Brookfield, Guilford to play for Class L baseball championshp

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Brookfield's Tanner Wall during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Lucas Ametrano celebrates his home run during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Casey Katz celebrates after the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford catcher Alex Vincent hugs pitcher Andrew Shosho after the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Casey Katz celebrates after the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Lucas Deshefy during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's James Mascari during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield coach Matt Hart during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven coach Don Martone during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's Nick Hunkele during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Jack Ponte during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Tanner Wall during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's Connor Martinello during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Connor Jordan during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Garrett McGovern during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's Nat Marczak during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Matt Ackerly during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's Kevin Milewski during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Matthew McDowell during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's Nick Hunkele during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Matthew McDowell during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Connor Jordan during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Connor Jordan during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's Nick Hunkele during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Brookfield's Connor Jordan during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Notre Dame-West Haven's Connor Martinello during the Class L baseball semifinals between Brookfield and Notre Dame-West Haven at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Berlin's Johan Shackford during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Colin Pompano during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Berlin's Conlan Simard during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Andrew Shosho during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Lucas Ametrano celebrates his home run with coach Nick Merullo during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Lucas Ametrano celebrates his home run during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Lucas Ametrano celebrates his home run during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Lucas Ametrano celebrates his home run during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Berlin's Aiden Cooney during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Jack Farrah during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Berlin's Luke Wadstrup during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Guilford's Lucas Deshefy during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Berlin's Tyler Bergstrom during the Class L baseball semifinals between Guilford and Berlin at Palmer Field, Middletown on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

MIDDLETOWN – Two years ago, Guilford finished 2-16 for then-rookie head coach Nick Merullo.

Oh, how times have changed.

The Grizzlies defeated Berlin, 1-0, in the CIAC Class L semifinals at Palmer Field for their 18th consecutive victory. Guilford, now ranked No. 2 in the GameTimeCT Top 10 baseball poll, hasn't lost since being beaten by Notre Dame-West Haven, 11-9, on April 19.

Third-seeded Guilford (24-3) will play fifth-seeded Brookfield (21-6) in the finals either Friday or Saturday at Palmer Field. The Grizzlies won their last state title in Class L in 2007 when they defeated Pomperaug.

"It's been a product of hard work and a long look in the mirror from our players and coaching staff," Merullo said. "Two years ago, there were some talented young kids we knew would have a good chance a year or two later. Everyone bought in and trusted the process that we knew would help make us successful. We started to see little steps last year when we went from two wins to 12."

And the turnaround is almost complete.

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"This has been a special group and no matter how it turns out, we’re proud of our players," Merullo said. "It's one game at a game and, fortunately for us, we have the big one left."

It didn't take very long for Guilford to get on the board. Lucas Ametrano, the second batter of the game, hit a 0-1 hanging curve off the scoreboard in left center to make it 1-0.

"It was a hanging curve and I was ready for it," Ametrano said. "I’ve been trying to work opposite field, but it hung inside and I just crushed it."

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"Lucas is a guy taking good at bats of late," Merullo said. "He's been a great player and put as good of a swing as he could."

After that, Guilford was held hitless by Berlin sophomore righthander Jonah Shackford, who issued four walks, didn't allow another runner past second base and retired the final 10 batters he faced.

"We lost on a one-hitter and it happened to go out the park," Berlin coach Leo Veleas said. "It stinks when you lose, and Shack made one bad mistake."

But it was Guilford senior righthander Andrew Shosho who stole the show on the mound. He allowed just three hits and one walk and only allowed one runner past first base, with that coming in the third inning when John O’Brien singled down the left field line and stole second.

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"I had all three of my pitches working," Shosho said. "I had a good hard fastball and my curve kept hitters off balance for strikes. My changeup I was able to throw over the plate and I was able to get some swings off the front foot."

"He's a great competitor and was outstanding tonight," Merullo said. "He was putting together a fine junior season last year and broke his leg in a freak accident at Amity. I’ve never seen a kid come back like that with something to prove. He built up his arm strength and developed another pitch."

Berlin had another chance in the top of the sixth with two outs when Aiden Cooney drove the ball down the right field line for what looked like a double. However, rightfielder Bryce Meder got to the ball quickly before the ball went into the corner and fired a perfect throw to second base to nail Cooney by a couple feet.

"I was joking in the dugout all year how nobody's been running on me," said Meder, who is also the ace of the Guilford pitching staff. "I just wanted a chance to test my arm and it came at the perfect time."

"It was a great throw," Veleas said. "We have to try and take the bag."

Berlin finished its season at 16-8.

"At the beginning of the year, I would have lost my house betting on these kids," Veleas said. "We made a lot of mistakes and our pitching wasn't very good. In the second half of the season, we played great and it shows."

It has been a postseason of firsts for the Brookfield baseball team. The Bobcats were already playing in their first state semifinal on Tuesday. Now, they're going to play in their first state final. Behind the combined 2-hit pitching of Matt McDowell and Casey Katz, No. 5-seeded Brookfield topped No. 9 Notre Dame – West Haven 3-1 in a Class L semifinal contest at Palmer Field in Middletown.Brookfield advances to the program's first title game and will face No. 3 Guilford this weekend for the Class L title at Palmer Field at a time to be determined."It's awesome," said Brookfield coach Matt Hart, whose team improved to 21-6. "It's the first time in program history. I couldn't have asked for more from this group. We have a lot of young guys and a few older guys that lead by example, and they have led us the whole year. I couldn't be happier for a better group this year, but we keep saying we are not finished yet."

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McDowell went five innings for the Bobcats, dancing out of three jams, before Katz retired the last four batters by strikeout to clinch Brookfield's first state title appearance.

Katz came up big in the sixth when he allowed a two-out double by Notre Dame's Connor Martinello, then struck out Matthew Piechota to end the threat. Katz then retired the side in order in the seventh to end Notre Dame's hopes of returning to the state title game for the first time since 2016.

"I felt really good today," Katz said. "I was a little nervous. I haven't pitched in a couple of weeks. My mindset was just to throw strikes and let my teammates make the plays. I think we have one of, if not the best defense in the state, so that was just my mindset to just throw strikes."

The Bobcats, who lost in the South-West Conference championship game, never trailed and took a 2-0 lead after three innings.

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In the second inning, Tanner Wall scored from second on a wild pitch and when Notre Dame catcher Kevin Milewski's throw sailed into left field.

Brookfield then turned to its defense to get out of a second inning jam as Notre Dame had two runners on with no one out. A fly ball to center by Nick Hunkele was caught by Sam Consalvo, and Notre Dame pinch-runner Justin DeJesus was called out for leaving second early while attempting to tag up.

"I am really proud of these boys," Consalvo said. "Getting on the board first was huge. We had Matt (McDowell) out there throwing great.

"Me and my coach have been working on that at practice. We have a play where the guy is tagging up, we kind of let it (ball) drop into place to try to get the guy to do exactly what he did. That's what happened. I let it drop into place, he left early, and we doubled him up."

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The Bobcats increased the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the inning when McDowell walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Consalvo, and scored on a two-out single to center by Garrett McGovern.

Notre Dame scored its only run of the contest in the fourth inning when Milewski led off with a walk, moved to third on a one-out single by Martinello, who had both Notre Dame hits, and scored on a passed ball.

"We didn't get the timely hit," Notre Dame coach Don Martone said after his team closed the season with an 18-8 record. "I was afraid we were going to have one of these games where the at bats were going to be off. Today was that day. We had two hits. No team is going to be able to win, especially with the kid they threw.

"You can't make three errors and get only two hits and expect to advance. They outplayed us. They pitched better, they hit the ball better today, and they played better defense. They played better baseball today."

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Brookfield got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Connor Jordan led off with a walk, and two-out singles by McDowell and Consalvo produced the third run of the game.

"Energy and absolutely our pitching," Hart said when asked about the keys to getting to the title game. "We have what we feel are two of the best pitchers in the state. You are talking about a guy (Katz) who just comes in and nothing bothers him. We just get it done. At the plate, we battle. Two outs, two strikes, we find a way to get it done."

The Green Knights had two more scoring opportunities, but they stranded a runner on second in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

McDowell went five innings for Brookfield, allowing one hit, while striking out six and walking five. Katz allowed one hit and struck out four in two innings of relief.

Hunkele went the distance for Notre Dame, allowing six hits, while striking out three and walking four.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Sam Consalvo — Brookfield junior had two hits and drove in a run, and also had a key defensive play, resulting in a double play to end a Notre dame threat.

QUOTABLE

"It's just chemistry. We all love each other. We root for each other." — Brookfield's Sam Consalvo on advancing to the state title game.