MCC places seven on all-Region 21 first team
MANCHESTER, CT (May 21,2008) Sophomores Kevin Clements (Vernon), Derek Grundmann (Colchester), Bryan Hager (Burlington), Liam Ohlmann (Wallingford/Choate) and Jeff Raymond (Hebron) were all named to the 2008 All-Region 21 First-Team along with freshmen Rob Bukowski (Wallingford) and Alan Fredriksson (Torrington). Mike Quagliaroli (Windsor Locks) was named to the second team and Pedro Acevedo (New Britain) was a second-team honorable mention.
3B – Clements, a captain and the team’s leading hitter in 2008 with a .438 average, also led the Cougars in hits (49), RBI (38), slugging percentage (.607) and total bases (69). Playing third base, as well as first base and catcher, Clements made just three errors in 82 chances for a .975 fielding percentage.
DH – Grundmann hit .352 in 29 games (27 starts) with a pair of home runs, 15 RBI and a team high five triples. Grundmann handled 159 chances behind the plate with just three errors and threw out 10 runners attempting to steal.
OF- Hager hit .404 from the no. 2 slot in the order with 20 RBI and a .485 on-base percentage. MCC’s starting leftfielder, who did not make an error in 38 chances, also stole seven bases in nine tries and was second on the team in runs scored with 32.
P – Ohlmann was a captain and the ace of the Cougar staff in 2008, finishing the regular season with a 6-1 record and 1.50 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 42 innings. The right-hander, who has a full scholarship to Fordham University in the fall, beat Massasoit CC in his only appearance in the NJCAA Region 21.
P – Jeff Raymond was 7-0 in seven starts for MCC during the regular season, then tacked on another win in the NJCAA Region 21 Tournament in a 7-6 win over no. 1 seed Hoyoke CC. The tri-captain allowed just 33 hits in 40 innings, with 33 strikeouts and only seven walks.
SS – Alan Fredriksson hit .436 and scored 42 runs in 34 games as MCC’s leadoff hitter. He had a team-highs with nine doubles, .582 slugging percentage and .540 on-base percentage. He stole 10 bases in 12 tries and was second in RBI with 28.
OF – Rob Bukowski hit .309 in 32 games (all starts) with 20 RBI, 22 runs scored, six doubles and nine stolen bases in 10 attempts. He made just one error in 53 chances as MCC’s starting centerfielder and was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two relief appearances.
MCC finished the regular season with 26-10-2 record and won the Division III, Region 21 tournament by beating Massasoit CC in the championship game on Sunday, May 11. The Cougars, under ninth year Head Coach Chris Strahowski (133-106-2) participated in the NJCAA Division III World Series at Mike Carter Field in Tyler Texas. The Cougar lost to Richland College 10-5 on Saturday May 17 and to Hudson Valley CC 13-4 on Sunday May 18 in the double-elimination tournament.
National Junior College Athletic Association
Service Bureau – Region XXI
All-New England Team
Baseball
2007-08
Division III
Player Position School
1st Team
Paul Pollini C Holyoke CC
Liam Ohlmann P Manchester CC
Cory Collins P Massasoit CC
J.T. Leary 2B N.E.C.C.
Alan Fredriksson SS Manchester CC
Matt Hogan 1B N.E.C.C.
Jeff Raymond P Manchester CC
Kevin Clements 3B Manchester CC
Bryan Hager OF Manchester CC
Mike Traghese OF Holyoke CC
Rob Bukowski OF Manchester CC
Derek Grundmann DH Manchester CC
2nd Team
Mike Doyle 1B Massasoit C.C.
Brendon Murphy 2B Massasoit C.C.
Sean McClelland SS Holyoke C.C.
Peter Rogan 3B Holyoke C.C.
Don Coury C Massasoit C.C.
Shane Coakley OF Quinsigamond C.C.
Brennan Massaro OF Holyoke C.C.
Eric Familia P Quinsigamond C.C.
Mike Quagliaroli P Manchester C.C.
Scott Schnideir P Holyoke C.C.
Honorable Mention
Pedro Acevedo OF Manchester C.C.
