Ruden Sports News

FAIRFIELD — The first two steps of the Class LL Softball Tournament have been a prove-you-can-beat-a-team-three-times tour for Fairfield Ludlowe.

And the FCIAC champion has proved up to the task.

Ten days after needing a walkoff hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Staples in the conference semifinals, the Falcons made it easier on themselves today by scoring three first-inning runs and coming away with a 6-1 home win in the Class LL quarterfinals.

The Falcons, following a bye, defeated Darien in the second round — after toppling the Blue Wave in the league quarterfinals. They needed two runs in the bottom of the seventh on Wednesday to advance.

“The other day against Darien was a tough one,” Ludlowe coach Lou Bunosso said. “Any time you play a team three times you expect the third one to be a battle. We did it twice in one week. We got out early today. We’ve seen their pitcher three times. I think I calculated over 250 pitches the first two games. I had a good feeling about our bats. We got a lead and our pitchers did a phenomenal job.”

Maddy Reyes, who has been on a postseason tear, finished with three hits and three RBIs. Reyes hit a two-run single in the opening inning to give the Falcons a quick comfort margin.

“I think whenever we get the lead early we feel more confident and I think that all around as a team, everyone just felt so confident coming into the game and that first inning just solidified it,” Reyes said.

It was Reyes’ three-run triple in the fifth inning of the FCIAC final that set the stage for the 6-3 win over St. Joseph and Ludlowe’s first title.

“I just think it’s the fact this is my senior year, this is going to be my last home game every, I feel like I just want to end my season right and do right for the team,” Reyes said.

This is shaping up as more of a second league tournament for the second-seeded Falcons (22-1). They will now meet Trumbull in the semifinals, assuring the FCIAC of having a Class LL finalist for the third time in the last four seasons played — last year was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The loss brought a disappointing end to what was an otherwise successful season for the seventh-seeded Wreckers (17-5). They started the season as a sleeper and had a number of big wins while laying the foundation for the future.

“It was one of those days where they gave us their all,” Staples coach Bob Olah said. “They didn’t make any mistakes. They hit fly balls but they hit them right at people. So we didn’t get the breaks today. But Ludlowe deserves the win. They’re a great team. Every time they hit the ball it fell. It found grass, it found dirt. All I can do is tip my hat to Lou, the coaching staff and the girls over there because they are a great program and work hard.”

Ludlowe took advantage of two one-out walks in the first and Reyes’ big hit.

Reyes added an RBI single in the third inning for a 4-0 lead.

“Maddy has been extremely hot since the FCIAC Tournament,” Bunosso said. “She’s just been hitting and hitting and hitting.”

Chelsea Villar hit a laser — the ball stayed on a straight course and didn’t get very high off the ground — over the centerfield fence in the fifth for a 5-0 lead.

Jen Westphal reached on an error and scored on a fielder’s choice in the sixth for the Wreckers’ run. Ludlowe got an unearned run in the bottom of the inning — Villar doubled and scored on an error.

Alex Lewey, who went the first five innings, and Anna Gedacht combined on a four-hitter for Ludlowe.

Asked if he would prefer to face an out-of-conference opponent during the tournament, Bunosso said, “That’s the thing when you’re in a league like the FCIAC. It’s a really strong league, probably one of the top two leagues in the state. So you see a lot of FCIAC teams at this stage. It does feel like an FCIAC Tournament but we just have to play for the state championship.”

Gabby Lantier had three hits for the Wreckers, who hit into some bad luck with several hard line drives. With most of their starting lineup returning next year, including pitcher Tasha Taubenheim, the future is bright.

“What I told the girls is Staples was always a sleeping team and people didn’t really expect much,” Olah said. “Everybody over the, I don’t know, last 10 or so years always expected a .500 team. I told them because of this year they just set a new standard for the Staples softball program. And they have to be proud of that. We’ve got young freshmen that are stepping up and sophomores that are coming off the bench that are stepping up. That’s a real positive to look forward to.”