The Western Maine Class A high school baseball tournament kicks off Thursday and figures to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. The remarkable parity in the SMAA unlike seasons past, no clear favorite has emerged to capture the regional title teamed with the reduced playoff field has created some intriguing quarterfinal matchups. Each team has between four and seven losses. One 10-win team (Thornton Academy) was left out of the eight-team field, which wasn’t set until the season’s final day of action.

Here’s a look at the quarterfinals:

No. 8 Cheverus (9-7) at No. 1 Deering (12-4): The top-seeded Rams are the three-time defending state champs, but a fourth title will not come easy. The team graduated most of the players that hoisted the championship hardware a year ago. The No. 8 Stags snapped the Rams’ 50-game winning streak in this year’s season opener, 5-4. Deering avenged the loss with a 3-0 win in the regular-season finale, meaning this semifinal showdown will also be the rubber match between the inter-Portland rivals.

The Rams have a formidable lineup, leading the league in hitting with a .317 team average. Sam Balzano leads the league in runs scored, walks (tied) and stolen bases while hitting nearly .400. He knows how to get on base and is an opposing pitcher’s nightmare once on the base paths. Deering also has excellent pitching depth, with four hurlers working over 20 innings this season and a team ERA hovering around 2.00. Travis Wade leads the team with a 5-0 record and a league-best 0.44 ERA.

Both Kyle Randall and Louie DiStasio had 20 hits in the regular season for Cheverus. With Jack Bushey and Joey Royer, the two are also part of a pitching staff that had a stingy 2.61 ERA.

No. 7 Biddeford (9-7) at No. 2 Scarborough (12-4): When these teams met in the regular season, Biddeford pulled out a dramatic 6-5 home win thanks to Travis Vigneault’s walk-off three-run homer. The Red Storm, the Western Maine runner-up last season, will be looking for revenge on its home field.

Scarborough boasts the league’s top hitter in Jake Rutt, who has a .510 batting average with nine of his 25 hits going for extra bases. His teammates can swing the bat, too. Brendan Sullivan is hitting .400, and Ben Wessel and Ryan Mancini are both over .300. The Storm has received solid pitching from Andrew Myers (5-1, 1.34 ERA), Joe Cronin (0.81 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 26 innings) and Wessel (4-2, 2.87 ERA).

Biddeford’s Trevor Fleurent hit .352 in the regular season and also had a 0.92 ERA in 30.1 innings on the mound. Vigneault, a .318 hitter, had 10 of his 14 hits go for extra bases, including two home runs. The Tigers have seven players hitting .300 or better and four pitchers who tossed 20-plus innings. A playoff hero could come from almost anywhere on the roster.

No. 6 Windham (9-7) at No. 3 Bonny Eagle (10-6): The third-ranked Scots eked out a 6-5 home win over the Eagles when the teams met in early May. Both teams have shown the ability to beat the best teams in the league, while also dropping some games to lesser opponents. Bonny Eagle’s conquests include Deering, Westbrook and South Portland. The Scots also lost to Gorham and Massabesic. Windham beat Westbrook, Biddeford and Cheverus, while falling to Sanford and Marshwood.

The Scots rely heavily on two pitchers, both having fine seasons. Lincoln Sanborn is 6-0 with a 1.41 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 44.2 innings. Kevin Moskevich has a 1.40 ERA and a 3-3 record. Moskevich also leads the team with a .341 batting average and 14 RBI.

The Eagles were one of the hottest teams over the final third of the season, winning four of their last five to secure a playoff spot. Drew Gagnon is one of the league’s most feared hitters, with a .417 average to go along with eight doubles, three triples, two homers and 16 RBI. Cody Dube may have saved Windham’s season with a gutsy complete game win over Westbrook late in the season. He’s a tough pitcher who seems to be at his best in big games.

No. 5 South Portland (11-5) at No. 4 Westbrook (11-5): The fourth-ranked Blue Blazes entered the season as the consensus favorite, and may still rise to the top if they can regain their mid-season form. After a sluggish 1-2 start, Westbrook reeled off eight straight wins before stumbling with three losses over the final five games. South Portland defeated Westbrook 2-0 at home when the teams played in late May. The Red Riots also rallied to upset the Blazes in last season’s playoff quarterfinals.

The Blazes are led by one of the state’s top players, Scott Heath. As a pitcher, he has a 6-1 record and 0.95 ERA in 51.1 innings. He led the SMAA with 59 strikeouts. At the plate, he is hitting .451 with two home runs and 14 RBI. Zach Collett is also having a great year with the bat, hitting .473 while leading the league in hits (26) and RBI (tied, 17).

South Portland’s Andrew Richards has a 0.86 ERA and a 5-2 record in 48.2 innings. Jon Medici and Matt Lee have also pitched well, with the team ERA at a meager 1.83. The Riots have been good defensively this season. If the bats continue to come around as they did over the final few regular season games, they could make a nice tournament run.

Class B

In the Western Maine Class B tournament, No. 1 Cape Elizabeth and No. 2 Yarmouth look like the favorites. Both teams are 15-1 with their only losses coming to each other. The Capers won 7-0 at Yarmouth, while Yarmouth returned the favor, winning 8-6 at Cape. Cape will play the winner of the prelim between Oak Hill and Maranacook in the quarterfinals. Cape did not play either team during the regular season.

After beginning 0-6, Gray-New Gloucester is also in the postseason. The No. 7 Patriots (9-7) won nine of their final 10 games. They’ll play Yarmouth in the quarterfinals. Yarmouth won 9-3 when the teams met in early May.