By Paul Casey Gotham
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. — Like it or not, the Monroe Community College Tribunes find themselves in familiar territory.
After spending much of March and April enduring uncooperative weather patterns, the Tribunes will have to wait until next weekend to qualify for the NJCAA World Series.
“The field was unplayable,” said head coach Mike Kelly. “With the forecast as bad as it is, there was no way to play this week.”
The Tribs loaded the bus on Monday returned to Rochester with the Northeast District title yet to be decided.
“With it being the last week of classes, we had to get back.”
The Black and Gold had no less than eight double headers affected by weather this season. The team did not practice at all on its field during the spring season. In late April, players took to the field not with gloves and bats, but with waders and buckets to try and clear standing water from the base paths.
“It’s the last week of April, and we were doing the field preparations that we usually get to in March.”
Still, the foul weather did not keep the Tribs from winning their seventh consecutive Region III title and 22nd in program history.
When the Northeast District Tournament finally continues, the Tribunes will face an uphill battle against reigning champion UConn-Avery Point.
Monroe opened the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Sullivan County CC.
Luis Diaz (Geneva, NY/Geneva) led MCC with three RBI. The sophomore plated Bobby Frantz (Webster, NY/Webster-Thomas) in the third to cut into a 2-0 deficit.
One inning later, Nick Bunce (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) led with a single and advanced on a balk before Mike Ruffin (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) tied the score with a one-out RBI single.
Monroe manufactured a run in the seventh to take the lead. Frantz singled to start the frame. Kevin Johnson (Webster, NY/Webster-Thomas) moved the runner with a sacrifice bunt, and Diaz delivered with another RBI single.
The Tribs added insurance in the ninth.
Johnson drove the first pitch he saw into the gap in right center. Diaz followed with a ground rule double to deep center field.
Ben Gielow (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) surrendered just three hits over eight strong for the win. Johnson retired the side in the ninth for his 11th save of the season.
Monroe fell to UConn-Avery Point in the second game 5-1.
Avery Point scored single runs in the first and third to grab the lead.
MCC cut the lead in the eighth when Gielow and Steve Renaud (Ottawa, ONT/St. Joseph’s) led with back-to-back walks. Frantz executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Johnson brought home the run with a ground ball to short.
Avery Point put the game out of reach with three runs on four hits in the ninth.
The Pointers eliminated Sullivan County 11-5, and then the rains came.
Monroe will have to wait to find out when it plays next. The Tribs will need to take two from Avery Point.
“I’ll know by Wednesday,” said Kelly with some reservation. “What field is going to be ready after this week of weather.”
GAME NOTES: Avery Point’s starter, Sean Donatello, has now won 11 games without a loss this season. Scouts from at least three Major League Baseball teams were on hand to evaluate the Avery Point hurler. MCC hall-of-fame coach Dave Chamberlain was on hand for Saturday’s games.
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