MCC Defeats Holyoke CC in NJCAA Division III Region XXI Baseball Tournament

Updated Bracket at 9:30 a.m. Sunday

MANCHESTER, Conn. (May 13) – Freshman utility player Jason Banks (STAFFORD SPRINGS) scored the game-tying run in the seventh inning and drove in the go-ahead in the eighth as the host and fourth-seeded Manchester Community College baseball team defeated top-seeded Holyoke Community College 2-1 in an opening-round National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Region XXI Baseball Tournament game Saturday afternoon at McCormick Field.

The Cougars (19-11 overall), who have won five of their last six games, will play third-seeded Massasoit Community College (24-20), a 7-1 winner over second-seeded Northern Essex Community College (18-8) in the other opening-round game, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the second of three tournament games scheduled at McCormick Field on the campus of Manchester Community College. Holyoke Community College (22-20) will meet Northern Essex Community College at 9 a.m. The winner of the Northern Essex Community College-Holyoke Community College game and the loser of the Manchester Community College-Massasoit Community College game will play at 4 p.m.

MCC tied the game at 1 in the top of the seventh as Banks scored from second on sophomore left fielder Luis DeJesus’ (WILLIMANTIC) RBI single up the middle. Banks led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore catcher Josue Lopez (MANCHESTER).

In the top of the eighth, Banks had a two-out RBI double to right center scoring sophomore center fielder Clint Mitchell (WINDSOR) from third. Mitchell had a leadoff single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman shortstop Aaron Granahan (THOMASTON) and went to third on freshman second baseman/pitcher Steve Kelley’s (GLASTONBURY) groundout.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kelley relieved sophomore left-hander Marcus Wilcox (CANTON) with runners on first and second with no outs. Kelley got sophomore right fielder Bobby Opsitnick to hit into a fielder’s choice forcing out freshman left fielder Brandon Adams at third for the first out. Pinch-hitter Bobby Reyome was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kelley struck out freshman center fielder John Chastain and retired freshman right-hander Matt Salvato on a fly out to Mitchell for his first career save.

Wilcox (4-3) went eight-plus innings, allowing one run, five hits and five walks. He struck out four, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches. Salvato (4-6) allowed two runs, six hits and one walk. He struck out nine, including three looking, and hit two batters.
Holyoke Community College led 1-0 on Salvato’s two-out, third-inning single scoring freshman catcher Jay Currie.

On April 15, Wilcox and Salvato each pitched a one-hitter in Holyoke Community College’s 1-0 win at Mt. Nebo Park in Manchester. Wilcox struck out five, walked two and hit a batter. Salvato struck out 10, walked one and faced two batters over the minimum. He had a go-ahead RBI single in the third inning as well.

2006 NJCAA Division III Region XXI Baseball Tournament

Hosted by Manchester Community College
at Manchester, Conn.

Saturday, May 13
Game 1: Manchester Community College 2, Holyoke Community College 1
Game 2: Massasoit Community College 7, Northern Essex Community College 1

Sunday, May 14
Game 3: Holyoke Community College (0-1) vs. Northern Essex Community College (0-1), postponed to Monday, time and location TBD
Game 4: Manchester Community College (1-0) vs. Massasoit Community College (1-0), postponed to Monday, time and location TBD
Game 5: Holyoke Community College-Northern Essex Community College winner vs. Manchester Community College-Massasoit Community College loser, postponed