GREENWICH, Conn. The Greenwich High baseball team is known for its pitching and defense, but Monday against Fairfield Ludlowe it broke out the bats in a big way.
The Cardinals exploded for 18 runs on 22 hits against Ludlowe, after combining for just 11 runs in their first three games. Greenwich ace Dylan Callahan did not make it past a very uncharacteristic first inning, but the Cardinal offense backed him up for a wild 18-7 victory.
Once we saw them get to Dylan we knew we had to bare down and hit, Greenwich co-captain Casey Gaynor said. I think everyone was on their game today. We are definitely a pitching and defense team, but I think after this one people will say we can hit, too.
After Greenwich jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Ludlowe quickly responded against Callahan. The righty could not locate his off-speed pitches, and Ludlowe was ready to jump all over his fastball. The Falcons touched Callahan for five runs in the first, sending 10 men to the plate.
The Cardinals fought right back, pounding Ludlowe pitching. Gaynor led the comeback for Greenwich, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs, two runs scored and coming up a home run short of the cycle. David Berdoff and Matt Pruner also came up with big hits, driving in three runs each.
Despite the lopsided score, there was a time where it looked like Ludlowe might come back against Greenwich. The Cardinals led 10-7 in the bottom of the sixth with a Ludlowe runner on second.
Ludlowes Mike Kochiss laced a sinking liner to left field, which Nick Bancroft dove to catch at the left field foul line. Bancroft doubled-up the Ludlowe runner scrambling back to second, killing the Falcons rally. Greenwich then sent 13 men to the plate in the top of seventh, plating eight runs to pull away.
Were finding a way, Greenwich manager Mike Mora said. Dylan didnt have his best stuff, and the kids came together and found a way to win today. Hopefully they keep hitting this way.
Off to its best start in years, Greenwich (4-0) travels to Ridgefield on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. battle of unbeaten teams.
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