West Haven Tops Guilford with 8-Run 6th

Apr 12, 2023

The Guilford Grizzlies held a 5-3 lead over the West Haven Blue Devils as their game headed into the bottom of the 6th inning on Wednesday afternoon. But an 8-run, 6th inning rally by West Haven spelled doom for Guilford, as they lost their 2nd game of the young 2023 season by an 11-5 score.

The game began with West Haven taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning highlighted by a 2-out, 2-RBI single by Haygen Axelrod. Guilford starting pitcher, Sam Ametrano, then settled in and held the Blue Devils scoreless for the next 4 innings, and his team returned the favor by giving him a 5-3 lead, putting him in line for the win as he left the game after the 5th.

In the top of the 3rd, Guilford took a 4-3 lead. Carter Williams singled, Mike Buccaro walked, and a Bryce Meder fly ball allowed both runners to tag up and move up to 2nd and 3rd. Lucas Deshefy then dumped a pop-fly single into right that scored both Williams and Buccaro to make it 3-2 Westies. (video) Colin Pompano follwed Deshefy with a triple into right that tied the game at 3. (video) Pompano would eventually score on a passed ball to give Guilford a 1-run lead heading into the bottom of the 3rd.

In the top of the 4th, Guilford made it 5-3 when Lucas Ametrano reached on an error and Carter Williams, who went 3 for 4 in the game, hit a fly ball triple up into the jet stream that was blowing out to right, scoring Ametrano for what felt like a key insurance run for the Grizzlies. (video)

Then in the bottom of the 6th, the Westies took advantage of the blinding sun and howling wind themselves, by launching 4 of their 7 hits in the inning out to right field, including back-to-back triples by Jose Padilla & Brady Price followed by a Connor Hume double. By the time the inning ended, the Blue Devils had plated 8 runs and took an 11-5 lead, leaving a stunned Guilford squad just 3-outs to try and work a comeback.

The loss puts Guilford's record at 4-2 on the season as they wind up their 3-day stretch of games and will get some much needed rest on Thursday. On Friday they will play their highly anticipated game vs. Cheshire at Dunkin' Park, home of the Hartford Yard Goats, at 3:30 pm. Admission is free for fans, parking is just $5, and the weather is forecast to be spectacular - so be sure to take the afternoon off and come out to the game!