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To view the full list of 2023 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

2023 Spring Team Preview: Fairfield Warde

FAIRFIELD, Ct. - With 13 college commits on this year’s roster, the outlook is bright for Fairfield Warde, last year’s state champions.

High-level pitching, athletic defense, competitive offense, speed and depth at all positions stand out about the 2023 squad to head coach Brett Conner, who enters his eighth season as head coach at Fairfield Warde with a 91-51 record. In his time in charge, the Mustangs have been Class LL state runners-up in 2016, won the FCIAC championship in 2021 and a year ago captured the FCIAC East Division title, conference tournament crown and Class LL state championship.

“We were the fifth team in the 51-year history of the school to win the division, conference tournament and state title in the same season,” noted Conner, whose team last season finished with a 25-3 record, capped off by a 7-5 win over Southington in the finals.

The prospects at making a run at a fourth state crown in school history, the others coming in 1981 (Andrew Warde High School) and 2002 (Fairfield High School), are immense.

After all, a deep pitching staff can carry a team a long way and Fairfield Warde certainly has that this season.

James Madison commit Griffin Polley, the 19th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in New England, returns with Fordham recruit Aidan Dowd, Endicott signee Jake Harmony and Mount St. Mary’s commit MJ Pisseri other senior right-handers that are expected to get innings on the mound. Additionally, Paddy Galvin, the 163rd-ranked 2023 in New England who came in to record the final two outs in the state title game last season, brings more depth as does AJ Formato, a Hartford signee, and Griffin Dodder, a St. Joseph’s recruit.

Gettysburg commit Jack Passeck brings a left-handed arm to the staff while Louisville commit Austin Howard, the seventh-rated sophomore RHP in New England, is a newcomer that is being counted on by Conner.

Will Eustace, the 22nd-rated senior outfielder in New England who is committed to Rochester, and Will Stellato, the 26th-ranked 2023 outfielder in New England who is headed to Gettysburg, bring more experience and talent to the team. Eustace is slated to play left and Stellato, who can also pitch, is set to be in center.

Yale signee Garrett Larsen, the 241st-ranked senior in New England, is back to play shortstop with Anna Maria recruit Pete Crosley returning to catch.

Many of the pitchers will also play the field with Dowd at first, Galvin third, Polley first or third, and Pisseri first or outfield.

Discipline, pride, passion, energy, intelligence, competitiveness, aggressiveness and toughness are pointed to by Conner as qualities that this year’s Mustangs possess.

Derek Davis, the seventh-rated 2025 outfielder in New England, and sophomore middle infielder Tyler Harmony are newcomers to watch in addition to Howard. Conner also likes the prospects of juniors Grady Schopps, the 45th-rated 2024 shortstop in New England, catcher Kieran Shea and Carson Swaim, the 38th-rated 2024 right-handed pitcher in New England.

“Team mentality will be the key to success this season,” noted Conner, who lost four important clogs from last year in Roman DiGiacomo (now at Duke), John Heitzman (now at Quinnipiac), Jack Andrews (Delaware commit now at Cheshire Academy) and Zach Broderick, the winning pitcher in last season’s state finals who is now at Merrimack.

As for winning another league title, Conner understands what his squad is up against.

“The FCIAC is a very strong conference with a ton of quality talent on every team that should be respected,” Conner concluded. “We strive to earn the opportunity to compete at the highest level every year.”

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