Fairfield Scores and Standings: Sept 13

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Wildcats Sixth Grade Red Team Shuts Out Darien Blue, 20-0

The Sixth Grade Red team is off to a blazing start, by recording its second shutout in a row this past Sunday against a tough Darien Blue team. Coming off their season opener victory against Norwalk, the Wildcats marched into Darien High School on Sunday looking to continue their strong game plan of tough defense and a mixing of both passing and running plays on offense. Darien Blue took the opening possession, but on its very first play from scrimmage, a tough defensive line of Clay Zachery, Joey Turner, A.J. Valus and Luke Adelstein forced a fumble and the Wildcats recovered. On the Wildcats' first possession, led by QB Matthew Cerminaro and running back Ian Cook, they ran for a TD to take a 6-0 lead early in the game. As the continued tough defense and explosive offense performances of TJ Grace, Jack Kovaleski, Sash Mead, Zachary Taylor and Brett Wolk took over, the Wildcats scored two more times. Darien Blue never threatened and took its first loss in almost two years, dating to the championship game on 2009. Next up for the Sixth Grade Red team is its home opener Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Ludlowe High School.

 Fifth Grade Wildcats Take Darien Blue, 7-6

The Fifth Grade Wildcats put up an incredible defensive front on Sunday, hanging on to beat an undefeated Darien Blue team, 7-6. After a long rushing touchdown by Darien in the first half, the defensive line of Daniel Mundle, Dan Russel, Griffen Forberg, and DJ Meyer made a goal-line surge to stop the extra-point attempt in the backfield. Not to be outdone, the offense answered by running a sweep with Aidan Wykoff, who was able to turn the corner and outrun the defenders to the end zone. Wykoff also carried the ball on the extra-point attempt and pushed his way into the end zone, giving the Wildcats a 7-6 lead at the half.

The second half was a defensive battle with neither team letting up much yardage until late in the fourth when Darien had a breakout run that brought it to the 10 yard line. However, the Wildcats made another goal-line stand, including two tackles for a loss by Justin Coudert. On fourth-and goal, the Darien running back was hit hard by Liam Harke, forcing a fumble, which was recovered by Fairfield with a minute left. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Kevin Quinn took a handoff through the middle of the line, bouncing to the outside and turning it into a 30-yard gain, safely putting the Wildcats in the position to run our the clock for the victory.

Fourth Grade Wildcats Come Up Short Against Darien White, 19-13 

The Fourth Grade Wildcats Red battled back from a rough start last weekend, only to fall 19-13 to Darien White in a thrilling but heartbreaking finish. After giving up an early touchdown and then an interception on their first play from scrimmage, the Wildcats settled down and battled back.

They had a long, sustained first-half drive stopped near Darien' goal line on fourth down. The Wildcats finally broke through on the first possession of the second half, methodically marching down the field. The drive culminated when tailback Ryan Janz lowered ihis shoulder and plowed into the end zone on third-and-goal on the power sweep. The successful extra point gave the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.

Following a Darien score, the young Wildcats came back again, when Conner O'Neill broke a tackle on the sideline and scampered 60 yards untouched to pay dirt to regain the lead.

But with just over a minute remaining, Darien scored a final touchdown and a last minute Wildcats' drive ended in disappointment with a Darien interception. The fourth graders are back in action this Sunday against New Canaan Red at 11 a.m at Ludlowe High School.

Third Grade Wildcats Fall to Darien Blue, 13-0

The Fairfield Third Grade Wildcats lost a hard-fought game, 13-0 to Darien Blue. Fairfield played tough defense all game with defensive tackle Jack McKenna leading the way with 10 tackles. Other defensive standouts included right guard John Summers, Ryan Mcintosh, and safety Andrew Conklin, who had a touchdown saving tackle in the second quarter. Logan Forde Bennet got the hustle award for not giving up on a long run by a Darien player down the field. On offense, quarterback Jack Morison had several tackle-breaking long runs in the second half. Fairfield will look to rebound in its home opener on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Ludlowe High School against New Canaan Bantam 3 Black.

Fairfield 17U Legion Baseball Weekend Recap

This is a recap of The Fairfield 17U Legion baseball team's games over the weekend. The teams plays in The Greater Fairfield County Baseball League, which is comprised of the county's top Legion and AAU programs.

Fairfield 17U Legion split a doubleheader with the Greenwich Legion Cannons. After being shutout in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, Fairfield bounced back with a 9-7 come-from-behind win. Starting pitcher Chris Booton, who attends Barlow, gave up only two runs in four innings. Warde's Ryan Mulligan and Avery Ford produced the go-ahead run in the four inning to make it 3-2. A few walks and a timely hit in the fifth inning gave Greenwich the lead. In the top of the seventh inning, Ford drove two runs with a base hit to tie the score at seven. Fairfield went ahead on a hit by Barlow's Walter Frank. Warde's Peter Detrik pitched two scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win.

On Sunday, Warde's Shane Goven kept a seasoned Bridgeport Legion team at bay with four innings of solid pitching. Timely hitting by Warde's Alec Jacob,  Ford and Frank and Chris Booton gave Fairfield a 5-1 lead that held up to the seven inning. Bridgeport came back with some timely hitting and a couple of miscues in the field by Fairfield, which gave Bridgeport a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the seventh Warde's Aaron Marks led off with a base hit and was driven in by Frank to tie the game at 6, where it stayed due to darkness.

Notre Dame's New Asst Hockey Coaches

Notre Dame of Fairfield has announced the hiring of two new assistant boys' hockey coaches: J.R. Bria and Dr. Steve Hetherman

Bria was a member of Notre Dame's state championship hockey team in 1999.  From Notre Dame, he went to Choate Rosemary Hall and then to UMass-Lowell. 

Bria played Division 1 hockey for Colgate in the ECAC and UMass-Lowell in Hockey East.  That was followed by a three-year semi-pro stint in the East Coast Hockey League and Central Hockey League, finishing with the Odessa Jackalopes.

Bria currently coaches the Wonderland Wizards and manages a sanitation company.

Hetherman received his doctorate in measurement and evaluation from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2004. He coached NYU's ice hockey team from 1997-2002, compiling an overall record of 103-45-5.

In 2002, Hetherman was named Coach of the Year by his peers from the American Hockey Coaches Association. The previous two high school seasons, he served on the coaching staff at Darien High School.

Hetherman has been involved in both the Greater Bridgeport and Southern Connecticut Youth Hockey Associations.  He currently serves as the executive assessment manager, nursing program solutions at Pearson Education.

The Connecticut Premier AAU Girls Basketball clinics for girls in grades four through 12 get under way on Sept. 17 at Staples High School. They will take place every Saturday through Nov. 5.

Here is the schedule: grades 4-7 from 9-10:30 a.m; Grades 8-12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Tryouts for the 2012 season will take place on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 at Staples High School. Visit www.ctpremier.com for forms and tryout information.

The clinic will be run by Dave Danko, girls basketball head coach at Fairfield Warde High School. He will be joined by many other AAU coaches. Limited space available.

The fee is $150. Make checks payable to CT. Premier. Please contact Danko by phone at (203)-209-0861 or Steve McGillicuddy at (203)-394-2230 or e-mail mcgillicuddysteve@yahoo.com.

Fairfield Jr. Babe Ruth Fall Ball Week 1 Results (Sept. 10-11)

 Majors Division 

McGoldrick Fuel 6, Wilton Red 3

Doubles by Eddie Grella and Joey Deutsch and a couple of base hits by Connor Steccato led the offense for McGoldrick, which opened its fall ball season with a 6-3 win over Wilton Red.

Ridge Jones, Liam Farrell and Tyler  Henchcliffe each pitched two innings, allowing only one run apiece.  Deutsch came in and pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the save. 

Matt Seanor sparked a two-out rally that led to six runs in the second inning with an RBI single. The infield, led by Henchcliffe, Chris Smaldone and Deutsch, turned three double plays.

Fairfield PAL 12 Darien Blue Wave 5

Alex Melagrano, Jason Lee (four strikeouts), Ryan Byrne and Jack DeMarco combined on an 11-strikeout, three-hitter in a 12-5 win over the Blue Wave of Darien.

DeMarco also went 3-for-3 and scored three runs while Ryan Taylor, Andrew Levy, Melagrano and Nick Yee added two hits apiece. Levy and Melagrano each belted two-run triples.

Yankee Electric Construction 4, Wilton Blue 2

Nick Minerva pitched three strong innings to close the game and went 2-for-3, including a double, with two RBI.  Justin Consoli made a diving catch in right with runners on second and to preserve the win.

Yankee Electric Construction 6, Westport Pirates 2

Wade Petro led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a triple.  Nick Minerva knocked in two runs with a base hit.  Justin Consoli pitched three strong innings for the win and Chris Montani closed with two innings for the save.

Westport Yankees 11, Ray Flanagan Heating and Plumbing 10

Ray Flanagan fell to Westport Yankees Saturday at Tunxis Hill despite a solid comeback effort. Ray’s opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning to set the stage for a seesaw battle that saw numerous lead changes.

Trailing by two, Ray's managed to tie the game in the top of the sixth on Connor O’Donnell’s well-executed sacrifice.

After a scoreless bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, Westport loaded the bases with nobody out. Hope returned after Darren Lee snagged a line shot down the third-base line, but the game ended two pitches later on a hit-by-pitch that forced home the winning run.

Ray Flanagan Heating and Plumbing 12, Weston Gold 1

Ray Flanagan earned its first win of the fall behind a dominating pitching performance by Darren Lee.  Starter Bobby Lazar threw a perfect first inning but gave way to Lee in the second with the bases loaded and no outs. 

Lee held Westport to one run in the inning and shut out Weston the rest of the way.

Lee and Taylor Carelli led the way offensively, each with two extra- base hits, including Lee’s triple. 

A great defensive play by Jack West, who ran down a passed ball and threw out a runner trying to score, ended the second-inning threat.

Other scores:

DeRose Family Podiatry 11, Greenwich Maroon 5

DeRose Family Podiatry 8, Darien Blue Wave 2

Tallman Builders 11, Westport Pirates 4

Stratford Maroon 10, Stratford Navy 4

Weston Navy 7, Tallman Builders 6

Prep Division

Weston Blue 9, McGoldrick Fuel 6

Brian Schiller stole six bases while Michael Whiting hit a crushing two-run double to even the score in the fifth inning. 

Matthew Delmiche, Brian Schiller, Quinn Barry, Dominick Conte, Michael Futz and Jackson Holroyd each had big hits at important times in the game.  Quinn Barry picked off two runners from the mound to end innings.

Wilton Blue 7, Bigelow Tea 2

Will DeMeo went 2-for-2 with a single, double and a RBI. 

Greenwich Black 5, Bigelow Tea 1

Wilton Blue 12, McGoldrick 0

MONDAY'S RESULTS

No games scheduled

TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE

Boys soccer

Fairfield Prep at Cheshire, 4 p.m.

Notre Dame-Fairfield at Bethel, 4 p.m.

Girls soccer

Fairfield Ludlowe at Staples, 4 p.m

Bethel at Notre Dame-Fairfield, 4 p.m.

Boys cross country

Stamford, Norwalk, Westhill at Fairfield Warde, 4 p.m.

Stratford, New Fairfield, Notre Dame-Fairfield at Immaculate, 4 p.m.

Girls cross country

Stamford, Norwalk, Westhill at Fairfield Warde, 4 p.m.

Stratford, New Fairfield, Notre Dame-Fairfield at Immaculate, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE

Boys soccer

Trinity Catholic at Fairfield Ludlowe, 4 p.m.

Fairfield Warde at Bridgeport Central, 6 p..m.

Girls volleyball

Fairfield Ludlowe at Trumbull, 4 p.m.

Fairfield Warde at Staples, 5:30 p.m

Notre Dame-Fairfield at Oxford, 4 p.m.

Field hockey

Fairfield Warde at Stamford, 4 p.m.

Boys cross country

Wilton, Ridgefield, Harding, Fairfield Ludlowe at Danbury, 4 p.m.

Girls cross country

Wilton, Ridgefield, Harding, Fairfield Ludlowe at Danbury, 4 p.m.

STANDINGS

Football

Bassick

Boys soccer

Girls soccer

Fairfield Warde