Fairfield Rivalry Basketball

Sacred Heart vs Fairfield University Men's Basketball

This blog post is not completely what you think it is about by reading the headline. Maybe you figured that out by the photo. 

Yes, we will talk about Ludlowe vs Warde basketball from Friday night. 

However, first we go back to Thursday when Sacred Heart hosted Fairfield University in men's basketball at the William H. Pitt Center on the SHU campus. 

The Pitt Center was renovated prior to the 2024-2025 season. We know I do not like change, and I enjoy nostalgia, but it was cool to see the new arena. Different than the old one, but very nice. 

There were also plenty of Town of Fairfield people there, including Triple Double Basketball, who played at halftime. There were fans of both schools, and students from both Universities at well. It felt like a community event and that's what a town rivalry game, even at the college level, should be. 

Fairfield came away with a 92-87 victory. The Stags had a double-digit lead, but the Pioneers cut into the deficit late in the fourth quarter, but could never get the game tied, or take the lead. 

The game getting completive made for a fun atmosphere. I see a lot of basketball, but mostly at the high school level. It was fun to watch some good local college basketball. 

You can read Chase Coburn's recap of the game here. 

Now we get to Friday. 

The annual Ludlowe vs Warde basketball doubleheader took place at Ludlowe High School. 

The girls' game was first up. Warde came away with a 50-38 victory. Sofia Hardiman led the Mustangs with 13 points. Ivy and Ava Feay had 10 points apiece for Warde as well. (H/T to @WardeGBB on X for the stats.)

Ludlowe and Warde girls' basketball action. 

The boys' game was back and forth and close throughout with Ludlowe coming away with a 60-57 victory. The Falcons were led by 25 points from Carlo Noecker and 13 points from Lorenzo Stabilini. Warde was led by Ryan Tully's 25 points. 

The doubleheader was used as Coaches vs Cancer games to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Players wear Coaches vs Cancer T-Shirts, players and coaches get donations and fill out Coaches vs Cancer cards in honor of who they are playing for. Additionally, funds were raised though other activities during the games. 

It's an important cause that I am happy we recognize and support. 

It was another wild, fun night. In fact, two fun nights of basketball. 

**This blog post, and this blog, is my personal blog and does not represent my job in the Fairfield Schools Athletic Department and do not represent anyone other than myself. 

Support the Bridgeport Barnums!

Barnums 2024 Championship (Barnums Media/Contributed Photo)

As many of you know, as I've written about it here and on social media, I have been doing some summer media work for the Bridgeport Barnums of the Connecticut College Baseball League the last few summers. 

I handle their scorekeeping via the GameChanger scorekeeping app, and I write game recaps on another Blogger website. 

In doing both of these things, I am promoting the league, team and the players. 

What I am getting at is, we need sponsors to allow us to keep doing what we are doing. We want to provide the best coverage we can, but there is a business aspect to it. 

We would also love to be able to expand the coverage we provide. We have ideas but those ideas cost money to execute, for staffing and equipment. 

It's also about so much more than what we do from a media perspective. It's about the business operations of running a baseball program, holding community events

If you are interested in sponsoring the blog or the GameChanger (the work I do), or the Bridgeport Barnums baseball program in general, please reach out. 

SPONSOR LETTER

You can reach me on Twitter and Instagram @ShawnSailer or via email at sailer0416@gmail.com and I can send you further information and/or put you in contact with the correct people in the organization. 

Fairfield and Trumbull and Greenwich (and more), Oh My

Trumbull/Waterford Babe Ruth Baseball 2023 

People ask why I post about other towns and people when I'm such a Fairfield person. 

Sure, that's my home base and where I spend most of my time. That said, I root for and support good people. Whether that's people in Fairfield (Ludlowe or Warde, or other groups, youth, etc.) Greenwich, Trumbull, Newtown or Waterford just to name a few. There are others. 

These friendships develop in large part because of sports but go beyond that. I'll support these people always. It's about supporting them in life. And for life. 

It's work, coaching, working games, and covering games where these friendships happen. You meet so many people doing what we do. 

I'm not going to name names, because I'll probably leave people out, but those who I'm talking about know.  

That's why I talk about my Trumbull guys, or my Waterford guys, for example, or post about things from some of these towns and people who play sports in these towns. 

Even with the Fairfield and Ludlowe guys. It's not because of their school/town affiliation. It's just how I get to know them. The relationships go way beyond that. 

In addition, I am more involved with certain sports and programs. That doesn't mean if you aren't a part of that program, I don't care. In fact, in some ways, I can be more supportive of certain people if they aren't involved directly in a program I am involved in. 

There's also the case where I get to know people because of a sport they are involved in, then they are no longer involved in that program, but I am still always there to support, in whatever their endeavors are. 

There are also cases where I get to know people because of one sport but get to watch them in other sports also. 

It's more than just the student-athletes/young people. It's coaches, teachers, staff, parents, and other friends. It's more than just school involved people. It's "media friends" who are so much more than that. And many others. 

And most importantly, family, and those who are close like family. 

It's people in life. The above are just the people I deal with often. 

It's about supporting good people, in good times and bad. And just in everyday life. 

It's about being there for them. Even if that's just being if they need to talk or giving them words of encouragement. 

Being there for them in person and being accessible for them to reach out to online. It's showing that you are acknowledging them and that you care about what they are going through or what they are saying. 

In some cases, it's people we may not see often, but follow-on social media. It's wishing them good luck and congratulations and just following what they do in life. 

It's also about not cherry-picking who you support. Especially when you support an industry or a brand. You should be inclusive, not exclusive. 

Overall, where people are from doesn't really matter. Character of the people do. 

Support good people. 

Just Remembering

We all have dates on the calendar that impact us. 

Good dates. 

Bad dates. 

And everything in between. 

Dates where we remember people we have lost. 

I know I've written about this date multiple times. 

It's a date that always brings up memories and reflection. 

We remember Uncle David who passed away on this day in 2005 and my Grandma Bea who passed away on this day in 2011. 

Top: Me, Grandma, Michael
Bottom: Dad, Uncle Bobby, Uncle Dave (top), Uncle Tommy (bottom), Uncle Gary

Memories of the day. How we found out. What happened after. 

Memories of the prior days. Memories of the days following, including the services. 

Memories of holidays, family parties, vacations and special events that they were a part of. And ones since where we are missing them. 

Memories of bad days, good days and great days. 

Memories of average days.

We think about them every day, but especially on significant days like today, the anniversary of their deaths, their birthdays, and on holidays where they are deeply missed. 

We think about the other family members who are impacted by these loses. 

We all have different stories from different perspectives. As family, extended family and friends. 

I know I am generalizing, which I don't always like. I could tell stories, but for several reasons, I won't. We still have the stories and the memories. 

It's how you honor them in the way in which you live your life. 

Miss you both. Always in our hearts. 

My Ornament on Uncle David's tree (written Christmas Eve 2005)

Holidays and Games

Happy New Year. With the flip of the calendar, changes don't happen automatically. Actions cause change. All the best to everyone in 2026. 

Speaking of change....

I've written before about how traditions change. I lot of that happens during holidays or other special events, as well as everyday life. 

The changes happen as a result of families and life changing. People move, others have families and extended family and unfortunately sometimes family issues or family members passing away change traditions. It's also just a fact that people get older. New traditions get created. 

I've noticed this with holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, to name a few. The groups get smaller, the activities change. The days become more low-key. 

It's still about spending time with family and friends and those who matter. 

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Every year, while we celebrate great moments of the year, we also look back as tough moments. We think about those going through difficult times, and we remember those who we lost in the past year. 

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I write about often in regard to my sports life but it's not so much about the wins and losses when it comes to the sports, it's about the relationships both built and strengthened. It's about caring for and supporting one another in good times and bad. 

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It's been a tradition to do top games of the year. With a few obvious exceptions, I felt like there were less games or moments that stood out to choose from. 

There was a lot of high school basketball and baseball, but there wasn't as much summer baseball as there has been in the past. I hope that changes in 2026. 

Before we get going with the list, please note a couple of things. This is my list and has nothing to do with my work or coaching affiliation and does not represent those entities. In addition, this list only encompasses games I was in attendance for. 

Here we go with my top games or moments of 2025 locally. 

FCIAC Baseball Championship

Ludlowe vs Norwalk. This is an easy one. My favorite moment of the year. A tremendous game in which Ludlowe took a 2-0 lead before Norwalk tied the game in the sixth and then Ludlowe re-took the lead for good in the seventh. 

You can read more here and listen to Rob Adams' broadcast below. 

2025 FCIAC CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/Ws3Z3fU0Y4

— Fairfield Ludlowe Baseball (@LudloweBase) May 30, 2025

Photo Credit: Stacey Scruggs

FCIAC Baseball Quarterfinal - Ludlowe vs Warde

Two games prior to the FCIAC Championship, Ludlowe and Warde squared off for the third time in the season, this time in the FCIAC quarterfinals at Warde. Warde held a 3-1 lead through five innings and a 3-2 lead through six innings. 

In the top of the seventh with two on and two outs, Ian Moore singled down the right field line to bring home two runs and give the Falcons a 4-3 lead. Tyler Geriak got the save, stranding the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom half of the inning. 

Kieran Scruggs Walk-Off Playoff Hit for Barnums

In a Connecticut College Baseball League playoff elimination game, Kieran Scruggs came up with a pinch-hit game winning single. 

Read my game story on the Bridgeport Barnums Blogger site. Also included is video of the hit. 

Ludlowe football win over Norwalk on Miko Marano's PAT in OT

Ludlowe and Norwalk have a tendency to play exciting, close football games over the years, and this year was no exception. 

Ludlowe had to come from behind late to tie the game and send it to overtime, before Miko Marano's PAT following a Ludlowe touchdown in OT tied the game again, gave the Falcons the victory. 

Video of Miko Marano’s game-winning extra point. Video via @coachkeyes. #cthsfb https://t.co/31CFwrZktp pic.twitter.com/LZbd2mYrN2

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) October 11, 2025

Ludlowe Basketball FCIAC Quarterfinal OT win over New Canaan

On Super Saturday in the FCIAC Quarterfinals at Fairfield Warde, Ludlowe defeated 61-50 behind 26 points from Ryan Torello and 10 points apiece from Gavin Mertz and Carlo Noecker. 

Ryan Torello breaks the Ludlowe single season scoring record in the FCIAC semifinal game vs Staples

In the latter part of a tremendous season for Ludlowe's Ryan Torello, he broke the school's single season scoring record in the Falcons FCIAC semifinal game vs Staples at Wilton High School. Ryan broke Brian Spring's record of 474 points, which he set in 2006. 

Ryan finished his tremendous senior season with 542 points for the season and 749 points for his career, which puts him second all-time in career points, behind Spring. 

*All this information is public in that it is on the Ludlowe Athletics social media and/or on the record board outside the gym at FLHS for anyone to see when they come to the gym. 

Warde's Jack Cramer scores 1,000th point in FCIAC semifinal game vs Ridgefield 

Like talking about Torello above, I love talking about records and milestones. On the same night that Torello broke the Ludlowe scoring record, Warde's Jack Cramer scored his 1,000th career point in the Mustangs FCIAC semifinal game vs Ridgefield. The accomplishment happened in the fourth quarter of the game and was acknowledged during the next stoppage in play. I always enjoy when these records and milestones are acknowledged. It's important for the people to get the recognition they deserve. 

Ludlowe/Trumbull Football

This one has zero to do with the game. This is a favorite game of the year due to the relationships I have made with people in Trumbull. As I wrote about at the time, it's people like Mike Buswell, Brayden Jagoe, Luke McDermott and their families and many others. It's always fun to watch them play and to talk and support them. 

I wrote more about this when it took place.

Ludlowe/Trumbull Baseball 

This was a big for us at Ludlowe as we unofficially clinched a berth in the FCIAC tournament with the win. It was a crazy game. We built up a 10-4 lead before Trumbull made a comeback and cut the deficit to 10-8 and had a chance to do more. A cool moment in the game was Jagoe, mentioned above, hitting a home run for the Eagles. Obviously mixed emotions for me as it happened as I'm coaching in the Ludlowe dugout. 

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On to 2026!