By PAUL GOTHAM
If early returns mean anything, the Monroe Community College baseball team will spend plenty of time on the basepaths in 2021.
For the first time in program history, the Tribunes lead NJCAA Division II hitting .403 as a team. Monroe’s slugging percentage of .662 is second in the nation.
Leadoff man, Ben Beauchamp (McQuaid Jesuit) has reached base in all eight of Monroe’s games (four of those are multi-hit performances) and has a six-game hitting streak. The SUNY Albany transfer is slashing .571/.727/.714. A key cog in McQuaid’s run to the 2019 state title, Beauchamp has 12 hits including three doubles in 21 at-bats while working nine walks to one strike out.
Evan Magill (Notre Dame Catholic/Ajax, ON) paces MCC with 10 extra-base hits including six doubles, two triples and two home runs. Magill, the 2019 Region 3 Tournament MVP, has driven in a team-high 15 RBI.
Trey Brown (Aquinas) leads the Tribs with three home runs. A Monroe All-Decade Team member, Brown is hitting .500 (12-for-24) with a team-high slugging percentage of 1.042. Brown scored a pair of runs to help MCC clinch the 2019 East District title – its second straight and 10th in program history. Brown tops MCC with 14 runs scored and 27 runs produced.
Max Schmarder (Olmsted/Buffalo) leads the Black and Gold with 14 hits including three doubles and two home runs. The freshman catcher/first baseman has 26 runs produced (13 runs scored/13 RBI).
Ryan Hill (Webster Thomas) is hitting .476 with 10 runs and 10 RBI. The sophomore infielder is one of four Tribunes (along with Avery Bowens, Brown and Justin Herrera) with three stolen bases. Monroe has 18 thefts to two for their opponents.
Monroe (6-2) has a home-and-home with Niagara County Community College (3-3) this weekend. Due to COVID-19 precautions, spectators are not allowed at games.
Former Tribunes, Danny Mendick (’12) and Zach Vennaro (’16) are both in MLB training camps. Mendick appeared in 33 games with the Chicago White Sox in 2020. Vennaro, a free agent signee with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, has appeared recently in three Spring Training games.
The Tribunes have made three NJCAA World Series appearances under current head coach Dave Brust.
FLCC is off to a hot start as well with many local Section V players crushing it!