Grizzlies Defeat Rockville, Advance to Quarterfinals

May 29, 2024

The Guilford Grizzlies traveled to Vernon, CT on Wednesday, and defeated the Rockville Rams, 8-4 in their CIAC Class L, second-round game. The win sends them into the State Quarterfinal round against the #1 seed, Woodstock Academy, on Sat., 6/1 in Woodstock, CT.

Freshman, Cade Rinehart, earned his 4th win of the year by pitching 5 strong innings for the Grizzlies as their starter vs. Rockville, before handing things off to Senior, Brandon Rosa, who earned the save by pitching 2 scoreless innings of relief.

At the plate, Lucas Deshefy was a perfect 4 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored, while Mike Buccaro and Adam Copeland both recorded 2 hits and a double, and Bryce Meder had 2 RBI.

After a scoreless 1st, Guilford took a 4-0 lead in the top of the 2nd when Deshefy, Meder and Copeland delivered 3 consecutive singles to load the bases with 0 outs. Then a wild pitch, a Matt DiNardo RBI single, a Rockville error and a Colin Pompano sacrifice fly led to the Grizzlies' 4-run inning.

Rockville cut Guilford's lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the 2nd, but in the top of the 3rd, Guilford answered back with 2 more. Buccaro lead off with a double and was moved to 3rd on Deshefy's 2nd single of the game. Buccaro would then score when Meder grounded into a fielder's choice. Copleand followed Meder with a double to right, and when the throw into the infield got away, Meder headed home to make it to make it 6-2.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Rockville put up 2 more runs and it was 6-4 Guilford until the top of the 5th. In the 5th, Deshefy stroked his 3rd single of the game then advanced to 2nd and 3rd on 2 consecutive wild pitches, before Meder's sac fly scored him for a 7-4 lead. Then in the top of the 7th, Lucas Ametrano tripled to deep left and was promptly driven home, when Mike Buccaro followed him with an RBI single for Guilford's final run of the game.

Up next for Guilford is a long trip up I-395 to Woodstock Academy on Sat., 6/1, for a CIAC Quarterfinal Game with the Centaurs at 1:00 pm. As mentioned, WA is the #1 ranked team in Class L, and have tournament wins over Branford (5-3), and Berlin (11-2) thus far.