The Ridgefield High School baseball team won the FCIAC regular season title on Monday night by beating Westhill High School 2 to 1 in an exciting game. Ridgefield has now won 10 games in a row and finishes at least one game ahead of Staples for the regular season title.
This is the first time in recent memory that RHS has won the baseball regular season title. Ridgefield is ranked in the top 10 in the state and No. 5 in the LL Class.
Weather permitting, Ridgefield begins the FCIAC playoffs this Friday at home at Governor’s Park.
Ridgefield has been powered all year by tremendous pitching led by Senior Alex Price, who is headed to Middlebury College where he will take to the mound. Price, who finishes the regular season at 7 – 1, has been the stopper.
Senior Jake Artz and Sophomore Matt Deluca have rounded out the starting rotation and each pitched very well, with sophomore DeLuca throwing a no-hitter earlier this year.
The Tigers are now 16 – 3 overall and 13 – 2 in the FCIAC with one game to play.
The defense has also been very steady with Peter Columbia at third, Matt Stamatis at short and Quinn McDonald at second. With starter Nick Cullinan suffering a concussion, first base has been a committee lately with juniors Cameron Andrey, and Sean Livingston and senior Jake Artz all contributing.
Senior Ben Cohen has been behind the plate nearly every inning.
The outfield has also been steady and reliable with seniors Nick Hana and Alex Price in left and center respectively, and Junior Joey Pastore anchoring right field.
Junior Matt Restivo has played all three outfield positions for the Tigers.
As for the offense, seniors Alex Price, Pete Columbia, Nick Hanna and Matt Stamatis have provided steady production, with power coming from Quinn McDonald and Joey Pastore, who hit a 400 foot shot against Norwalk last week.
Ridgefield will take on the No. 8 see in the FCIAC (to be determined) and the Tigers have also qualified for the state championship tournament.