Errors Plague Rams As New Canaan Baseball Falls to Darien 6-1

It was a contest pitting the top two teams in the FCIAC up against one another. Bitter rivals and storied programs with both teams featuring their respective ace on the mound. With hundreds of fans from both Darien and New Canaan lining the fences at Mead Park, it had all the makings for a classic showdown. In the end, it was the Blue Wave who took advantage of seven New Canaan errors, spoiling the home team’s bid for first place in the conference by besting the Rams 6-1. “It was, unfortunately, poor execution,” New Canaan head coach Mitch Hoffman told NewCanaanite.com. “We had more errors than either team had hits, which is not going to work.”

New Canaan Baseball Tops Trinity Catholic for Second Walk-Off Win of the Week

On Monday it was Robbie Jones who came through with a two-run home run to help the Rams complete the come-from-behind win against Greenwich in extra innings. On Thursday, it was Brandon Abate’s turn to be the hero as with the game tied and the bases loaded, he connected on a single to right field to score Robbie Jones from third and cap off an incredible week for New Canaan Baseball. “I’m just trying to think of it as any other at-bat,” the senior co-captain told NewCanaanite.com. “You just gotta relax your nerves. You get a little bit jumpy out there—your heart starts pumping , and if you get anxious you’re gonna ground out or something. I was just thinking about hitting the ball up the middle.”

Comeback Kids: Robbie Jones’ Walk-Off HR Gives New Canaan Baseball Extra-Inning Win Over Greenwich

New Canaan sophomore Robbie Jones began the game on the mound for his first start there in his high school career. He finished the game watching the ball sail off his bat and over the right field wall to cap off an extra inning, come-from-behind, 8-7 Rams victory over the Greenwich Cardinals. “In the beginning of the at-bat, I can’t lie, I was a little nervous being in that spot,” Jones told NewCanaanite.com. “But I was still really confident. When I hit that ball I was so pumped.” Also pumped were Jones’ teammates, who mobbed the hero at home plate.

Undefeated No More: New Canaan Lax Sinks Darien, Ends Wave’s Winning Streak at 34

It had been two years since Darien lost a game. The last 34 games they played in, they were the victors each and every time. Three of those losses in that streak came at the expense of New Canaan in 2014—an OT loss during the regular season, an OT loss in the FCIAC tournament, and a 10-8 defeat in the CIAC Championship. But on Saturday at a packed Dunning Stadium, the Rams turned the page. With the combination of senior co-captain Michael Kraus’ four goals, stellar goaltending by sophomore Drew Morris and collapsing, shutdown defense, New Canaan (9-2, 6-1 FCIAC) defeated Darien (11-1, 7-1 FCIAC), in a 9-8 thriller.

New Canaan Girls Lax Falls Short Against Darien

Just like any New Canaan and Darien matchup, there was buzz heading into Thursday night’s girls lacrosse contest. And with both teams coming into the showdown undefeated in FCIAC play (6-0), the buzz grew to a roar at an electric Dunning Stadium. In the end, it was the Blue Wave who made the most noise on the field. Led by junior midfielder Chandler Kirby’s three goals and a stretch of five straight goals between the end of the first and start of the second half, Darien took down the Rams 12-9. “The game plan was really to be disciplined,” New Canaan coach Kristin Woods told NewCanaanite.com. “They [Darien] have a spectacular team.