MCC Takes Third Straight Region 21 Title; National Tourney Next

HOLYOKE, MA – Manchester CC head coach Chris Strahowski saved his best starter for the championship and move paid off. Kevin Madera pitched a complete game to give the Cougars a 9-1 victory over Massasoit CC (28-10) and their third straight NJCAA Region 21 Division III title Monday afternoon.

MCC (28-21) advances to the NJCAA Division III World Series in Tyler, TX May 22-28 for the third consecutive year.

Madera (Newington) gave up the one run on a wild pitch, scattered four hits and struck out 12 batters. The lefty improved to 8-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.40. Madera now has 60 strikeouts over 58 innings while issuing just 20 walks.

“He’s the best pitcher in the region and he proved it today,” MCC 11th year head coach Chris Strahowski said. “They (Massasoit) hadn’t seen him all year and he came out and stuffed them. It was awesome.”

After Massasoit ace Corey Batista (4-2) retired the first six batters he faced, MCC scratched out a run on a Kevin Wallace (Groton) sacrifice fly, taking a 1-0 lead after three innings. The Cougars got to Batista in the fourth with six runs, putting the game out of reach considering the way Madera was working his way through the Warrior lineup.

“Batista is tough,” Strahowski said. “But our M.O. most of the year against tough righties like that is to figure out what his tendencies are, and the second time through, put a lot better swings on it. We were fortunate those swings went through today.”

Juan Bisono (New Britain) started the barrage with an RBI double and Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford) followed with a two-run with a single. Alec Brown (Montville) chased Batista with a two-run double. A. J. Silberman (Meriden) added an RBI single to make it 7-0.

“Once the big inning goes, we start playing one out at a time and managing it like that –trying to keep the leadoff batter off base so they can’t nickel and dime us and get back in the game,” Strahowski added.

Sophomore Vin Sommo (Clinton) was 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored for the Cougars, who have won seven straight Region 21 tournament games over their three-peat championship run. Sommo hit a three-run homer to give MCC a 15-12 victory in the winner’s bracket game Sunday. The Cougars beat Quinsigamond CC 5-2 Friday afternoon behind a complete game effort from South Windsor’s Adam Scanlon in the tourney opener.

Despite the recent success, the 37-year old Strahowski, who was the Connecticut College Coach of the Year in 2009 downplayed any suggestion of a Region 21 dynasty.

“This was a little different this year,” Strahowski (189-146-3) said moments before sophomores A. J. Lowers and Ryan Carroll poured a bucket of water on him. “There was a little more management. This was a lot younger team and hopefully can keep it rolling.”

MCC will play at 9 am on May 22nd against the District E champion at Mike Carter Field in Tyler, TX.