MCC to face UConn-Avery Point for spot in NJCAA DII East District Championship

By PAUL GOTHAM

A spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II East District Baseball Championship is on the line when Monroe Community College (Region 3) and UConn-Avery Point (UCAP/Region 21) square off in a best-of-three series this weekend from Roger Bidwell Field at Washington Park in Groton, Connecticut.

A 3:00 PM first pitch is scheduled for Game 1 on Friday with Game 2 scheduled for a 1:00 PM start on Saturday. Game 3 is scheduled for 12:00 PM on Sunday if necessary.

UCAP has ended Monroe’s last three seasons including a 3-2 victory over the Tribunes in deciding game a year ago and holds a 25-15 advantage over the Tribunes since 2008. The Pointers are 8-2 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings between the two programs.

Monroe took five straight decisions in the all-time series from 2018 to 2021.

Players to watch for MCC: Zane Barron So. C (.278/.430); Cameron Bentley Fr. LHP (3.96 ERA/4 SV/ 37K/15BB/25.0 IP); Aidan Gallagher So. OF (.386/.479/.571); Tanner Holmes Fr. OF (.377/.463); Miguel Matos So. RHP/UTL (.296/.462/.494 – 4-1,40K. 27.1 IP, 13.17K/9); Connor Osier So. RHP (7-1, 73K, 45.0 IP, 14.60 K/9); Aaron Reina Fr. SS (.328/.421/.549); Braedon Reina So. OF (.438/.557/.741); Michael Sardou So. 2B (.458/.558/.808); Jaden Sherwood So. RHP (3-2, 3.30, 34K, 30.0IP, 10.20 K/9); Thomas Woodridge Fr. 3B (.400/.548.487); Cos Zeiser So. RHP (6-0, 2.66, 54K, 40.2IP, 11.9K/9).

Players to watch for UCAP: Tim Cap So. C (.433/.523/.856); Logan Charboneau Fr. 1B (.326/.472/.717); James Fagnant So. IF (.504/.576./.809); Hayden Ferland So. RHP (3-1, 4.63, 1.71 WHIP); Vinny Hine Fr. INF (.377/.479/.519); AJ Montejano So. C/UTL (.417/.528/.600); Max Petrini Fr. C (.341/.508/.390); Jackson Pray (5-2, 3.72, 47K, 46.0 IP, 1.35 WHIP); Jared Russo So. IF/C (.393/.557/.672); Albert Savino So. LHP (0-1, 6.39, 29K, 25.1); IP Dan St. George So. LHP (2-0, 3.26, 40K, 30.1 IP, 1.19WHIP).

Coaches: Dave Brust (Monroe CC); Travis Beausoleil (UCAP).

Common opponent: UCAP swept a doubleheader (13-11/22-6) from Lackawanna College on February. MCC took 3 of 4 from the Falcons, splitting a DH (7-3/4-8) on April 8th before taking two (8-6/12-7) at Lackawanna on April 21st.

MLB alums UCAP: Rajai Davis, John McDonald and Pete Walker/ MCC: Greg Keagle, Danny Mendick and Tim Redding.

What’s at stake: A spot in the NJCAA DII East District Championship (May 17-19) at Lackawanna College.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM STEVEN TWARDZIK.