The Cheshire Rams will head out to square off against the Fairfield Prep Jesuits at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Cheshire 3.4, Fairfield Prep 2.7) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Cheshire is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Norwich Free Academy just ended the team's three-game winning streak on Saturday. They fell 5-1 to the Wildcats.
Cheshire got a good showing from Stephen Fitzmaurice, who struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off one hit. Fitzmaurice has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Cheshire saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Cal Battipaglia, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, Fairfield Prep had already won 16 in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 8.8 runs) and they went ahead and made it 17 on Saturday. Everything went their way against the Hawks as they made off with a 10-0 victory. Considering the Jesuits have won 13 games by more than six runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
Fairfield Prep got a massive performance out of Nick Garofalo, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and four RBI. Those four RBI gave Garofalo a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Ryan Ventrelle, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Fairfield Prep was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .385. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .310 or higher in four consecutive matchups.
Cheshire's loss dropped their record down to 12-6. As for Fairfield Prep, their record is now 20-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Cheshire has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Fairfield Prep struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Cheshire came up short against Fairfield Prep when the teams last played last Thursday, falling 4-1. Can the Rams avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
