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GREENWICH, Conn. The Greenwich High baseball team took a little time to celebrate after accomplishing what no other Fairfield County hardball team has done in 16 years. The Cardinals went through four pitchers Friday to survive Danbury, 2-1, and lock up an astounding 20-0 regular season record.
But the team was already focused on the future, as it prepares for the postseason. The players agreed that although 20-0 is nice, 23-0 and a conference championship would be great. And 28-0 and a state title would be even better.
Its a great accomplishment for us, and a testament to hard weve been working, Greenwich right fielder Taylor Olmstead said. 20-0 is great, and we feel really good, but were already looking ahead to the playoffs.
Coach Mike Mora showed his team that prepping for the playoffs was more important than the perfect record by pulling starter Ryan Marks after just three innings. He went deep into his bullpen, but recent junior varsity call-up J.T. Hintzen and lefty specialist Stephen Fisher were up to the task. Closer Kyle Dunster got the final four outs of the game to clinch the unblemished season.
The Cardinals pitching staff pulled off a high-wire act, stranding 11 Danbury runners, seven in scoring position. Hintzen escaped the biggest jam, getting out of a bases loaded situation in the fifth.
Olmstead put the Cardinals on the board first, ripping an RBI single to center to score Dylan Callahan. Olmstead scored two batters later when Cameron Fennell grounded into a fielders choice.
Hintzen surrendered Danburys lone run but escaped further damage when an attempted safety squeeze play backfired and turned into a 1-5 double play.
You need good pitching, good defense and a little luck to get here, Mora said. Its nice for the kids, and its great for our confidence. But its really great because we won a close game. Its nice now, but then we have to say, OK, lets get back to work.
After a weekend off, Greenwich will face Danbury again as it begins its quest for a conference and state title. The top-ranked Cardinals are searching for their first conference championship since 2004 and first state title since 1962.
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