Guilford Defeats Foran in 9 Innings for 10th Consecutive Win

May 13, 2023

They knew it wouldn't be easy, and it wasn't, as the Guilford Grizzlies earned their 10th consecutive win in extra innings, over the Foran Lions in Milford on Friday evening. Jack Farrah's RBI single in the top of the 9th broke a 5-5 tie, while Lucas Deshefy tossed 6 scoreless innings in relief that gave Guilford the opportunity to come out on top. The win, combined with Notre Dame - WH's loss to North Haven on Friday, means Guilford can clinch the #1 seed in the SCC Tournament with a win over East Haven on Monday.

The day began with the Guilford bus arriving late, which caused an approximate 40 min. delay to the start of the game. In the top of the 1st, Guilford took a 2-0 lead when Deshefy doubled and scored on a RBI single by Lucas Ametrano. A few batters later, Carter Williams singled to left scoring Ametrano for the Grizzlies' 2nd run. Williams would have his 2nd consecutive 3-hit game and would score the winning run in the 9th for the Grizzlies.

Bryce Meder got the start for Guilford, and Foran was able to plate a run in the bottom of the 1st when the Lions' starting pitcher, Brandon Payne delivered an RBI double that cut the Grizzlies' lead to 2-1.

In the top of the 2nd, Guilford added 3 more runs to take a 5-1 lead. Jack Farrah lead off with a double to right, and came home to score when Joe Tafro followed him with a RBI single to center. Payne would get the next 2 Grizzly batters before Lucas Ametrano drew a walk and stole 2nd, putting 2 runners in scoring position for Michael Buccaro, who lined a 2-out, 2-RBI single to left, scoring both Ametrano & Tafro for a 4-run Guilford lead.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Foran was able to tie the game at 5 when the first 3 Lion batters loaded the bases and a Guilford error resulted in 2 Foran runs that made the score 5-3. Meder would strikeout the next Foran batter, but then a Joe Cichowski double drove in 2 more, and the game was tied moving into the 4th.

For the next 5 innings, neither team could plate a run. Guilford, who had 14 hits in the game, would get several runners into scoring position over the 5 inning span, but would fail to drive anyone in.

Meanwhile, Lucas Deshefy took the mound with the game tied in the bottom of the 4th, knowing he needed to be close to perfect with much on the line for the Grizzlies. Deshefy gave his team all they could ask for, pitching the next 6 innings without surrendering a run, allowing just 3 Lions hits while notching 5 strikeouts, including a big one to end the game with the tying run on 3rd.

With 2 out in the top of the 9th, Carter Williams lined a single into left to keep the inning going for Guilford, and it would pay off big time. The Grizzlies' next batter, Colin Pompano, worked a 3-2 count and with Williams running on the pitch, drew a walk on a wild pitch that allowed Williams to advance all the way to 3rd. Up next was Jack Farrah, who grounded the first pitch he saw into left field, scoring Williams for the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the 9th, Deshefy walked the Foran leadoff batter, who was then sacrificed to 2nd, and the Lions had the tying run in scoring position with 1 out. He would get the next batter on a fly out, before a perfectly placed "swinging bunt" put Lion runners at the corners with 2 down. However, Deshefy was able to bear down and strike out the final Foran batter of the game, and the Grizzlies would survive the long day with their winning streak in tact.

Carter Williams went 3 for 5 with a RBI and 1 huge run scored, while Michael Buccaro went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. Sam Ametrano, Lucas Deshefy & Jack Farrah all had 2 hits including a double each, with Farrah adding a huge RBI. Lucas Ametrano & Joe Tafro also had RBI hits in the game.

As mentioned, Deshefy earned his 3rd win of the year with his 6, scoreless innings of relief, a gritty performance that helped his team to outlast their opponent.

The win pushes Guilford's record to 16-3, their best regular season record since 2008, and currently has them as the CIAC Class L 3rd seed for state tournament play. A win vs. East Haven in their final regular season game - 4 pm. at GHS Field on Mon. 5/15, will cement the top spot in the SCC with a week to rest before the tournament begins on Mon., 5/22.