Holding a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Trumbull seemed to be in control in its baseball game against FCIAC opponent Greenwich High School, yet the Cardinals have a way of wielding some late-inning lightning on their home field and such was the case in Friday’s matchup.

Drawing several walks, then receiving clutch run-scoring hits from seniors Jake Melley and Tommy Powers, the Cardinals erased their four-run deficit, scoring five runs in the sixth inning and earning a much-needed conference victory.

Melley hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning, Powers added an RBI single and Greenwich received stellar pitching throughout in its come-from-behind 5-4 win over visiting Trumbull. The victory stopped a two-game losing streak for the Cardinals, who improved their record to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the highly competitive FCIAC. Junior Brayden Shockley pitched four innings of one-run ball, sophomore Liam Zeller allowed three runs in one inning of relief, Powers threw a scoreless sixth inning and senior Lucas Meinelt capped the win for Greenwich by not allowing a run in the seventh.

“Wilton was a similar kind of comeback, but this one has even more juice, because you’re playing Trumbull, a perennial powerhouse, probably the most consistent team the FCIAC has had in the last 50 years,” Greenwich coach Adrian Arango said, referring to the Cardinals’ 8-6 comeback road win over Wilton on April 23. “Sometimes you just need things to break your way. We’ve had a lot of things not break our way this year. But at practice we talked about not making excuses and just going out and putting our best effort every day.”

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Valentino was outstanding for Trumbull, registering 10 strikeouts, while allowing two runs on three hits and just one walk in 5 1/3 innings pitched. He was taken out of the game with one out in the sixth inning, after throwing 92 pitches.

“Even down 4-0 late in the game, we knew his pitch count was getting up and we just wanted a chance to get into the bullpen,” Arango said of the Cards’ comeback. “We had great at-bats in the sixth inning, working counts, walks, bloopers, whatever it takes. I’m very proud of the boys for that.”

Sophomore shortstop Luke Tocci reached first base on an Eagles infield error to leadoff the sixth inning, then senior right fielder Emerson Bulis was hit by a Valentino pitch, putting runners at first and second. Junior Jason Costello relieved Valentino and after retiring a batter, Costello walked sophomore pinch hitter Luke Langhorne, loading the bases with one out.

Powers lined a single to right field, scoring a run and cutting the Eagles’ lead to 4-1.

“It was a great at-bat, I went up there and saw a bunch of walks before it, so I tried to be smart,” Powers said of his clutch hit. “I saw the ball and hit it.”

Senior catcher Hank van Schaik and junior Ryan Johnson each walked with the bases loaded, bringing GHS to within 4-3. Sophomore Ryan DeMelo went in to pitch for Costello and Melley laced a base hit to left field, bringing home two run to give the Cardinals a 5-4 advantage.

“They had a pitching change going into that at-bat, we had the bases loaded,” Melley said of his go-ahead hit. “I was licking my lips a little bit, because the pitch before, it looked like a nice hittable pitch. So, I knew what I wanted to do, I wanted to get an RBI. Coach told me at least a sac fly and first pitch I really wanted was a curve ball, I waved and the second pitch, another curve ball and I got ahold of it over the third baseman’s head.”

Powers held Trumbull to four runs, giving the Cards a chance to comeback in the sixth inning.

“I was planning to start tomorrow (against Amity, May 3), so I wanted to throw as little amount as possible,” Powers noted. “It was a good relief job today.”

Arango was also impressed with Power’s performance at the plate, with his pinch hit RBI single accounting for Greenwich’s first run of this FCIAC matchup.

“Tommy’s a great athlete, he’s going to get the job done at the plate,” Arango noted. “He’s been looking to get more at-bats and what better way to get yourself more at bats than step up in a situation like that and get a big hit and help your cause and get the win.”

Shockley, a left-hander, matched Valentino with zeroes on the scoreboard for the first three innings and allowed only one run on four hits in four innings.

“He got his first varsity win and our first varsity FCIAC win against Wilton,” Arango said of Shockley. “He was phenomenal for four innings and he gave us everything we wanted. He kept them off balance. That’s the kind of pitcher he is. He is going to compete and he knows how to pitch. Every time he steps out there, we are going to be confident that we are going to be in a game like that and that’s what he gave us.”

A triple to left center field by sophomore outfield Anthony Moura and a single by leadoff batter Ryan Leonzi, a sophomore, off Shockley, put the Eagles ahead, 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, senior first baseman James Delaney hit a solo home run off Zeller, a righty, making it 2-0 in favor of the visitors. The Eagles added an unearned run in the fifth inning, extending their edge to 3-0.

The sixth inning saw Trumbull score one run courtesy of Delaney, who delivered an RBI single, giving the Eagles a 4-0 lead. Yet, as always, there was no quit in the Cardinals.

“Valentino is a sophomore, so we’ll have to contend with him for a few more years,” Arango said. “He’s very poised very confident and he made big pitches in big spots earlier. I thought we had some good at-bats, but you have a kid throwing that hard – he’s going to be good for years to come. Trumbull is a pitching factory, they’ve always had great pitching. I give credit to our boys for never giving up.”

After Powers struck out a batter in the sixth inning, Meinelt, a left-hander, posted a strikeout in the seventh inning to conclude Greenwich’s comeback victory.

“At home, we’ve always found a way this season to build energy and it worked today, coming down from 4-0,” Melley noted. “It was definitely a different kind of energy.”

Following their win against Trumbull on Friday (May 2), the Cardinals hosted Amity, one of the top teams in the state on Saturday (May 2) and dropped a 6-0 decision in a non-conference game.

Amity scored one run in the third inning and five runs in the fifth in the victory. Senior William Maasbach got the start for GHS, pitching four innings, while yielding five runs and striking out two batters.

Powers took the mound again, pitching three innings, allowing one run. At the plate, Melley went 2 for 3, junior Baxter Conte was 1 for 3, as was senior Max Marek for Greenwich.

Greenwich’s overall record is now 3-7 going into its road game against Darien tomorrow (May 5). The Cardinals will host Bridgeport Central on May 6 and have another home game on May 7 versus Danbury. The Cardinals will end a busy week on May 9 with a road game against Stamford.

“The pressure is on, we can’t give up any more FCIAC losses, we’ve got goals,” Arango said. “The great thing about the FCIAC Tournament is you just have to get in. There are no guarantees. We want to be in that conversation, we’re building towards that. We feel that we’re on our way, but we’re still kind of growing through some growing pains. If we can get the train going, we’re going to be tough to stop.”

It was around close to the midway point last season when Greenwich went on a roll and ultimately earned the No. 2 seed in the FCIAC Tournament.

“Last year we were 2-5 and then we went on a run,” Melley said. “We are looking to do that again.”