Receiving outstanding pitching and stellar defensive play, the Greenwich High School baseball team hopes its season-opening game against West Haven on Saturday marked a prelude of what’s to come.

Troy Goodwin pitched five no-hit innings, John McHugh hit a solo home run and Tommy Passamano threw two shutout innings for the Cardinals, who began their 2023 season in impressive fashion, posting a 2-0 win over non-conference foe West Haven.

The Cardinals and were each limited to two hits, but the host Cards put their hits together in the bottom of the fourth inning. McHugh, a senior first baseman/pitcher, slugged a solo homer and Goodwin, a senior right-hander, helped his own cause with an RBI single, giving GHS a 2-0 lead.

“The pitching was tremendous,” Greenwich coach Adrian Arango said. “This is why we have been so excited about the season. We have three senior captains who have been pitching since sophomore year, along with Cody (Baker) who has been our catcher.”

Baker, Goodwin, McHugh and Passamano are Greenwich’s senior captains. Goodwin, a right-hander, struck out four batters, while not walking a hitter in five hitless innings for the Cardinals in their successful season-opener.

“Everything was working today, everything felt good,” said Goodwin, who brings skill and experience to the top of the Cards’ pitching rotation. ‘The fastball was on point. During warm-ups, the slider was a little off, but I adjusted and got that working by the second inning. The change-up was always there.”

McHugh, who batted second in the order, smashed a solo home run off West Haven senior pitcher Chase Supan that traveled over the left centerfield fence, giving GHS a 1-0 fourth-inning lead.

“We just needed to get something going, we needed a spark,” said McHugh, a left-handed batter, who played first base on Saturday. “I just tried to be myself. I have confidence in myself when I step in the box and I just try to have fun with my friends here and get something going.”

Indeed, McHugh’s home run at the field at Havemeyer Park was exactly what the Cardinals needed.

“Johnny’s been locked in,” Arango noted. “He’s been that way since he was a freshman. As a third-year varsity guy and senior captain, every time he gets up there, he’s a threat. That kick started us.”

Later in the bottom of the fourth inning, Goodwin delivered a single, scoring Jake Melley and putting the Cards on top, 2-0. That’s all the offense Greenwich needed, thanks to Goodwin, Passamano and the strong overall defensive play exhibited by the team throughout.

“Our defense was amazing, everything goes to them,” Goodwin said. “I wouldn’t be myself if it wasn’t for them. The confidence comes from them, the confidence comes from Cody behind the dish. It gives me confidence to throw the ball over the plate and without them, it wouldn’t be like that.”

Goodwin and Baker were in sync throughout the Cardinals first-game victory.

“He was throwing strikes and having West Haven put the ball in play and the defense was making plays,” Baker said. “I think we’re looking really good this year. Today set the tone for the rest of the season. Our pitching and defense were really good. Our hitting was all right, but it’ll come along as we go.”

Passamano, also a right-hander, allowed two hits, while striking out two hitters in two innings to pick up the save. He’s become accustomed to protecting leads in the late innings from the mound for the Cards.

“It’s become routine for me, I’ve been doing it for two years and I’ve become pretty good at it,” Passamano said of closing games on the mound. “I thought it was a great game all around. The pitching was great, the fielders did all their work.”

Senior Ray Gilbert, a catcher and Michael Madera, a left fielder, had one hit apiece for West Haven (0-1).

Arango saw plenty of positive signs from his squad in Saturday’s season-opener.

“Troy gives us five no-hit innings, Tommy comes in shuts the door – it’s a great recipe for a win and it’s a testament to how hard the kids have worked,” he said. “It’s really exciting to start the season with that kind of pitching and the kind of defense we had behind them.”

Goodwin, Passamano, McHugh, give the Cardinals a trio of experienced pitchers. The Cardinals are also relying on production from the mound from sophomore Ryan Johnson, senior Hayden Winig, freshman Luke Langhorne, senior Fin Junius, senior Tommy Powers and junior Max Marek.

“It’s better than every team that I’ve ever been on,” Goodwin said of the squad’s pitching. “All the pitchers are driving, working, trying to compete with each other, always picking each other up. Everyone’s stuff is good. They give us a chance to win every day.”

McHugh, who plays first base, junior Aidan Brehm (second baseman, shortstop), sophomore Jayden Zych (shortstop, third baseman), sophomore Luke Tocci (shortstop/pitcher, third baseman) and sophomore Brad Wallace are among some of Greenwich’s infielders. Brehm started at second base on Saturday, while Tocci got the start at shortstop and Baker was behind the plate. Junior Hank van Schaik provides depth at catcher, while sophomore James Mora is an infielder/pitcher.

“We have a good infield, we knew that would be a plus for us this year,” Arango said. “We starting a bunch of underclassmen, but we are really deep. We have a bunch of guys we can bring in and count on.”

Junior Jake Melley received the start in centerfield on opening day and should help anchor the outfield, along with junior Emmy Bulis and junior Nick D’Andrea. Bulis started in right field and D’Andrea played left field for the Cards against West Haven.

Lucas Meinelt, a junior, is also an outfielder, while senior Michael Orrico catches, as does senior Jacob Meyer.

Greenwich visits FCIAC rival Staples on Tuesday for a 4:30 p.m. matchup, then hosts non-league opponent St. Bernard on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Cardinals are seeking a bounce back season this spring after not qualifying for the FCIAC Tournament and the CIAC Class LL Tournament in 2023. Last season saw the Cardinals get off to a tough start, as it lost nine of its first 10 games. However, GHS went on a winning streak after that and just missed qualifying for the Class LL state tournament by about one game.

“Last year was the first time in 20-something years we didn’t make the playoffs and it’s never happening again,” Passamano said. “We’re not letting that happen this year, absolutely not.”

The captains are eager to make their mark in their final Cardinals season.

“It feels great, I’ve been able to speak my voice and spread my knowledge around to the younger kids, whether it’s playing baseball or just being good person,” McHugh noted. “So, that’s my goal, to help build successful men here and good baseball players.”

“Everybody has bought in,” McHugh continued. “It starts with the captains and coaches. We really try to build a culture where everybody can have fun and bet themselves.”

Saturday’s season-opener against West Haven marked the first time Greenwich’s varsity baseball team played at Havemeyer Park. The baseball field at Greenwich High School is currently not in use due to the field being contaminated. The field is being worked on, but will not be ready for games this spring. Therefore, the baseball diamond at Havemeyer Park, which now has a fence surrounding the entire field, is the Cards 2024 home.

“I give a lot of credit to our parents, it’s the first time since 1970 that Greenwich played its home games here,” Arango noted. “They made a push to get the boys a field with the fence. Our Athletic Director Pete Georgiou the Parks and Recreation Department, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. (Toni) Jones and the town – they really came together to give us this field and certainly it’s lifted the boys’ spirits.”

Said Goodwin: “It’s great, there’s a beautiful view in centerfield. It’s new, it’s different and it’s good to learn how to adjust to a new field.”

Greenwich knows it must be in top form in order to compete with each opponent if faces in the challenging FCIAC, one of the best conferences in Connecticut.

“Everyone is underestimating us this year, but we’ll see,” Baker said.

“The lineup looks good, top-to-bottom, we should be able to hit every game,” Passamano said. “I think the first game there were some jitters for the younger kids, but we got through it.”

“State playoffs should be an automatic goal,” Arango noted. “Last year was the first time in a long time we didn’t make it, since 1999, which was disappointing and we need to get back to the FCIAC playoffs. We expect to be in the FCIAC playoffs ever year. That being said when there’s 16 teams and everyone is good, good teams don’t make the FCIAC playoffs.”

“We know how deep the league is. We have high goals, we’re young, but we have tremendous leadership. The four captains along with the few other seniors have really been great and we feel like it’s a good mix of kids with everyone getting along.”