It was not lost on the astute readers of The Day, whether local or through the Twitterverse, the developments of Tuesday at Dodd Stadium. Results of two games either provided amusing irony or a complete contradiction of an earlier rant alluding to the advantages schools of choice enjoy in state high school sports.

Public school Montville took down school of choice St. Joseph before public school Sheehan defeated choice school East Catholic in the Class M state baseball semifinals. If nothing else, Montville and Sheehan gave the five other public schools that St. Joes and East Catholic combined to eliminate a reason to chuckle a sinister chuckle.

It's been a fascinating few days, listening to opinions across the state about whether public schools and schools of choice should play in different state tournaments. Healthy debate, good points all. What was learned: If an enterprising public school advocate eventually carries the torch with this, the concern is not whether public schools win enough state championships, but how the advantages the rules provide choice schools would affect the future.

Steve Wysowski, the Associate Executive Director of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the state's governing body of high school athletics, reports that 47 of the 188 high schools under CIAC auspices are designated as "schools of choice," that can draw students from numerous communities or from outside their district's boundaries.

Hence, the idea that public schools win the preponderance of state championships isn't a stunning upset. What public schools must fight to change are some rules that provide choice schools inherent advantages that go well beyond the ability to draw from multiple towns.

Example: There is a sign outside Xavier High in Middletown, easily seen by drivers in both directions. It reads: "Xavier Summer Programs; Athletics and Enrichment. Open to young men entering grades 5-9."

That could be perceived as de facto recruiting. Middle school kids growing comfortable with the teachers, coaches and staff at Xavier during the summer might affect their decision on where to attend high school. My understanding is that Xavier's enrollment is down slightly and this is a means to perhaps attract more students.

It is legal under CIAC rules, so long as nobody affiliated with the school suggests that a prospective student or students should attend Xavier.

Question: How does one police that?

I'd have less of a problem with it if the rules for public schools weren't as stringent. Example: Montville baseball coach Phil Orbe, for example, would be violating CIAC recruiting rules if he walked into Tyl Middle School one day and talked to the kids about playing baseball in his three-time (perhaps soon to be four-time) state championship program.

Think about that: A public school coach can't talk to middle school kids in his own town. But middle school kids from any town in Connecticut can spend the summer at Xavier for athletics and enrichment.

Hello?

Is this thing on?

Public high schools are allowed to open their doors to middle school students in their city or town during the year. Waterford High held its first "Lancer Fair" last fall, during which eighth-graders walked the halls of the new high school, met many of the high school students and saw all the offerings for the first time.

But one day in the fall in which all school offerings are trumpeted can't compare to every day during the summer when the sign outside Xavier even advertises athletics as a program goal. It's a good gig if you can get it, no?

If public schools must keep playing choice schools in state tournaments, despite choice schools' ability to draw from multiple towns, CIAC rules ought to be relaxed about what public school coaches can and can't say to kids in their own district.

Meantime, here is an excerpt from an e-mail from a coach at a school of choice:

"I saw your article the other day regarding CIAC and equity.　I will not defend CIAC because as a group they are not that sharp and really only care about football," the coach (of a spring sport not in this region) wrote. "What I will point out is that public schools need to get off their (butts) and stop whining.　If parents and students see better opportunities at schools of choice than public schools, so be it. This is America, the home of the free and the right to choose.

"(Public schools) need to start firing nitwit teachers who are just grabbing a check," the coach wrote. "The union mentality is the cancer in public schools.　The public schools need to start thinking like a business and create superior environments for the students (customers). Better facilities, better classrooms, better administrators, better coaches, better technology, better strength and conditioning programs. You get the picture."

You may disagree. But I've found the coach's viewpoints are echoed in many schools or choice.

So there. More fodder for discussion. Somebody – anybody – out there: fight the fight. Public schools offer athletics and enrichment, too.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius