Ludlowe Roughs Up Wilton Ace Marut

You never would have known this was a road game for the Ludlowe Falcons baseball team. 

 The Falcons jumped all over the Wilton players before the game even started with a constant barrage of chatter that quite possibly got into the heads of the home team. 

As star outfielder Bill Malone sprinted to make the final out of a 12-7 win over Warriors on Monday afternoon, the Falcons had accomplished something the current members of the team never had done - win an FCIAC playoff game.

Ludlowe's first playoff win since 2006 sent the fifth-seeded Falcons flying into a semifinal game Tuesday against No. 8 Westhill at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport at 8 p.m. Westhill upset No. 1 Staples, 7-4.

The Falcons (16-5) were hot from the start and ganged up on Wilton ace Kurt Marut, batting around in the first inning to the tune of four runs .

Marut struggled as the Falcons chased him after three innings in which they scored six runs and drew seven walks.

"Kurt just didn't have it today," Wilton Coach Tim Eagen said. 

 However, as they had done all season, the Warriors responded. Ludlowe starter Zach Garoffolo surrendered four straight hits, including an RBI double to Marut,  that pulled Wilton within 4-3.

Taking over after Garoffolo recorded only one out, reliever Alex Capozziello balked in  a run while facing his first batter, leaving the contest tied after a wild opening frame.

Wilton never led, however, as Capozziello settled in and held the Warriors in check.

"He just did a phenomenal job," Ludlowe coach Keith O'Rourke.  "He threw strikes."

All three Ludlowe relievers pitched well, allowing only three runs from the second inning on. Ludlowe also benefited from several key errors by Wilton.

"We took advantage of the opportunities they gave us," O'Rourk added. "We took advantage of their mistakes."

 The Falcons capitalized on scoring chances but also manufactured their own success by drawing eight walks and stealing six bases to constantly put runners into scoring position.

"We did little things and played good heads-up baseball," O'Rourke addd. "We played a very smart game. We had a very good approach at the plate, made their starter work and we didn't give him anything."

The Falcons made adjustments at the plate that allowed them to capitalize on hitters' counts and push more runs across the plate.

"Baseball is a game of adjustments, and when you can't make adjustments, you can't win a game of this magnitude," Eagen added.

The Falcons added another in the third and took a 6-5 lead going into the fourth.  An inconsistent strike zone and shaky control finally caught up to Marut, as he was pulled without recording an out in the inning.

Wilton's Jack Palumbo inherited two runners and couldn't extinguish the rally, allowing three Ludlowe batters to cross home, the last run coming off a suicide squeeze with one out to push the lead to 9-5.

Wilton looked to regroup and mount a late charge, but the Falcons' bullpen had other ideas.

"I can't say enough about the job all three of them did," O'Rourke added. 

Nick Chandler and Taylor Brown picked up where winning pitcher Capozziello left off, throwing strikes and letting their defense finish the play. 

In the end, the Falcons proved to be too much to overcome, as timely hitting, good base running and a wining approach at the plate earned Ludlowe the win.

"Every team that's left right now is a good team," O'Rourke said.  "We've won our last five.  Hopefully, we're building up a wave and we'll just ride it."