The last three seasons, an FCIAC baseball team has played in the CIAC Class LL championship game, with Staples finally winning it all over Amity last year.
In fact, three of the four semifinal spots in the Class LL tournament were claimed by FCIAC teams last season — Staples, Ridgefield and Danbury — with Westhill and Ludlowe going out in the quarterfinals, giving the league five teams among the final eight.
It was not a fluke.
While some of those teams may take a step back, a few of them are reloaded and back with a couple of others ready to step up.
That is not even taking into consideration St. Joseph, which made a run to the semifinals of the Class M tournament as a 34-seed last season and brings back nearly its entire team.
The league is again stacked with Division I college talent, and whoever comes out of the pile as FCIAC champion will have earned it.
TEAMS TO WATCH
ST. JOSEPH: Despite many quality teams and scores of playoff appearances, the Cadets have not won the FCIAC championship in 20 years. The team was young a season ago and brings back seven position players, six of whom are juniors, including 1B Jim Evans (.387, 29 hits, 5 HRs, 26 RBI, 21 runs) and CF Jake DeLeo (.372, 32 hits, 8 2Bs, 28 runs) and five pitchers who are all juniors and sophomores. The Cadets will be even better next year, but are talented enough now to win it all now.
STAPLES: The defending LL champions said goodbye to the all-time hits leader in the state of Connecticut in Ben Casparius, but bring back a ton of talent that will have them right back in the fray. Senior C Matt Stone (.325) and senior CF Chris Drbal (.340) will lead a balanced offense. How the pitching develops in the back end of the rotation and the bullpen will determine the Wreckers’ fate this season.
WESTHILL: The Vikings finished in first place during the regular season, but got knocked out of the FCIAC playoffs in the first round by a red-hot Trumbull team before losing 11-10 to Staples in the Class LL quarterfinals. John MacDonald (3-1 1.75 ERA) is back as one of the top pitchers in the league and SS TJ Wainwright will anchor the infield. This Vikings team can bring home the first FCIAC title since 1987.
DARIEN: Over the last five years, Darien has become a perennial contender in the FCIAC, bringing home a championship two seasons ago. The formula that has made them successful seems to be in place again with depth at pitching, including Henry Williams and Justin Van de Graaf, and some powerful bats like All-FCIAC first-teamer DH Sean O’Malley and dynamic CF/P Justin Jordan. The Blue Wave are not flashy but do everything well: pitching, fielding, hitting and running.
TRUMBULL: The Eagles only bring back one position player in C Kevin Bruggeman. But if recent history has taught us anything it is that Trumbull will be in the mix at the end of the season. History has also shown if Trumbull can get in the top eight, it will be a tough out in the playoffs. The rebuilding this season will be made a little easier with the return of one of the league’s best pitchers in Ben Fero. Of course, how the rest of the fresh faces mesh will be the key for the Eagles.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MARCO MONTEIRO, NORWALK: Monteiro has been the varsity catcher for the Bears since his freshman season and is ready for big things during his senior season. First-team All-FCIAC selection has a powerful bat, but his biggest assets are behind the plate where he can block balls, frame pitches and gun down opposing base runners.
CHAD KNIGHT, STAPLES: When we last left Chad Knight he was trotting around the bases in the LL championship game after hitting the eventual game-winning home run. Now the first-team All-FCIAC and Class LL All-State P/OF is back for his junior season after hitting .405 with 9 HRs and going 5-1 with a 1.95 ERA on the mound last season.
DILLON LIFRIERI, WILTON: The Warriors’ first-team All-FCIAC and Class LL All-State SS is back for his senior year after helping the Warriors to the FCIAC title last season. Lifrieri can rip line drives to all fields and is one of the best defensive infielders in the state.
BOBBY ZMARZLEK, WESTHILL: Another junior back after being named first-team All-FCIAC as a sophomore. The University of Maryland commit batted .425 with 34 hits, 28 RBI and 25 runs last season. In center field he has a quick first step, tracks balls well and has a big arm.
ALEX PRICE, RIDGEFIELD: The left-hander was a first-team All-FCIAC and Class LL ALL-State pick, pitching to an 8-1 record with a 1.82 ERA while striking out 72 hitters in 651/3 innings of work. The Tigers have a lot of holes to fill, but having Price at the top of the rotation will help ease the transition.
GAMES TO WATCH
STAMFORD AT MCMAHON, APRIL 22: Two FCIAC rivals travel to Cooperstown, N.Y., to face off in what should be a special game and weekend for all the players.
STAPLES AT WESTHILL, APRIL 30: The Class LL state tournament quarterfinal game won 11-10 by Staples last season will live in local baseball lore for a long time. This year both are looking to again be contending.
RIDGEFIELD AT ST. JOSEPH, MAY 4: Both programs feel they can contend for a championship this season. By the first week in May, we should have an idea of just how good each one is.
NEW CANAAN AT DARIEN, MAY 7: Fans flock to their football and hockey games, but the border rivals have been playing some great baseball games lately.
DANBURY AT TRUMBULL, MAY 16: Two perennial powers and dangerous payoff teams meet in the final week of the season when a lot could be at stake.