Grizzlies Poised for Another Winning Season in 2024
The 2023 Guilford Baseball team will always be remembered as one of the best teams in GHS history. Their 24-4 record, their 18-game winning streak, their Conference Championship, along with a number of group and individual accolades, will forever stand as testament to this fact. It was a special year for the program, and an act that will be hard to follow in 2024.
That being said, the 2024 Team definitely appears up to the challenge.
Lead by Senior Co-Captains, Bryce Meder and Michael Buccaro, the Grizzlies will return 5 players from the heart of their 2023 lineup, one of their top pitchers in Meder, along with several contributors to last year's success who will play bigger roles this year.
The formidable lineup will feature last year's All-State and SCC Player of the Year, Lucas Deshefy, who returns for his Junior year after an amazing Sophomore season. In 2023, Deshefy lead the team in 6 offensive catagories including batting average (.430), hits (34), on-base percentage (.571) and slugging percentage (.671). The team, its fans and many others who follow CT High School Baseball are looking forward to his 2024 season.
Also returning from last year's lineup is 2-time All-SCC (2023 All-State 2nd) Meder, along with fellow Seniors, Buccaro (2023 Team RBI leader) and Colin Pompano. Junior, Lucas Ametrano (2023 Team leader in HR, SB & Runs), will also be a force to be reckoned with at the top of the GHS order.
Others players slated to take on bigger roles at the Varsity level in 2024 include Seniors, Joe Tafro & Brandon Rosa, along with Juniors, Adam Copeland & Matt DiNardo, and Sophomores, Alex Tafro & Finn Matlosz.
After guiding the Grizziles to a SCC Championship and CIAC Class L Runner Up, GHS Head Coach, Nick Merullo, returns along with his entire staff from last year, including assistants John Foti, Jeff Letourneau, Jeff Mainetti, Matt Merullo and Ralph Russo.
The 2024 Schedule will feature a number of the SCC's (and the State's) top programs, and kicks off on Mon., April 1st, with a home game against long time rival, Daniel Hand (4pm. at GHS). Other perennial powerhouses on the docket include 8 games (2 each) vs. Fairfield Prep, Xavier, Notre Dame - WH and Amity. This, along with out-of-conference games vs. St. Joseph (Trumbull), East Lyme and Middletown, as well as several other difficult opponents, has the Grizzlies' work cut out for them in '24.
With the new season about to get underway, the GHS Baseball Program would like to thank all of their 2024 Sponsors, including A&W Sanitation and Mr. J Restaurant, along with many other generous local businesses (and families)! Please click here to visit our sponsor's page to learn more about these folks who help us deliver a high-quality experience for our student-athletes.
From first pitch to the final out, we will be providing all of the recaps and info you'll need to follow GHS Baseball in 2024, so be sure to check back here on the site often. In the meantime, let's look forward to another fun and competitive baseball season, and a memorable follow-up to an unforgettable year.
