Baseball: SWR to open playoffs as No. 1 seed

Two days after clinching their 13th league championship, the Shoreham-Wading River baseball team learned it will open the Class A playoffs as the No. 1 seed. 

Most importantly, the No. 1 seed comes with a first-round bye, giving the Wildcats a day off while the remaining six teams play first-round games in the double elimination tournament.

Shoreham (16-3-1) will play either No. 4 Islip or No. 5 Westhampton Friday at Kevin Williams Memorial Field in Shoreham. Islip and Westhampton play Wednesday. As the No. 1 seed, the Wildcats theoretically could win the county title with one starting pitcher based on how spread out the games are. The Wildcats would need three consecutive wins to claim the county title. If they lose a game, they would fall into the loser’s bracket.

Senior Chris Moran is scheduled to start the playoff opener for Shoreham, coach Sal Mignano said.

Bayport-Blue Point, the team the Wildcats beat out for the league title, earned the No. 2 seed.

Shoreham won back-to-back county titles in 2011 and 2012.