The Fairchester Athletic Association has added a significant change to the format each of its baseball team’s respective schedule follows, with each squad playing each other two consecutive times in a home-and-home series.

Players and coaches seem to agree this type of schedule adds to the rivalry certain teams share with each other, with one example being when Brunswick School and Greenwich Country Day School met in a home-and-home series Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Greenwich-based neighborhood rivals were embroiled in two tight, well-played games, featuring stellar pitching, clutch hitting and slick fielding. When Game 2 concluded between the FAA foes, it was the Bruins that earned a hard-fought sweep.

The first game on Tuesday (April 1) was a classic pitcher’s duel, with right-handers Teddy Bancroft of Brunswick and Landon Ristau of Greenwich Country Day pitching seven impressive scoreless innings. When the game went to extra innings, the Bruins broke the scoreless tie with a six-run ninth inning, with outfielder Max Gabelli driving in the go-ahead run with a hit. Tyrus Ostrowski, a sophomore right-hander, pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, as Brunswick posted a 6-0 victory.

In the second game on Wednesday (April 3), the Tigers seized a 5-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings, before the Bruins scored four runs in the third inning and eventually won the game, 9-6. Both team received sensational starting pitching in the opening game, a 6-0 Bruins truimph.

Bancroft allowed only three hits in seven innings, while registering key strikeouts throughout. Mixing his fastball and off-speed pitches well, the Brunswick junior struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning at Greenwich Country Day’s home field.

“Both pitchers threw extremely well,” Brunswick coach Connor Redahan said. “Both guys filled it up, mixed it up and kept batters off balance all day. We have all the confidence in the world in Bancroft. He comes out every single day and gives us a chance to win, which is phenomenal. Anytime he’s on the mound, you know it’s going to be a good performance.”

Indeed, Bancroft was especially psyched to make his second start of the season for the Bruins, who sport an overall record of 3-2 and an FAA mark of 3-1.

“We have a rivalry with this team and honestly, I didn’t pitch great in my last outing, so I was fired up to come out here and perform,” said Bancroft, whose first start this season came against FAA foe St. Luke’s School. “I just pounded the zone, trusted my curveball and was able to dot fastballs on the outside corner, which was great. The defense made a ton of nice plays and their pitcher did a heck of a job as well.”

Bancroft knew he had to try to match zeros on the scoreboard with the Tigers’ Listau, who also turned in an exceptional performance on the mound.

“It’s fun being in that competitive environment,” Bancroft noted. “I’m having fun out there and so is he and obviously, as a pitcher that’s what you want to see where both guys are doing well.”

In the top of the eighth inning, GCDS reliever Ahmad Merritt threw a scoreless inning, then Ostrowski, the Bruins’ starting center fielder, took the mound in the bottom half of the inning for his first inning of relief.

“You just have to have that bulldog mentality, it’s different from hitting, completely polar opposites,” Ostrowski said of coming in to pitch in that extra-inning situation. “Also in center field, you have that relaxed, ready to go mentality. But then getting that call to the bullpen, it’s a different mentality.”

Brunswick broke through with a decisive ninth inning. Designated hitter Andrew Gally doubled to left center field off Merritt to lead off the inning and scored on a double to the same area of the field by Maximus Gabelli, giving Brunswick a 1-0 lead.

“My teammate before had a double, I knew I had to get him in,” Gabelli said. “The pitch prior to that I swung and missed and I had to swing earlier. I saw the pitch right down the middle, my eyes lit up, I swung and it bounced off the bat and it felt perfect.”

Third baseman Julian Dyson drew a walk, Bancroft was hit by a pitch and outfielder Landon O’Hara reached on a bunt single to lead the bases. Ostrowski followed by drawing a walk, forcing in a run and putting the Bruins ahead, 2-0.

Reid Glanville laced a two-run single, raising Brunswick’s lead to 5-0. The Bruins’ sixth run scored on an infield error.

“It all started off with Andrew Gally hitting a double into the gap, which was his first varsity hit,” Redahan noted. “He drove a great ball. Max Gabelli has played a solid outfield and when he’s getting a chance at the plate he’s been swinging really well.”

With a six-run lead, Ostrowski retired the side in order with a strikeout in the ninth inning to end the game.

“It definitely feels good, it’s a lot more comfortable situation, you’re not pressing as much,” Ostrowski said of pitching the ninth inning with a sizeable lead. “You just have to throw strikes and get outs for the team.”

Said Redahan: “Ty comes in with all the confidence in the world and he can absolutely bring it. He mixes it up well and he’s a confident kid. Every time he’s on the mound you know he’s going to show up.”

Second baseman David Gittes, catcher Mason Zuniga and first baseman Bryce Hill had one single apiece for GCDS, which is 1-3 in the FAA. Tigers coach Will Colombo was pleased with his squad’s pitching and overall play in this FAA matchup.

“I can’t say enough about what Landon (Ristau) did,” Colombo said. “He was amazing from the start of the game. The fight he showed, the compete – a dominant outing by him.

“Those are fun games to be a part of,” Colombo continued. “To take that game 0-0 all the way through, it takes everyone. Landon pitched a great game, big defensive plays. The outfield was running balls down, the infield was coming up big when they needed to come up big. Ahmad came in and did what he needed to do in the eighth inning and it slipped away from us at the end.”

The Bruins received two hits from Gabelli, a single from Ostrowski, a single from Jack Bylow, a double from Andrew Gally a bunt single from O’Hara and a base hit from Glanville in the first game.

“I feel great about the team,” Bancroft said. We have a young team, but we have a lot of guys who can pitch, a lot of guys who can hit.”

In the second game of the home-and-home series, Greenwich Country Day scored one run in the first and second innings, then tacked on three more runs in the third to go ahead, 5-0. Brunswick had a four-run third inning and added four more runs in the fifth inning. The Tigers led, 6-4, heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Hill got the start for the Tigers and was effective, displaying his powerful pitching arm. Reid Glanville was Brunswick’s starting pitcher and was relieved by Julian Dyson. Wim Nook went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, while Ostrowski was 1 for 2 with a sacrifice fly and three RBIs in the winning effort.

Jayden Montanez, a sophomore second baseman, had one hit, one RBI and a run scored, while Bylow, Jack Nardis and Dyson added one hit apiece for the victors.

Colombo likes the home-and-home series aspect the FAA added this season and competing against the Bruins twice in a row.

“I love it, it builds a little rivalry and it feels more like baseball,” Colombo said. “There’s a little bit of a series aspect to it and you also test the depth of teams. I love what I’m seeing from our team and I’m excited to ride with them through the season.”

Said Ostrowski: “It’s a battle, the rivalry is definitely there – a crosstown rivalry and we’re ready to go.”

Brunswick hosts Millbrook School tomorrow (April 4) at home at 4:30 p.m. Greenwich Country Day hosts Harvey School tomorrow for a 4:15 p.m. matchup.

“I think we can do really well if we put bat on ball and throw strikes,” Bancroft said. “I like our chances this year.”