How Ludlowe's Softball Team Made School History

FAIRFIELD, CT — Despite missing the mark in the state finals by one game, Fairfield Ludlowe High School’s varsity softball team brought home the best season the school has ever seen.

Along with taking its first FCIAC championship following an incredible 16-1 regular season, the Falcons went all the way to the final game in the Class LL CIAC championships, narrowly losing to mainstay champs Southington in a June 12 battle that included a controversial ruling by the umpires that allowed the tying run.

“This is the farthest any Ludlowe softball team has gone,” said Coach Lou Bunosso, who never expected his team to perform so well following a missed year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We had no idea how competitive they would be,” he said, “because we had two classes that were brand new to high school softball.”

According to the three senior captains, the heart of the 18-player team’s success stemmed from their cogency as a unit, which began with participation in an indoor league last winter in Danbury, regular workouts and mutual support.

“It was kind of a family culture,” said co-captain and shortstop Allie Clark, 17, who is going on to play at Fordham University. “We did a lot of stuff in the preseason (and) all of our personalities mixed really well.”

“We were friends first, then teammates,” said Caitlyn Romero, 18, starting catcher and co-captain, who will be playing at Endicott College.

“The chemistry between us is so amazing,” agreed co-captain and center fielder Maddy Reyes, 17, who will be playing at Southern Connecticut State University.

That was clearly demonstrated at the beginning of the season, when four of the starting pitchers were sidelined — three because of quarantine and another for an injury. This meant the others had to step up and perform, including pitcher Julia Magliocco, who took over the chores on the mound while her teammates did their part to offer an incredibly productive offense each game.

“It’s a whole team,” Assistant Coach Anna Newberg said. “They play as a whole team every single day. There are no super stars.”

“Everyone had a role and contributed to this team,” Bunosso said. “That’s how they could be so successful. That’s how we made Ludlowe history, really.”

The girls confessed that Darien gave them a wake-up call at their first CIAC game June 2. Having handily beaten the Blue Wave in the regular season, they instead found themselves down 4-3 in the seventh inning before eking out a 5-4 victory.

Ironically, Ludlowe faced three FCIAC competitors in the first three rounds they played after a bye, thanks to their No. 3 ranking.

After beating Darien, they took Staples High School handily in a 6-1 game.

“We really went into it ready and prepared,” Romero said.

On June 9, they crushed Trumbull in the semifinals by a score of 11-1, before facing off with Southington.

It was a tight game throughout, but a confusing moment in which the umpire was talking to the pitcher about an illegal pitch — when no one had officially stopped play — allowed a player to steal home.

In the end, No. 1-ranked Southington took the game by a score of 4-3.

“I can honestly say I have no regrets this year in terms of how everything went,” Reyes said. “I’ve made friendships that I know will last.”

And despite the departure of the three co-captains, coaches and co-captains alike envision a great team for Ludlowe next year as well.

“We definitely have a lot of talent in the program that’s going to be back,” Clark said.