By Christopher DeMuth
The New Canaan Rams varsity baseball team delivered a gutsy performance Monday afternoon at Mead Park, pulling off a 2–1 win over the Ridgefield Tigers in a game defined by sharp pitching, timely hits, and clean defense.
The game was a low-scoring battle from the first pitch. Neither team managed to score in the first two innings, with both starting pitchers working efficiently. Ridgefield got on the board first in the top of the third, but the Rams responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After tying the game at 1–1, New Canaan took the lead in the fifth and never looked back.
What separated the Rams in this close matchup wasn’t explosive offense, but their ability to make the most of their limited chances. New Canaan finished the game with only four hits, compared to Ridgefield’s five, but those four hits managed to convert to runs at more than double the rate of Ridgefields hits.
Senior Adrian Delicata led the Rams at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double. His confident swings and ability to put the ball in play gave New Canaan a boost in the middle of the lineup. Delicata now boasts a .667 average from this game and showed why he’s one of the Rams’ most dependable hitters.
Leadoff man T. MacAllister also played a key role. He reached base twice, going 1-for-1 with a walk and a double, helping set the tone early. MacAllister’s bat came alive in the third inning, sparking the rally that tied the game.
Joining them was Maddox Hoffman, who added a double and scored one of the team’s two runs. Hoffman finished 1-for-3 and made several plays in the field, handling all eight of his defensive chances without a misstep. Hoffman continues to be a strong two-way contributor for New Canaan, adding energy and consistency to the Rams’ lineup.
While the offense did just enough, it was the Rams’ pitching that truly secured the win.
Stuart Hellmann got the start and pitched 4.1 solid innings. He allowed four hits and one run, walking four and striking out two. He finished with 80 pitches and gave New Canaan the chance to stay in the game early.
After Hellmann exited in the fifth, junior Zak Joslin took over and was dominant in relief. Joslin pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out three. He threw only 29 pitches, attacking hitters and keeping the Tigers off balance with a mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches.
The Rams also played error-free baseball in the field, a major difference-maker in a one-run game. The defense recorded 21 putouts and seven assists without a single mistake. Every infielder finished the game with a perfect fielding percentage, including clean performances from MacAllister, Delicata, and Hoffman.
Outfielder D’Andrea added to the Rams’ all-around performance by swiping a base in the late innings, keeping Ridgefield’s defense under pressure. D’Andrea also drew a walk and played his role well, reaching base and moving into scoring position to help set up the go-ahead run.
While Ridgefield made several threats throughout the game—particularly in the third and fourth innings—the Rams always found ways to escape trouble. In the top of the fourth, with the Tigers threatening again, Hellmann induced a key groundout to end the inning. Later, Joslin stranded a runner in scoring position in the sixth with a pair of quick outs.
The Rams’ ability to stay locked in under pressure, limit mistakes, and make routine plays was the difference. Ridgefield may have matched or even slightly out-hit New Canaan, but they couldn’t match the Rams’ efficiency or composure.
New Canaan will look to carry that energy into their next game, where they’ll face another tough conference opponent. If they continue to pitch well, defend cleanly, and get contributions throughout the lineup, they could be a dangerous team in the postseason.
Final Score:
New Canaan Rams – 2
Ridgefield Tigers – 1
