Baseball Game Preview: Fairfield Prep Jesuits vs. Shelton Gaels

The Fairfield Prep Jesuits will head out on the road to challenge the Shelton Gaels at 4:15 p.m. on Friday. Fairfield Prep is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.9 runs per game this season.

While Fairfield Prep didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-12), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They blew past East Haven 16-2 on Wednesday. The win continues a trend for the Jesuits in their matchups with the Yellowjackets: they've now won five in a row.

Reid Stanton looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run over four innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Fairfield Prep is undefeated when he allows at most one earned run, but 3-5 otherwise.

Ryan Ventrelle

Runs

04/23/25 @ East Haven	3
04/11/25 vs New Canaan	2
04/11/25 vs New Canaan	2
04/02/25 vs Ludlowe	2
04/01/25 @ Amity Regional	2
+ 3 more games

At the plate, Fairfield Prep let Ryan Ventrelle and Cooper Rotondo run wild. Ventrelle got on base in four of his five plate appearances with three runs, one triple, and one RBI, while Rotondo went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double. Ventrelle is becoming a predictor of Fairfield Prep's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 5-1 (and 2-4 when he doesn't). Colin Kalagher also deserves some recognition as he brought in his first RBI of the season.

Fairfield Prep always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .550. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.

Meanwhile, Shelton didn't have quite enough to beat Cheshire on Wednesday and fell 6-5. The loss continues a trend for the Gaels in their meetings with the Rams: they've now lost four in a row.

Shelton's defeat dropped their record down to 4-7. As for Fairfield Prep, their record now sits at 7-5.

Fairfield Prep couldn't quite finish off Shelton in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 and fell 2-0. Can the Jesuits avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.