By PAUL GOTHAM
GROTON, CT. — Rain pushed back the start of the 2018 NJCAA DII East District Championship. When the weather permits, familiar opponents will take the field at Washington Park. No. 20 UConn-Avery Point (UCAP) Pointers, Westchester Community Vikings and Monroe Community College Tribunes have combined to win 10 of the last 11 East District titles.
AT STAKE
The winner earns a spot in the 2018 NJCAA DII Championship to be played at the David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma, May 26-June 2.
TALE OF THE TAPE
UCAP (28-10-1)
Streak: Won six straight
Batting Average: .325
OBP: .447
Slugging: .485
HRs: 32
Walks: 231
Total Bases: 584
Stolen Bases: 38
Runs Scored: 381
ERA: 4.92
BAA: .244
Stolen bases allowed: 49
Runs allowed: 201
Players to watch: Mike Chiovitti (.386/51H/25 XBH/10HR/37RBI/.742SLG/.494OBP), Alex Petchark (.362/46H/7HR/47RBI/.575SLG/.491OBP), Ryan Bagdasarian (.359/46H/35RBI/.563SLG, .458OBP), Michael Savino (.357/46H/30RBI/.504SLG/.468OBP), Collin Bakken RHP (6-2/2.12/34.0IP/35K/7BB/22H), Andy Grant RHP (5-2/4.11/46.0IP/55K/17BB/38H), Trevor Bolduc RHP (4-1/3.76 ERA/40.2IP/33K/26BB/33H), Gary Costello RHP (7-1/5.09ERA/46.0IP/39K/26BB/43H), Jordan Warecke RHP (3-0/0.43ERA/21.0IP/27K/8BB/7H).
Westchester CC (28-10)
Streak: Won seven straight
Batting Average: .328
OBP: .451
Slugging: .467
HRs: 18
Walks: 222
Total Bases: 506
Stolen Bases: 90
Runs Scored: 314
ERA: 5.72
BAA: .299
Stolen bases allowed: 28
Runs allowed: 193
Players to Watch: Scott Giordano (.436/58H/16 2B/7HR/46RBI/.835SLG/.553OBP/3-2/7.67 ERA/29.1IP/27K/22BB/34H), James Houlahan (.392/47H/27RBI/.500SLG/.479OBP), Paul Franzese (.367/44H/12 2B/46RBI/.608SLG/.510OBP), Sergio Osorio (.343/37H/21RBI/.407SLG/.462OBP), Jose DeLaCruz (.294/32H/30RBI/.477SLG/.423OBP), Christian Lovecchio (.311/33H/.358SLG/.431OBP), Bobby Wootten (.309/38H/34RBI/.358SLG/.431OBP), Nicholas Antenucci (8-1/4.30/60.2IP/45K/15BB/62H), Nicholas Cona (4-3/5.40/48.1IP/36K/24BB/50H), Triston Olmo (3-1/4.82/37.1IP/20K/13BB/46H), Max Marienberg (4-0/2.86/22 IP/14K/13BB/17H).
Monroe CC (27-18)
Streak: Won 15 straight
Batting Average: .337
OBP: .443
Slugging: .473
HRs: 16
Walks: 214
Total Bases: 620
Stolen Bases: 129
Runs Scored: 370
ERA: 5.22
BAA: .297
Stolen bases allowed: 41
Runs allowed: 273
Players to Watch: Phil Ferranti (.448/20 2B/61RBI/.620SLG/.495OBP), Cas Sobaszek (.413/22BB/.462SLG), Brennen Smith (.385/35RBI/.651SLG/.489OBP), Sam Loew (.333/17RBI/.464SLG/.462OBP), Matt Wagner (.309/18RBI/.469OBP), Andrew Czubaj (5HR/30RBI/.457SLG), Eric O’Brien (4-3/3.52/46.0IP/42K/14BB), Matt Petrossi (5-0/4.82ERA/37.1IP/39K/12BB), Tim Brown (5-0/39.1IP/30K/22BB), Frankie Pizzo (3-3/30.1IP/36K/14BB), Stuart Martin (3-2/5.87/46IP/40K/10BB).
Monroe also won District titles in 1976, ’78, ’80 and ’89.
COMMON OPPONENTS
UCAP took three of four from Westchester CC this season. UCAP won games by scores of 8-5, 6-2 and 3-2. Westchester took a 12-5 decision in the first game of a doubleheader on March 31st.
Both UCAP and MCC both split with Brookedale (UCAP 3-7/13-3) (MCC 9-12/3-1) and swept Northern Essex (UCAP 10-8/13-7) (MCC 9-8/19-15).
UCAP has taken five (2010, ’11, ’13, ’15 and ’17) East District titles since 2007. MCC has won four (2007, ’08, ’09 and ’16). Westchester CC won the 2014 title.
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Westchester CC vs. UCAP 1PM
Game 2: Westchester CC vs. MCC 3PM
Game 3: MCC vs. UCAP 6PM
MLB PIPELINE
Current major leaguer Rajai Davis played at Avery Point. The Pittsburgh Pirates chose Davis in the 38th round of the 2001 MLB.
Three former Tribunes Greg Keagle, Bill Laskey and Tim Redding have gone on to play in MLB. More than 25 former Tribunes have been selected in the MLB draft. Monroe head coach Dave Brust played three years in the Atlanta Braves farm system. Tribune assistant coach Cory Brownsten spent four years with the Braves.
Ryan Castle is one of five Westchester alums taken in the MLB draft.
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