Updated 8/7 at 8 p.m.
WEYMOUTH, Mass. (August 4, 2024) — The four-team bracket for the 2024 Futures League Postseason has been set, with the Norwich Sea Unicorns claiming their second consecutive regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed ahead of Monday’s best-of-three semifinal round series openers.
In a rematch of last summer’s championship, Norwich will open the postseason against the fourth-seeded Vermont Lake Monsters, who claimed back-to-back pennants in their first two Futures League seasons in 2021 and 2022. The Westfield Starfires and New Britain Bees will clash in the other semifinal, having emerged as the second and third seeds, respectively, following Sunday’s regular season-ending action.
Both semifinal series will commence on Monday, August 5, setting up the two winners to meet in another best-of-three round for the championship immediately following. The higher-seeded team will host the first and, if necessary, third game in both rounds.
The semifinal game scheduled for Wednesday, August 7 between the Norwich Sea Unicorns and Vermont Lake Monsters at Dodd Stadium was postponed due to rain and field conditions, and it will now be played on Thursday, August 8 at 11 a.m. As a result, the 2024 Futures League Championship Series is now slated to begin on Friday, August 9.
The full semifinal schedule is as follows:
No. 1 Norwich Sea Unicorns (37-21) vs. No. 4 Vermont Lake Monsters (29-26)
Monday, August 5 - Vermont 5, at Norwich 4
Tuesday, August 6 - Norwich 7, at Vermont 2
Thursday, August 8 - at Norwich 10, Vermont 3
—Norwich wins series, 2-1—
No. 2 Westfield Starfires (34-22) vs. No. 3 New Britain Bees (30-25)
Monday, August 5 - at Westfield 8, New Britain 5
Tuesday, August 6 - Westfield 4, at New Britain 0
—Westfield wins series, 2-0—
Top-seeded Norwich had a 7-3 record over its last 10 games, which is the same mark it posted against Vermont in head-to-head action during the regular season. All-Star relief ace Gavin Hawkes (Rider) recorded two of his league-leading six wins for Norwich against Vermont, while outfielder Christian Stratis (Northern Oklahoma College) was 8-for-15 with six RBI and infielder Anthony Tirado (Massachusetts) drove in seven runs.
Led by 2023 Futures League Manager of the Year Kevin Murphy, Norwich boasts the circuit’s top pitching staff. Hector Alejandro (UConn) has also logged a handful of wins on his perfect record while striking out 28 in 33.1 innings. Justin Marks (Eastern Connecticut State) has a team-best 42 strikeouts in 36 innings, coming across his league-high 11 outings.
Vermont has qualified for the “second season” in each year since joining the Futures League and still carries veterans from its 2021 title-winning club in outfielder Colby Brouillette (Central Connecticut State), catcher/infielder Tyler Favretto (Kansas Wesleyan) and reigning 78 Sports Pitcher of the Month Wyatt Cameron (Central Connecticut State). Cameron leads the Lake Monsters from the mound with a 3-1 record, 2.20 ERA and 44 strikeouts through 32.2 frames.
The top hitter in the postseason is Lake Monster catcher Mark Quatrani (Cornell), who has followed up his Ivy League Rookie of the Year campaign by posting a .333 average with 34 RBI after logging a pair of multi-hit games over the final week of the regular season. Brouillette hits at a .309 clip. Vermont also boasts top closer Sean Gamble (Minnesota State) with seven saves.
Westfield and New Britain will reconvene after ending the regular season against one another, as Sunday’s 9-6 Bees win gave them a 6-3 head-to-head series advantage and set them up for a third straight postseason run. Veteran New Britain first baseman Freddy Forgione (Binghamton), who had three extra-base hits and six RBI against Westfield, finished the campaign with 33 RBI on a team-best five homers and 11 doubles.
Outfielder John LaFleur (Holy Cross) is the Bees’ top active hitter with a .280 average alongside 10 stolen bases, while infielder Daniel Perez (Memphis) has scored 38 runs. Right-hander Benjamin Oliviera (Wheaton) is the top strikeout pitcher among playoff qualifiers, having thrown 46 in 48.1 innings to pace manager Matt Gedman’s club.
The Starfires carry the Futures League’s top offense into the postseason, with third baseman Trey Cruz (Washington State) hitting .353 with a league-best eight homers and 31 RBI. Catcher Jayden Novak (College of Charleston) has gone deep six times, while outfielder Gianno Merlonghi (Central Connecticut State) sports a .314 average and 33 RBI to lead the team.
Left-handed Westfield native Jake Jachym (Keene State) will surely see the mound for his hometown Starfires this week after going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA across 46.2 innings. Daniel Cantafi (Keene State) leads Westfield with 30 strikeouts in 38 innings while splitting his 12 appearances between starting and relief.
For the latest news and information on the Futures League all year long, visit thefuturesleague.com and follow the league’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
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