Kipp pitches No. 6 Westhill past No. 3 Ridgefield
RIDGEFIELD — It wasn’t Kyle Kipp’s best performance, but the junior ace for Westhill did not back down on Saturday afternoon.
His strikeout total was down, but he fought through, trusted his defense, and pitched a complete game for No. 6 Westhill in a 4-2 win over No. 3 Ridgefield in the FCIAC quarterfinals.
“He wasn’t really sharp with the off-speed (pitches), but the kid just battles, and he is unfazed,” Westhill coach Mike Riveles said. “It doesn’t matter the situation; he’s competing and making his pitches. He got us the ‘W’ today.”
Despite being the lower seed in the tournament, Westhill and Kipp did not believe they were a lower seed.
“Definitely not. We definitely have our off days but when we are on, we are on,” he said. “Seeds doesn’t really matter in the FCIAC tournament because all the teams are good. We definitely don’t feel like we are a sixth seed at all.”
Knowing he would be pitching on one of the hottest days of the season, Kipp started his preparation on Friday.
“I was drinking a lot of water, making sure I was hydrated and that was the most important factor for today,” Kipp said. “You don’t want to be on the mound all tired, dehydrated.”
The Boston College commit wasn’t bother by the heat and kept his composure even with runners on.
In the sixth, he found himself with runners on first and second with no outs. He picked off a runner at second base, struck the next batter out and got a pop out to end the threat. In the seventh he allowed back-to-back singles and with the game-winning run at the plate, he got a line out to end the game.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be a big strikeout day,” he said. “I had to make sure to throw a lot of strikes so they’re putting it in play and hope the defense has my back.”
Westhill scored all four of its runs in the top of the third inning.
After Connor Sullivan fought back from a 1-2 count to walk to load the bases, Matt Bologna walked, sending a runner home, to tie the game. Mike Edwards came through with a two-run single to highlight the inning.
Ridgefield scored first on a Matt Bucciero RBI single in the opening inning and then
Bucciero knocked in a run on fielder’s choice in the third.
Westhill advances to play No. 2 Danbury in the FCIAC semifinals on Monday at 7 p.m.
NO. 1 FAIRFIELD WARDE 4, NO. 8 NORWALK 0
FAIRFIELD — Fairfield Warde ace Zach Broderick allowed just two hits and struck out 12 over six innings in the top- seeded Mustangs opening round win over Norwalk.
Fairfield Warde’s Roman DiGiacomo hit a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning to give the Mustangs an early lead. Will Eustace had an RBI in the sixth inning.
The Mustangs’ bottom of the order came play, with each of them scoring a run in the win.
Norwalk’s Eddy GarabitoSoto had a double in the loss. Vince Velez pitched four innings struck out six and allowed just two runs.
Warde is the defending FCIAC champions and Norwalk is the defending Class LL champions.
The Mustangs will play No. 4 Trumbull at Cubeta Stadium, Stamford on Monday at 5 p.m.
No. 1 FAIRFIELD WARDE 4, No. 8 NORWALK 0
NorWALK ....................... 0000000—026
FAIRFIELD WARDE ....... 002002X—470
Batteries: F — Zach Broderick, Paddy Galvin (7) and Roman DiGiacomo. N — Vince Velez, Robert Bedell (5) and Phillip Nora.
2B: F — Roman DiGiacomo, Garrett Larsen. N — Eddy Garabito-Soto.
Records: Fairfield Warde 18-3, Norwalk 1011
NO. 2 DANBURY 11, NO. 7 ST. JOSEPH 0
DANBURY — Danbury’s Nick Smith had himself a day.
The senior first baseman
went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and finished a double short of the cycle.
Jacob Ditscher pitched six innings, struck out five and allowed just two hits and Danbury’s Alex Nunez had three hits in the win.
Danbury score in the first five innings and every starter, but one, had a hit.
The Hatters chased St. Joseph starter Matt Tabet after three innings. Tabet allowed eight runs, but only four were earned. St. Joseph made five errors.
St. Joseph’s Chris Simone had two of the four hits for the Cadets.
Danbury will play winner of Ridgefield/Westhill.
The Hatters are one win away from reaching the FCIAC finals for the first time since 2013.
No. 2 DANBURY 11, No. 7 ST. JOSEPH 0
ST. JOSEPH ................... 0000000—045
DANBURY ................. 232220X—11150
Batteries: D — Jacob Ditscher, Aidan Hefele (7) and Roman Hausmann. SJ — Matt Tabet, Nick Coppola (4), Gabriel Sand (5) and John McNabola.
D — Kailan O’Dell, Roman Hausmann. SJ — Chris Simone. 3B: D — Nick Smith. HR: D — Nick Smith.
Records: Danbury 17-4, St. Joseph 11-10
NO. 4 TRUMBULL 3, NO. 5 NEW CANAAN 0
TRUMBULL — Trumbull’s Connor Johnston did it all for the Eagles on Saturday.
The senior went the distance, striking out eight and allowing just two hits.
At the plate he was 2-for-2 with an RBI and he scored a run. Justin Delaney had an RBI for Trumbull.
New Canaan’s Tristan Pearl pitched five innings and struck out seven.
Trumbull is one win away from playing in the FCIAC finals since 2016.
No. 4 TRUMBULL 3, No. 5 NEW CANAAN 0
0000000—021 021000x—352 T — Connor Johnston and Scott Gell. NC — Tristian Pearl, Ryan Tonghini (6) and Zack Ramppen.
T — Scott Gell