flyout. That left it up to Dobbs to be the hero. 

Jimmy Dobbs walk-off single. Warde 2 Southington 1. Mustangs advance to Class LL semifinals #ctbase @GameTimeCT pic.twitter.com/JNQYOWTzkQ

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) June 3, 2023

Warde will face Newington on Tuesday in the Class LL Semifinals. The time and location are to be determined.  

So after Warde it was over to Seaside Park for the Bridgeport Barnums of the Connecticut College Baseball League and the Danbury Westerners of the New England College Baseball League in a scrimmage. 

I am doing some social media/writing for the Barnums this summer. Lots of great players and coaches who are part of the team. Plenty of former Ludlowe and Warde players, among others. Today's scrimmage did not go in Bridgeport's favor, but it's just a scrimmage and early in a long season. 

More baseball tomorrow and during the week. Plus other work-related events. 

It's never boring. And that's a great thing.