Grizzlies Win Thriller in CIAC Opener

May 29, 2024

Guilford won its CIAC Class L, State Tournament opening round game in their final turn at bat vs. Xavier HS of Middletown on Tue. With the game tied at 2, Lucas Ametrano lead off the bottom of the 7th with a double, and a few batters later, would score the game-winning run from 2nd base when he rounded 3rd and sprinted home as Xavier was attempting to turn a double play. The exciting play lead to his team storming the field in celebration, as the Grizzlies advanced to the 2nd round of the tournament, a trip to Rockville HS in Vernon on Wed., 5/29 for a 4 pm. start.

Bryce Meder was outstanding on the mound for Guilford, pitching all 7 innings and allowing just 1 earned run while striking out 9 Falcons. The win had to feel especially good for Meder, who pitched a 7-inning gem vs. Xavier earlier in the year, that ended in an extra-inning loss. Meder's only struggles came in the top of the 1st, when Xavier scored 2 on a Nick Fox RBI single and a Guilford infield error. But for the rest of the game, the Falcons could only muster 4 more hits and would not plate another run.

Guilford tied the game at 2 in the bottom of the 3rd when Colin Pompano was hit by a pitch and Ametrano walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Then Michael Buccaro knocked his 2nd double of the game down the right-field line to score Pompano and move Ametrano to 3rd. (video) Lucas Deshefy followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Ametrano for the Grizzlies' 2nd run. (video)

Although both teams would get runners into scoring position on multiple occasions, neither team could find success against the opposing pitcher, leading to a tense final few frames of the game.

In the bottom of the 7th, Ametrano began the inning by doubling to right field, and once again, Guilford had the game-winning run in scoring position. A few batters later, Deshefy drew a 1-out walk that brought Meder to the plate with runners at 1st & 2nd. Meder hit an infield chopper out toward 2nd base, which allowed Ametrano to immediately take off at full speed from 2nd. As Xavier attempted to turn a 4-6-3, inning-ending double play, Meder beat the throw to 1st and Ametrano did not stop as he rounded 3rd, using his speed to race home and beat the tag for an exiciting finish and victory. (video)

As mentioned, the Grizzlies will need to turn things around quickly, as they will make a lenghty trip to Vernon on Wed. to take on the Rockville Rams in their 2nd round game of the tourney. Rockville deafeated Masuk, 2-1, in their CIAC opener on Tue. Hopefully the Grizzlies exciting win will give them momentum for a deep tournament run.