The CT Softball Blog

FAIRFIELD—Adam Laliberte has a message for the rest of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

The first-year head coach of the three-time defending FCIAC softball champion Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons said, “I’ve said to a lot of people: Try to get us early because once we start figuring it out, we’re going to be tough, especially with our pitching.”

There have been a lot of changes at Sturges Park over the past year.

The three-time defending FCIAC champs—who also won the State Class LL championship a year ago—lost seven seniors and their head coach.

Just the same, though, the Falcons plan on soaring high once again this spring.

After Monday’s 15-2 win over Greenwich, the Falcons are 2-0 in FCIAC play and focused on great things ahead.

A fourth-straight league title for the program’s four seniors is at the top of the list.

“That’s the thing, you’re obviously the three-time defending FCIAC champions, the defending Class LL state championships, you get everybody’s best shot,” Laliberte said. “I don’t think that’s anything new though, to the kids that have returned. We were getting everybody shot best shot the last few years. Right now, it’s just now just adjusting to not having those other players around you and then having our players step into those roles, understanding what that means and how to carry yourself and really to deal with the pressure of having that target on your back and really getting everybody’s best shot.”

In FCIAC play alone, the Falcons have gone 63-3 over the last three seasons.

Last year’s season—a magical 27-1 campaign that saw Ludlowe win both the league and state big school championships—preceded a lot of changes.

In addition to the seven players—including Chelsea Villar (Hofstra), Eleni Ohe (Yale) and Anna Gedacht (Merrimack)—who left via graduation, the Falcons also lost head coach Lou Bunosso.

Bunosso left the high school ranks to take over a college program at Albertus Magnus in New Haven.

And, truth to be told, the graduation of such a large (and important) senior class now allows the Falcons to know showcase hope deep the program is.

A big step for the Falcons was hiring Laliberte to take over Bunosso, after serving two years on the Ludlowe staff.

“We have Coach Adam back, so that’s definitely stayed the same,” said starting pitcher and captain Alex Lewey. “We’re glad to have him here.”

Laliberte, a Rhode Island native who once coached at the Taft School, and Bunosso complemented one another and has allowed for a seamless transition for this year’s group.

“It’s like we kind of rubbed off on each other,” Laliberte admitted. “I have a certain style of play that’s very different from Lou’s. So, me melding with his, I think that’s helped us a lot over these last couple of years. What Lou did a great job here was building the culture. Obviously, we’re very good, but we did an amazing job building the culture. These kids believe in Ludlowe softball.”

Which makes the job of this year’s senior captains—Lewey, Lauren Foley, Izzy Mulhall and Rosanna Merturi—both easier albeit more important than ever.

“They’re amazing,” Laliberte said. “I’m really glad we have these four to help us. They’re just incredibly talented players, but they’re great kids. Just great kids.”

Having “Ludlowe” on the front of their jersey means a lot to them—even if that includes a big old target on their back.

And despite all the changes the goals have not changed.

“We have all the same goals,” Foley said. “I mean we’ve won FCIAC three years in a row and it’s like right now we’re 2-0 in the (league) and we’re doing great.”

The Falcons have lost two regular season games already this season: 2-0 to Jonathan Law and 5-3 to St. Joseph (a non-conference game).

While many opponents and fans might be thinking about what Ludlowe lost, the Falcons know who they have in the dugout.

“I think a lot of people right now are really focused on what we lost instead of what we still have,” said Merturi, who made the move from left to center to replace Villar defensively. “I mean we still have Alex throwing on the mound, throwing amazing games. We still have Lauren out there in the field and even some juniors and sophomores. We are just stepping up and Coach Adam’s doing a phenomenal job of really instilling what he believes in us for the younger ones too.”

It’s part of the closeness—the culture—that Bunosso built that carries on this season, as well.

“I think that the most vital part of high school softball is the family vibe,” said Mulhall, who is currently out with a leg injury. “It’s definitely different than travel because everything we do; we do for each other. If someone’s out, we fill in a role. Everyone’s eager, everyone’s willing to learn. I feel like that vibe transferring from last year to this year is something really important that we’ll emphasize and keep going.”

Much of season is still laid out in front of the Falcons, but Lewey on the mound gives the team and advantage from the opening.

Lewey has been the winning pitcher in all three of Ludlowe’s FCIAC’s title and while Gedacht’s ability to close is gone, sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Yu is a hard thrower who can complement the team’s ace, as well.

“It worked really well with Anna because I would start, she would close, and I think as we competed, we got better,” Lewey said. “I think that’s what we’ll have with me and Kaitlyn, too.”

Up and down the line-up, the Falcons can put the bat on the ball.

And as the new players gain “varsity experience” to go with their raw talent, Fairfield Ludlowe—and Lewey—could very well claim a fourth straight FCIAC softball championship.

So as Coach Laliberte said, get to the Falcons early.

May and June could see a vastly different Fairfield Ludlowe team.

Here is the Fairfield Ludlowe roster, according to the CIAC website: Lauren Foley, Sr.; Izzy Mulhall, Sr.; Alex Lewey, Sr.; Rosanna Merturi, Sr.; Gina Solow, Jr.; Alexa Mills, Jr.; Lean Encarnacion, Jr.; Caroline Branscombe, Jr.; Allie Tournas, Jr.; Angie Tavella, Soph.; Kaitlyn Yu, Soph.; Lauren Santa Barbara, Soph.; Lauren Carroll, Soph.; Ella Gremse, Fr.

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