Gloucester Looking to Repeat after Handing MCC a 15-9 Loss

Gloucester Looking to Repeat after Handing MCC a 15-9 Loss
Roadrunners Score eight in the Fifth; Cougars Need Three Consecutive Wins for First National Title
By Paul Ofria
TYLER, TX – Defending champion Gloucester CC (31-16) sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight runs in the top of the fifth inning in a 15-9 victory over Manchester CC (26-23) at the 2011 NJCAA Division III World Series.
It was the first loss for the Cougars, who will play an elimination game on Tuesday at 8PM Eastern against the winner of the 5PM game at Mike Carter Field between Erie CC and Eastfield CC. Gloucester will have Tuesday off and can win its sixth national championship win a victory on Wednesday.
“We couldn’t get the last out of the inning,” Strahowski said of decisive fifth inning. “Walking guys, we kicked it around a little, not playing clean. At this level you have to play clean.” MCC made five errors leading to four unearned runs.
Gloucester jumped out to 5-0 lead after two innings and the Cougars trailed 13-4 in the fifth. They were an out away from having the mercy rule applied twice but stayed alive with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and struck for five more in the seventh, cutting the Roadrunners lead to 15-9.
“We swung it,” Strahowski said of his team’s 11-hit attack. “We knew that the second or third time through the order we would be able to get to their starting pitcher. If there was another positive, we got into their bullpen and made them get some guys up and going. Hopefully that will help us if we do make it to Wednesday.”
The winner of the Erie vs. Eastfield game – the two teams MCC beat in the tournament – will have to win two games on Tuesday for a shot a Gloucester on Wednesday. Manchester would have to win the Tuesday night game and beat Gloucester on Wednesday and Thursday night to bring home the school’s first national championship.
“It’s a tough thing to do,” Strahowski said when asked about winning two games in one day at the national level. “We have to come in and dictate the tone early.”
Gloucester starter Rob Applegate (7-1) pitched into the seventh inning and his bullpen held off the Cougars over the final three innings. Ronnie Tanner tied a World Series record with five hits and drove in four runs.
Kyle Holland and Jesse Sutherland scored two runs apiece for MCC. South Windsor’s Adam Scanlon pitched well in three innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on four hits. Strahowski used six pitchers, but saved Brian Levchuk (2-0, 2.12 ERA) for Tuesday night.
Kevin Madera had two hits and drove in five runs for the Cougars. Gloucester chased MCC starter and losing pitcher Kevin Bartlett (2-6) after 1.1 innings and 50 pitches.
2011 NJCAA Division III World Series
at Mike Carter Field, Tyler, TX

Gloucester 15 Manchester 9

Gloucester 140 080 020 15 17 1
Manchester 000 220 500 9 11 5