The Norwich Sea Unicorns clinched their fourth straight spot in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League playoffs, sealing the achievement with a doubleheader sweep of the Westfield Starfires at Dodd Stadium. The victories, a 1‑0 shutout and a 7‑3 win, came in the final week of the regular season and cemented the team’s return to the postseason.
Manager’s Vision
Zach Gitschier, in his first season as manager, emphasized that consistency and staying around the .500 mark have been the foundation of the team’s turnaround. "Pressure is a privilege," he said, noting that the club’s recent stretch has been defined by steady performance rather than flash.
A three‑man rotation of Joe Pitts, Peter Glidden and Shaun Flannery limited the Starfires to just three hits over eight shutout innings in the opener, while UConn sophomore left‑hander Hudson Castillo earned the win with three strikeouts and only two hits allowed in four frames.
At the plate, Mike Fiatarone continues to lead the league with a .342 average and sits second in stolen bases with 25, while Kenny Noe is batting .314 with three homers and 33 RBIs after appearing in more than 40 games this summer.
The Sea Unicorns will now host either the Vermont Lake Monsters or the New Britain Bees in Game Two of a best‑of‑three opening series on Tuesday, August 11. Fresh faces such as JP Kuczik, Taylor Kaufman and Shaun Flannery have added energy down the stretch.
Looking ahead, Gitschier says the ultimate goal remains a championship, a feat that would make it four straight titles. "We’re focused on staying competitive and executing our game plan," he added, acknowledging that the pressure of a title chase is something the club embraces.