Despite losing their regular-season finale on Sunday afternoon, the Westfield Starfires will open the 2024 Futures League postseason against the New Britain Bees Monday night from Bullens Field at 6:30 p.m.
The four-team bracket was announced Sunday, as the Norwich Sea Unicorns claimed their second consecutive regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed ahead of Monday’s best-of-three semifinal round against the No. 4 Vermont Lake Monsters.
The Starfires and Bees, meanwhile, will compete in the other best-of-three semifinal round as both sides look to punch their ticket into the championship.
According to the league, the championship series is scheduled to take place between Thursday and Saturday, with a scheduled time to be announced. But should both semifinal series end via sweeps, the championship will start on Wednesday.
Westfield and New Britain will reunite after ending the regular season against each other. The outcome ensured the Bees a 6-3 head-to-head series advantage and set them up for a third straight postseason run.
New Britain first baseman Freddy Forgione (Binghamton), recorded three extra-base hits and six RBI against Westfield and finished the season with 33 RBI, a team-high five home runs, and 11 doubles.
John LaFleur (Holy Cross) is another active hitter for the Bees, with a .280 average alongside 10 stolen bases, while infielder Daniel Perez (Memphis) has scored 38 runs. Right-handed pitcher Benjamin Oliviera (Wheaton) was the top strikeout thrower among playoff qualifiers, having recorded 46 in 48.1 innings.
The Starfires endure the Futures League’s top offense into the postseason, with third baseman Trey Cruz (Washington State) hitting .353 with a league-best eight home runs and 31 RBI.
Catcher Jayden Novak (College of Charleston), meanwhile, has recorded six blasts while outfielder Gianno Merlonghi (Central Connecticut State) has maintained a .314 average and team-leading 33 RBIs.
Left-handed Westfield native Jake Jachym (Keene State) could potentially see the mound for his hometown Starfires in this upcoming series after going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA through 46.2 innings. Daniel Cantafi (Keene State) has also led Westfield with 30 strikeouts in 38 innings over 12 appearances.
Below is the 2024 Futures League semifinal schedule:
No. 1 Norwich Sea Unicorns (37-21) vs. No. 4 Vermont Lake Monsters (29-26)
- Monday, August 5 – 6:30 p.m. – Dodd Stadium/Norwich, Connecticut
- Tuesday, August 6 – 6:35 p.m. – Centennial Field/Burlington, Vermont
- Wednesday, August 7 – 6:30 p.m. (if necessary) – Dodd Stadium/Norwich, Connecticut
No. 2 Westfield Starfires (34-22) vs. No. 3 New Britain Bees (30-25)
- Monday, August 5 – 6:30 p.m. – Bullens Field/Westfield, Massachusetts
- Tuesday, August 6 – 6 p.m. – New Britain Stadium/New Britain, Connecticut
- Wednesday, August 7 – 6:30 p.m. (if necessary) – Bullens Field/Westfield, Massachusetts
