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Post by FU73 on Jun 7, 2021 4:51:59 GMT -5
It seems only fitting that the most historical season in the history of the Fairfield University Baseball program finished under the lights in front of a sold out crowd of 7,000 fans. The Stags' storybook season came to a close as the Stags fell short in the finals of the Austin Regionals falling to No. 2 Texas by a score of 12-2. With the win, the Longhorns advance to the Super Regionals. "I'm super proud of our guys for the way they battled in this tournament," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "The two games we won we were behind in both of them and came back. We played hard and dealt with the rain issues and adversary things and came to play every day. Getting two wins, the first MAAC team to do that in years and putting us on the map. That was vital not only to our program but the whole school. Everybody was watching us and pulling for us, not only for our win record but just a small school like this beating a program like Arizona State. It's just a phenomenal achievement."The Stags historical season rewrote the program's record books as they set a new program record with 39 wins and earned the conference's first-ever At-Large bid. The Stags took advantage of the opportunity as they not only earned the program's first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament but they also reached the Regional Final. Their historical year featured the best regular season in NCAA Division I history with an outstanding 35-1 record and a .975 winning percentage. The Stags set a program and MAAC conference record with 28-straight wins to open the season, not only captivating the national baseball landscape, but also getting the first-ever national ranking as they reached No. 23 in the Baseball America poll."I'm super proud of the guys because they came to play every day," Coach Currier said. "That's so hard to do in baseball with 18 to 22 year olds. They showed up to play hard and consistent, that's what is hard to do in this game. That is one of the hardest things to ask of a college player to show up everyday, play hard, play consistent and win that many games. I don't know if it could ever be repeated but it's a phenomenal feat with the records we set with this team. Real proud of how they pulled together for each other, it was unequal to any team that I had here." fairfieldstags.com/news/2021/6/7/baseball-stags-cinderella-story-ends-in-austin-regional-final.aspx
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Post by FU73 on Jun 7, 2021 4:53:30 GMT -5
Fairfield Baseball @stags_Base Our historic season has come to an end. Thank you to all of our Stags fans, and the baseball fans from across the country who have joined us on this tremendous ride. Great days ahead for Stags Baseball Let’s Ride.
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Post by runningman on Jun 7, 2021 6:00:54 GMT -5
I know that there are rules that Fairfield uses to not allow candidates for the Hall of Fame to be inducted immediately. But this team was so great that the school should consider making an exception and allowing immediate induction. I believe it is warranted.
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Post by townie67 on Jun 7, 2021 6:28:49 GMT -5
What a ride! After a gut wrenching loss on Friday night, to come back with the Saturday win against Southern, and then overcoming 0-5 deficit (and losing lead on ball landing in the ump's pocket!) against ASU, Stags showed big time guts. Bobby Thompson, oops I mean Justin Guerrera's 3 run shot heard round the Stag world was amazing. Yes, was hoping for a miracle against Texas, but so proud of how they represented Fairfield. And kudos to Bill Currier for getting to his son's wedding Saturday and then pushing the right buttons on Sunday against ASU.
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Post by mydadwasathappyhr on Jun 7, 2021 6:59:11 GMT -5
Great run, and great redemption against ASU in dramatic fashion. Will be fun to see what they can do next year with a normal schedule. Go Stags.
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Post by JoeStag on Jun 7, 2021 7:05:17 GMT -5
Great run, and great redemption against ASU in dramatic fashion. Will be fun to see what they can do next year with a normal schedule. Go Stags. Having a run like this will help us next year for a seeding or getting an at-Large bud.
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Post by nashvillestag on Jun 7, 2021 8:45:30 GMT -5
Just an unbelievable season that will be remembered by Stag fans forever. And I'm sure every single one of the players and coaches now will have a memory that will last a lifetime, something that (to quote an old commercial) is "priceless."
Now moving forward, it appears as though the main core of the team will be returning for another go-round as the squad tries to build off of what was accomplished in this truly historic season. It will be tough next year as the schedule reverts back to normalcy where they will begin play competing against some tough southern OOC teams on their home territory. And they will be a target for every MAAC school too, so they will have to be ready to take the best shot that each opponent can offer. But that said, I believe Coach Currier will have the guys ready to continue the excellence they established. And while winning at the record pace that was established will most certainly be out of the question, actually there is one thing that wasn't accomplished this year, and that was winning the league tournament. So if nothing else, that should be a chip on their shoulder that should help to keep them motivated.
Final comment. Someone suggested that next year it would be appropriate to have a separate 'baseball' thread considering the new fan interest regarding this team. I hope it happens (JS do you agree)? And also from a wider view regarding all the athletic programs of the school and how they would benefit, I would hope that some of the karma that was established would rub off a bit on some of the other teams, particularly the basketball squad. And BTW, assuming the students are in session when our first home game is played, I think it would be appropriate to honor the baseball team with a halftime ceremony at center court. These guys deserve that much I think!
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Post by ctbobs on Jun 7, 2021 9:11:27 GMT -5
Nash, my quick review of the roster (only those who saw significant time):
5th (6th) year players leaving: Ryan, Signore, Cullen, Oliphant, Arnold. Not sure about Wosleger
Seniors who could use a 5th year: McLoughlin, Cafaro & Grabeck (Caruso has already stated he is returning).
Barring draft status or grad transfers, everyone else should be back.
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Post by dannynoonan on Jun 7, 2021 9:35:41 GMT -5
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Post by typhaon on Jun 7, 2021 9:56:34 GMT -5
Hope the success of this season will raise the appeal of the program for recruits and transfers. Looks like the Stags will have a few holes to fill - but could return as favorites.
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Post by fishfood on Jun 7, 2021 10:32:10 GMT -5
What a run! Proud to be a Stag today!
Someone mentioned the two wins this weekend were only the second and third wins in the NCAA tournament in the history of the MAAC. Does anyone know the first/other? Apologize if this was already mentioned.
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Post by stagrob on Jun 7, 2021 11:05:36 GMT -5
What a run! Proud to be a Stag today! Someone mentioned the two wins this weekend were only the second and third wins in the NCAA tournament in the history of the MAAC. Does anyone know the first/other? Apologize if this was already mentioned. Quinnipiac beat #10 ECU in their first game of their 2019 regional. I don't know if the MAAC had been shut out until then but that's at least one.
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Post by houstonstagfan on Jun 7, 2021 11:05:39 GMT -5
It wasn’t the second and third wins of all time for the MAAC, there’s been several times that a MAAC team has won one game. However, it was only the second time a MAAC team has won two games in one regional. In ‘06, Manhattan (4 seed) beat Nebraska (1 seed), lost to Miami (2 seed), beat San Francisco (3 seed), then lost to Miami (2 seed) in the region final. gojaspers.com/sports/baseball/schedule/2006
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Post by stag76 on Jun 7, 2021 11:07:09 GMT -5
The loss to Texas was not unexpected as we needed to use so many pitchers in the afternoon win over ASU. I'm still trying to grasp the fact that we were two outs away from sweeping ASU in this regional (I realize there was the possibility of Southern beating ASU if we had won our first game against ASU, but I tend to think ASU would likely have beaten Southern in that matchup). Can someone give me the college basketball equivalent of ASU baseball these days. Being up in years, I might be thinking of them too highly since they've won the CWS back in the 70's and players such as Barry Bonds, Dustin Pedroia and Reggie Jackson played for ASU. www.baseball-almanac.com/college/arizona_state_university_baseball_players.shtmlWould Indiana be a good basketball equivalent for ASU. At one time, the gold standard in the sport but currently not thought of in the same way as say Gonzaga or Villanova are in basketball --or-- would they be more like a Michigan or UCLA, still considered good every year and some years near the top in their sport. Getting back to simply baseball, when the NCAA field was announced nbcconnecticut did a spot at the end of their sports segment on the three Connecticut colleges in the postseason. After the feature, the news anchor simply said --- "37 and 3 Wow".
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Post by sobro on Jun 7, 2021 11:08:17 GMT -5
When Manhattan beat Nebraska, they beat Joba Chamberlin.
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