A Grand Slam Opens the Door
The Staples School baseball team, seeded eleventh, delivered a decisive 13-2 victory over the Norwalk Bears in the CIAC quarterfinal on Tuesday, advancing to the state semifinals.
A six-run opening frame set the tone, with senior Bruce Schlegelmilch launching a grand slam that sparked the offense.
Freshman pitcher Cole Landgraf anchored the effort, tossing five innings of two-run ball while striking out seven batters.
Semifinal Showdown with Fairfield Ludlowe
The Wreckers will now meet Fairfield Ludlowe, the defending FCIAC champions, in a rematch of an 11-9 regular-season win.
Ludlowe arrives after capturing the FCIAC title, giving the Wreckers a familiar but formidable opponent.
Coach Dan Mullen praised the team's resilience, noting that the early offensive burst gave the pitchers the breathing room they needed.
The upcoming semifinal promises a clash of two teams that have already traded blows earlier this season, with both squads eager to claim the state crown.