Grizzlies Advance to SCC Semis After Win vs. Sheehan

May 22, 2023

In an exciting, back-and-forth game, the Guilford Grizzlies pulled out a late win over the Sheehan Titans to advance to the SCC Semifinals vs. Xavier, which will be played on Tue., May 23rd at GHS Field. The Grizzlies rallied in the bottom of the 6th to re-take the lead, while pulling off their 12th consecutive victory in a streak that has lasted more than a month.

In the opening round of the SCC Tournament, Guilford turned to Bryce Meder as their starting pitcher, and through the first 4 innings, Meder would not allow a run while only allowing 2 Titan batters to reach base. But Sheehan starter, Trevor Venoit, was equally as effective, allowing just 1 Guilford baserunner through the first 3 innings.

In the bottom of the 4th Grizzlies' leadoff batter, Sam Ametrano, began the inning with a triple to right field, and was followed by his brother Lucas Ametrano, who drove a double to left and Guilford finally broke the ice taking a 1-0 lead. 2 outs later, Meder smacked a RBI single up the middle, scoring Lucas Ametrano for a 2-0 Guilford lead heading into the 5th.

In the top of the 5th, Sheehan finally got to Meder when Anthony MarkAnthony had a 2-out, RBI single that cut Guilford's lead to 2-1. Then in the top of the 6th, Sheehan took a 3-2 lead when Tony Sutera lead off with a triple, followed by a Matt Moconyi RBI double and a Kade Marcantonio RBI single.

After winning 11 straight games, Guilford suddenly found themselves down a run in an elimination game, with just 6 outs left in their wallets. However, in the bottom of the 6th, the Grizzlies would re-take the lead without spending a single out.

Lucas Ametrano began the inning by lining a single to left, putting himself on base as the tying run with no outs. Up next was Lucas Deshefy, who poked a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for a single that moved Ametrano to 3rd. But what was key on the play was Deshefy's aggressive baserunning, as he took 2nd base on the throw in from the outfield, that put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Michael Buccaro followed Deshefy, and after working a 3-2 count himself, lined a single into center that scored both runners for a 4-3 Grizzly lead. Later in the inning, Carter Williams reached on an error and Colin Pompano drove a RBI double off the fence in right to give Guilford an insurance run, as they took a 5-3 lead into the 7th.

Deshefy, who had come on to pitch in relief in the top of the 6th, got the final 3 outs in the top of the 7th and the Grizzlies survived to move on to the next round of the SCC Tournament.

Lucas Ametrano and Sam Ametrano both had 2 hits in the game, including a triple for Sam, and a double, 2 runs scored & RBI for Lucas. Michael Buccaro's 2 RBI single in the 6th drove in the game tying & winning runs for the Grizzlies, while Colin Pompano and Bryce Meder both had RBI hits with Pompano's being a double.

The win means the Xavier Falcons, who defeated Hamden in their 1st round game, will be at GHS Field tomorrow (Tue. 5/23), to take on Guilford in the SCC Semifinal round at 4:00 pm. The winner will move on to play the winner of the Notre Dame - WH vs. Fairfield Prep. game (also played on 5/23), on Thursday, 5/25, in the SCC Finals at West Haven HS - Whitey Piurek Field.