Effective pitching and strong defense have been the Greenwich High School baseball team’s trademarks this season, as it displayed during its Senior Day game against visiting Ridgefield High School on May 12.

The Cardinals received six-plus shutout innings from senior left-hander Lucas Meinelt, who matched zeroes on the scoreboard with Ridgefield right-hander Adam Rosenfeld in a classic pitcher’s duel that went to extra innings.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they couldn’t break through offensively against Rosenfeld, who pitched nine scoreless innings in Ridgefield’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Greenwich in an FCIAC matchup. The Cardinals have an overall record of 5-9 on the season and an FCIAC mark of 4-6, while playing most of its opponents tough all season.

Against Ridgefield, Meinelt, one of the seniors honored on the Cardinals’ Senior Day, allowed only one hit in 6 2/3 innings and struck out five batters, while issuing three walks. Meinelt carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, yielding a single with one out in the top of the seventh.

“Lucas has been doing it for us all season,” Greenwich coach Adrian Arango said. “Every game he’s pitched he’s given us a chance to win. He had a no-hitter until the seventh and gave up a hit with one out in the seventh.”

Rosenfeld pitched all nine innings for the Tigers, yielding three hits and three walks, while registering seven strikeouts to earn the win.

“Tip your hat to Rosenfeld and the job he did,” Arango said of Ridgefield’s ace pitcher. “We just couldn’t get anything going. We tried a couple of things and got thrown out on the basepaths. But when to give yourself chances to score runs, sometimes you have to be a little more aggressive than you want to be.”

Senior right fielder Emerson Bulis, junior third baseman Baxter Conte and senior center fielder Jake Melley each had one hit for the Cardinals off Rosenfeld. Conte, senior Hank van Schaik and senior left fielder Nick D’Andrea drew one walk apiece against the hard-throwing Rosenfeld, who limited Greenwich’s scoring opportunities.

“We just couldn’t get anything going,” Arango noted. “We tried a couple of things and got thrown out on the basepaths. But when to give yourself chances to score runs, sometimes you have to be a little more aggressive than you want to be.”

Ridgefield scored an unearned run in the top of the ninth inning off Cardinals senior William Maasbach, who pitched 2 1/3 innings of stellar relief. With the bases loaded after an error and a pair of walks, the Tigers scored the game’s only run when senior Peter Karloutsos walked with the bases loaded, forcing in a run and giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. Greenwich had two batters reach base in the ninth inning when junior Luke Tocci reached on an infield error and Conte walked. Yet Rosenfeld kept the Cards off the scoreboard and threw a nine-inning shutout.

“The defense was phenomenal,” Arango said. “Defense and pitching have been our calling card all year. I can’t think of a game where our pitching hasn’t shown up. For the most part, we’ve been a pretty solid defensive team. Our pitching too. Our hitting, unfortunately, has been inconsistent. That’s why we’re 5-9. This game was very reminiscent of the St. Joseph game, which went 12 innings and we lost 2-1.”

“I feel like last year we won a lot of these games – extra innings, one-run, late run – this year, it’s kind of gone in the other direction for us,” Arango continued. “For the most part, it’s been us chasing most of the year.”

The Cardinals’ head coach paid tribute to the team’s seniors and the leadership/effort they’ve shown throughout the season.

“We have a great group of seniors,” Arango said. “The work that these guys have put in is special. The culture that’s been built here, starting from last year, the seniors and captains – and these guys have embraced it.”

On May 6, Greenwich defeated FCIAC rival Darien, 6-5. Scoring two runs in the second inning and three more in the third propelled the Cardinals past the Blue Wave. Senior first baseman Max Marek hit a two-run home run and Bulis slugged a solo homer for Greenwich, which pounded out 14 hits against the Blue Wave. Tocci went 2 for 4 with an RBI, Bulis was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI, sophomore Luke Langhorne had one hit, junior center fielder Ryan Johnson had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI and Marek had two hits, including the homer and two RBIs in the winning effort.

Van Schaik posted two hits, two RBIs and one run scored and D’Andrea went 2 for 3 with an RBI to also ignite the lineup. Meinelt pitched five innings for the win, registering six strikeouts. Senior Tommy Powers and sophomore Liam Zeller pitched in relief to secure the victory.

The Cardinals cruised to an 8-1 triumph at home versus Danbury on May 7. Bulis hit an inside-the-park home run, Tocci went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, Bulis drove in four runs and scored a pair of runs, Johnson went 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI and Melley had one hit and one RBI.

Marek delivered a run-scoring hit and Langhorne, who started the game on the mound, aided his own cause, going 2 for 3 at the plate, including a double. Langhorne, a right-hander, pitched a three-hitter in a complete-game effort with six strikeouts.

Up next for Greenwich is a road game against Westhill on Thursday (May 15). The Cards will then visit St. Bernard’s on May 17 in a non-conference game, as they battle for a spot in the state tournament.