Suffolk County Captures Region 15 Division III Baseball Championship
SELDEN, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 6 and top-seeded Suffolk County Community College baseball team captured the Region 15 Division III Championship on Sunday afternoon by defeating #2-Seed Monroe University – Bronx in the winner-take-all game, 9-3, at Middle County Park.
Suffolk County will host nationally ranked No. 9 Northern Essex Community College in a best two-out-of-three series for the Northeast District Championship this upcoming weekend. The winner of the district series will earn a berth in the JUCO World Series. More details will be announced soon.
Jake Tannenbaum was named the Most Valuable Player of the Region 15 Tournament.
Monroe (30-16) got off to a good start in the top of the first as Yan Ortiz Torres drilled a double to left center that scored Pablo Aquino all the way from first to give the Express a 1-0 lead.
Ortiz Torres started the game on the mound for the Blue and Gold and tossed shutout frames in the first and second. The Express added to their lead in the top of the third when Edwin Minaya Jr. was caught in a rundown between first and second which allowed Robert Herrera to advance two bases and score to make it 2-0.
The Sharks (40-12) responded in the bottom of the third as an RBI single off the bat of Matthew Theofel and then an RBI double courtesy of Tannenbaum evened the game at two runs apiece.
In the top of the fourth, Monroe had runners on second and third with two outs. Herrera stepped up to the plate and ripped a single through the left side to score Nomar Rodriguez from third to put Monroe back in front, 3-2.
The Sharks bats broke out in the bottom of the fourth as a two-run single by Joseph Lomonaco capped off a four-run inning to give Suffolk County a 6-3 advantage.
The Express fell further behind in the bottom of the fifth as the Sharks took advantage of a throwing error that scored the home team's seventh run of the game.
Monroe was able to load the bases in the sixth and seventh innings but could not capitalize on either opportunity.
Tannenbaum struck again for Suffolk County in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run double to inflate the home team's benefit to 9-3.
Abraham Joaquin Taveras gave the Express some hope in the top of the ninth with a double, but it was not enough as Luca Occhiogrosso struck out the final batter to clinch the Region 15 Championship for Suffolk County.
For the Sharks, Tannenbaum went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Dominick Viggiano stole two bases, scored three runs, and produced an RBI single. Theofel went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Lomonaco had two hits, including a double, and drew two walks.
Suffolk County's pitching was led by Occhiogrosso who went 2 1/3 innings scoreless innings out of the bullpen, giving up just two hits and striking out three batters to earn his fifth save of the season. Eric Mohr started the game and got the win, giving up two earned runs and fanning a trio of hitters in 6 1/3 innings.
The Express outhit the Sharks 11-10 during the afternoon. Herrera, Joaquin Taveras, and Christopher Marlin each produced two hits. Anthony Sanchez doubled.
On the mound for Monroe, Jose Capellan gave up no earned runs and struck out a batter in two innings pitched.
Below is the Region 15 All-Tournament team.
For updates regarding Suffolk County's run in the Northeast District Series, check out www.Region15Athletics.com.