Author Archive

Trumbull bats stay hot, drop Ludlowe to 0-3

Friday, April 5, 2013 by:Pat Pickens
Comment
Comments
|
|

The Trumbull Eagles are widely considered the favorites to win the FCIAC.

They’ve proven why the last two days.

A day after socking 14 hits in a six-run win over Bunnell, the Eagles roped 13 basehits in a 10-1 rout of Fairfield Ludlowe on Friday at Kiwanis Field.

“We swung the bats well yesterday and once again today,” Trumbull coach Phil Pacelli said. “I’m pretty pleased with the way things are going right now.”

Carl Johnson knocked three of those hits, driving in four and falling a home run shy of the cycle. Trumbull improved to 2-1 and 1-0 in the FCIAC.

“First conference win is big,” Pacelli said. “I’m pleased to come out of here with a win.”

Casey Mack scored three runs and drove in one. The Eagles scored four in the first, and eight of Trumbull’s 10 runs were scored with two outs.

“Timely hitting is the name of the game,” Pacelli said.

A day after being no-hit by Newtown’s Pat Mullins, the Falcons did not register their first hit until Mike Kochiss’ fourth-inning double. Ludlowe is 0-3 and has been outscored 25-4 in three games thus far.

“I know that we’re better than what the record indicates,” Ludlowe coach Keith O’Rourke said. “It’s always frustrating to see your kids struggling … but the season isn’t made up of win week, it’s a two-month marathon.”

Trumbull’s Ryan Bayuk struck out three, allowing only two hits in six innings to earn his first win of 2013.

“He just pounds the zone,” Pacelli said. “He throws a real heavy ball, and it’s tough to pick up.”

Pat Pickens is the sports editor of the Fairfield Citizen, a Hearst Connecticut Newspaper. Follow him on Twitter here.

Fairfield Prep upsets ND-West Haven

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 by:Pat Pickens
Comment
Comments
|
|

Fairfield Prep baseball head coach Rudy Mauritz waited more than a week for his team to get to the state playoffs.

The Jesuits talked about it every day during their three-game losing streak. Finally before Prep’s game Monday against ND-West Haven, Mauritz gave up his “clinching day” speech.

Apparently that, and a hot start, made all the difference.

The Jesuits dealt the New Haven Register’s No. 2 team just its second loss of 2012 as Prep beat ND-West Haven 5-3 on Monday in Fairfield.

“We’ve been sitting on seven wins for over a week,”  Mauritz said. “We didn’t bring up the subject today, and the guys were a tad looser.”

Prep’s ace Brett Young pitched five shutout innings, and sophomore Shawn Blake delivered the big blow, a first-inning, two-RBI triple in the first. The Jesuits scored three runs in the first inning, and tacked on single tallies later in the game.

“It’s easier for us to be aggressive and play our game when we’re ahead,” Mauritz said.

Prep lost three straight last week, and was bombed by Daniel Hand on Saturday. But Mauritz told me he thinks his club responded to the challenge of playing against one of the state’s best.

“Whatever the sport … when we’re playing our biggest rivals, our guys really pick up their intensity,” he said. “When we play those teams that are really good … our guys have a way of playing their best.”

Big respect should be given to both team’s uniform choices, especially their socks.

ND pitcher Matt Elia was rocking stirrups, as were several Prep players.

Prep athletic director Steve Donahue, who ordered Prep’s stirrups, told me he loves the look, and supports his kids wearing them.

We agree.

Longtime Prep coach Ed Rowe was in attendance on Monday as well.

Pat Pickens is the sports editor of the Fairfield Citizen, a Hearst Connecticut Newspaper organization. Follow him on Twitter here.

Page 1 of 11