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Fairfield Ludlowe's "money" pitcher, Steven "Goose" Guasco, has returned to the mound at the perfect time for the Falcons. After being shut down with shoulder tightness in February for almost two months, Guasco has three wins in three starts, including a complete game five-hitter on Tuesday afternoon.
Guasco (two strikeouts, no walks) was backed by a three-run home run from catcher Rob Ferrara in a 6-3 victory over Westhill in the FCIAC semifinals at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. Ludlowe (17-5) defeated Wilton in the first round and Westhill upset the No. 1 seed Staples.
"He was supposed to be our number one pitcher," said Ludlowe manager Keith O'Rourke. "He was like a midseason acquisition. He could have been an all-conference type of player. He's a money player."
The Falcons now advance into the championship game for the first time in school history and only the second in Fairfield history, where they will face the winner of Greenwich and St. Joseph's. That game will be played Tuesday night atat the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
Ludlowe struck first with a two-run second inning, including a ground rule double by rightfielder Tom Nagy off Westhill pitcher Morgan Williams, who would also throw a complete game and a two run single by first baseman Tom Clifford.
Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the third, Ferrara hit a home run to deep left field following a RBI single by Nagy, advancing the Falcons lead to 6-3
Westhill struck back the next inning with a triple by Ryan Curto and a home run by Sam Kostrich, making it 5-3, but Guasco was not shaken. He settled in and allowed just one hit, a single, in the final three innings.
"Goose is not the type of person that will get rattled in a situation like that," O'Rourke said.
Since returning from his injury Guasco is 3-0, making three starts and two relief appearances. In 22 innings pitched he has allowed just four earned runs, including the three today. He defeated rivals Fairfield Warde on May 14, in his first start back. That game was also played at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, and was the first time the Falcons defeated the Mustangs.
O'Rourke said that after Guasco was injured, the Falcons hoped to simply keep their "heads above water," until his return. After the rough patch, O'Rourke says he thinks his team is hitting their stride now.
After four straight losses in early May, the Falcons have now won seven consecutive games.
"We worked hard all season and this is where we want to be," Guasco said. "We better win this FCIAC title."
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