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Eight teams are finally set to begin their run at the title Tuesday in the FCIAC baseball tournament, but it took every single regular season game and an extra day to determine the qualifiers. A string of rainouts caused a chaotic final week that forced the tournament to be delayed a day. The uncertainty is unlikely to end there, with a wide-open field and no clear-cut favorite.
Brien McMahon beat New Canaan Monday afternoon to determine the final seedings.
#1 St. Joseph (16-2) vs. #8 Greenwich (11-7), 4 p.m.
St. Joe's was unbeaten in its first 12 games until McMahon knocked off the Cadets in 9 innings on May 5. Staples was the only other team that beat St. Joe's. The Cadets have arguably the best pitching staff in the league, but if they are the tournament favorites, it is not by much.
Greenwich, meanwhile, snuck into the FCIAC playoffs in its final game, beating Wilton 1-0 on the back of ace pitcher Dylan Callahan. The Cardinals also beat Staples in extra innings to stay alive in the race. Greenwich has proved they can take down the giants of the league, so don't count them out in this one.
#2 Danbury (14-4) vs. #7 Fairfield Warde (11-7), 6:30 p.m.
Danbury quietly put together a solid season and suddenly found itself the number two seed. The Hatters were crushed by Darien and Greenwich earlier this season and were also beaten by St. Joe's and New Canaan, so they are clearly vulnerable.
Warde was the feel-good story of the first half of the season, starting at 5-0. But then Warde almost found itself on the outside looking in, losing three of its last four games. The two teams faced off just three days ago, with Danbury coming out on top, 2-0.
#3 Brien McMahon (14-4) vs. #6 Norwalk (12-6), 3:30 p.m.
This will likely be the most entertaining game of the quarterfinals in an all-Norwalk showdown. The last time the cross-city rivals met, Norwalk's James Cooksey no-hit the Senators in a 6-0 victory. Norwalk has had a Jekyll and Hyde season, handing Staples its first loss but losing twice to non-qualifier Trumbull. The Bears are a telling 4-4 against teams that qualified for FCIACs.
McMahon is led by the dominant pitching of Bryan Daniello. The Senators are one of only two teams to knock off St. Joe's this season and are 4-3 against FCIAC playoff teams.
#4 Staples (13-5) vs. #5 New Canaan (12-6), 4 p.m.
For a while there was talk of Staples going undefeated. But after a 9-0 start, the Wreckers stumbled and lost four of six late in the season. They may have been on cruise control then, barely beating Ludlowe in their final at-bat and losing to Greenwich in extras.
New Canaan beat Staples in their only meeting of the season on April 29, 8-7. Despite their loss to McMahon on Monday, the Rams enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the league, winning five of their final six games.
Which team do you think will win the FCIAC baseball tournament? Start the discussion below!
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