Greenwich Legion Baseball Nabs Playoff Spot

GREENWICH, Conn. – The Greenwich Senior Legion baseball team wrapped up a state playoff spot Monday, but players and coaches agreed not to celebrate until the Cannons clinched Zone Four as well. So it was all business again on Tuesday as Greenwich used a four-run fourth to breeze past Ridgefield, 8-2.

Greenwich sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the fourth to break a 2-2 tie. Brendan Hardin put the Cannons ahead with a booming two-run double into the left-center field gap. Taylor Olmstead followed with a sharp single up the middle to drive in two more, putting the game out of reach. Both hits came on two outs.

“It was a close game. We just exploded in that one inning and took the wind out of their sails,” Greenwich manager Mike Abate said. “The first goal is to wrap up a playoff spot. Now our second goal is win the Zone. It’s nice, but it lets these guys know we have to keep playing.”

While starter Brian Schutzman wasn’t quite his no-hit self, the Brunswick School graduate still struck out seven in five innings to earn the win.

After Schutzman made it through the tough second inning, a leadoff single by Ridgefield in the third signaled more trouble. But heads-up play by shortstop Dylan Callahan, throwing out Adam Zandri trying to advance to third, snuffed out the rally. 

Schutzman settled down to cruise through two more innings of work. Kyle Dunster, just called up from the Junior Legion team, struck out four and allowed only one hit in two innings of relief. 

Hardin and Olmstead each finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Ryan Hardin reached base in all four of his plate appearances, walking three times and driving in two. Cameron Fennell continued his torrid pace out of the cleanup spot, going 3-for-4.

“Our defense has been there. Our pitching has been there. Today we got the offense,” Olmstead said. “We’ve been working tremendously hard and I think that’s showing in how the hits are coming together.”

Greenwich (16-2) holds a 1.5 game lead over Stamford for first place in Zone Four. The Cannons travel to Fairfield on Friday for a 5 p.m. game.

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