Prep puts it together against Westies

WEST HAVEN — It has been a roller coaster season early on for the Fairfield Prep baseball team. Sorting through what will work best for a deep team, the Jesuits have had their ups and downs.

Coming off a loss to No, 1 Amity, Fairfield Prep was looking to get back on track.

Taking advantage of four West Haven errors in the first two innings, Prep scored five times on its way to a 7-5 victory over West Haven in a Southern Connecticut Conference interdivisional contest at Piurek Field in West Haven Wednesday afternoon.

“We are figuring things out,” Fairfield Prep coach Rudy Mauritz said after his team improved to 6-4. “We know and understand and are receptive to what is needed to win. We understand what that is. It is really about putting all that together to get the win. We are working on it now.”

The Westies did not do themselves any favors, getting off to a slow start at the plate and committing eight errors in the field.

“The bottom line is we did not come ready to play,” West Haven coach Ron Luneau said after his team fell to 6-4. “It is very similar to the Hand game. The first three innings were basically atrocious. Then, all of a sudden, we turned it on.”

To West Haven's credit, the team battled back with two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, and had the tying runs on base. Mauritz turned to Andrew Cutler on the mound and the junior helped the Jesuits prevail when he got Corey Coggins on a grounder to third to end the game.

“Part of it for us is figuring things out on the mound,” Mauritz said. “We are working on figuring out what we need to do on the mound to be successful. That was a big question coming into the season. We are taking a little different approach to start the season. We are willing to see what guys can do and where they can contribute. It is part of the process.”

The Jesuits got off to a quick start off West Haven starter Josh Trager with three runs in the first as Joe D'Elia stole third and scored when the throw sailed into the outfield.

Jim Aselta followed with a triple and scored when Prep starting pitcher Ryan Preisano reached on an error for a 2-0 advantage. Preisano stole second and scored when Ethan Passanante singled to left.

“We were able to get the runs in the first two innings, but then we slowed down,” Aselta said after finishing with a double and a triple in the game. “We were able to jump on that first good pitch he was giving us. We got back into it and our pitching was tough out there.”

After the Westies went down in order in the first, the Jesuits increased the lead to 5-0 in the second when Mike Iannazzo doubled to score Tim Pearson, and moved to third on an error on the play. When Aselta reached on an error on the next play, Iannazzo scored the fifth run.

“It concerns me,” Luneau said of the slow start.

“When we come out firing, we can play with anybody. Our losses have been few run losses. We have to come ready to play.”

The Westies finally showed some life in the third, cutting the deficit to 5-1 on a Ray Gilbert sacrifice fly, but stranded a pair.

After Brayden Mazzoni singled, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on a ground out to second by Pearson in the fourth for a 6-1 lead, the Westies settled down.

Jack Hay relieved Trager in the fifth and fired two scoreless innings to allow the Westies to get back in the contest.

“Give Jack Hay credit,” Luneau said. “It was the first time he was in a pressure situation like that and he came in throwing strikes. He gave us a chance. We had better at bats in the last few innings as well.”

West Haven cut the deficit to 6-3 in the sixth as Gilbert and Dylan Supan singled, before Damian Gazzaneo reached on an error to score Gilbert. With runners on the corners and one out, Coggins grounded into a fielder's choice to score Supan to get West Haven within 6-3.

Aselta started the seventh with a double to left off Hay and moved to third on an error, before scoring on Preisano's sacrifice fly to right as the only blemish on Hay's day.

The senior right-hander went three innings for West Haven, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out one.

For all the mistakes West Haven made, the opportunity was there in the bottom of the seventh to steal the game.

Tyler DeSanty and Gilbert walked with one out, before Supan brought the tying run to the plate with a single to center to load the bases. Gazzaneo reached on an error to score DeSanty, and a passed ball with two outs scored Gilbert to get West Haven within a pair with two in scoring position.

D'Elia, Iannazzo, and Aselta led the Jesuits with two hits apiece in the win. Supan and John Lindsay each had a pair of hits in the loss for West Haven.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Jim Aselta — Fairfield Prep senior had two hits and scored twice. His triple and double were part of rallies to help the Jesuits to their fourth win in their last five games.

QUOTABLE

“We are a very good club. We are a very deep lineup. We can hit one through nine. We can hit with anybody. It is a matter of taking it one step at a time.”