5/12/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College baseball has set a goal to get back to the NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series this season, and the next step in that journey starts this weekend, as the top-seeded Falcons are set to host the 2023 Region XIX DII Baseball Championships in NEPA this weekend.
 
The Falcons, the #1 seed in the tourney, will face the #5 County College of Morris Titans, who got into the field thanks to defeating #4 Mercer County CC last weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00am ET on Friday, May 12^th, at the Scranton HS baseball field in Scranton.
 
Game two, which pits #2 Sussex County CC and #3 Delaware Tech CC, will take place at Matt McGloin Baseball Field on the campus of Penn State Scranton in nearby Dunmore. First pitch for that game is also at 10:00am ET.
 
The winners of the two games will face each other at one site at 2:00pm ET, while the losers of the ten o'clock games will meet in an elimination game at the other site, also at 2:00pm ET. Lackawanna College, regardless of a win or loss at 10:00am, will play at Scranton HS at 2:00pm ET.
 
The next day, Saturday, May 13^th, will start at 11:00am ET at Scranton HS, where the two teams remaining with a 1-1 record will play in an elimination game. The winner of that game will face the team that went 2-0 on Friday in a Region XIX Championship game at 3:00pm ET at Scranton HS. If the team with one-loss wins that game, a winner-take-all championship game will be played at 12:00pm ET at Scranton HS on Sunday, May 14^th.
 
All Region XIX DII Championship games will be streamed live on the Lackawanna College Athletics Network (lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE) and the Region 19 Sports Network (region19sn.com).
 
The teams that make the Region 19 championship round on Saturday will both be qualifiers for next week's NJCAA DII East District championship tournament. The champion from Region XIX will be the host institution, facing off against two teams from a combination of Regions III, XV, and XXI, in addition to the second-place team from Region XIX.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (32-15) had gone 23-4 through 27 games before splitting doubleheaders at Mercer and CCBC Essex in consecutive days. The loss to Mercer on May 1^st snapped a 12-game winning streak for the Falcons, but they bounced back to get the win in game two at 4-1. Against Essex on the road the next day, Lackawanna got a 14-2 win in game one, blasting the Knights in just five innings. In game two, the Falcons had a no-hitter broken up in the sixth on a bunt single, and ended up losing 2-1, despite only allowing one hit all game. You can read the recap HERE.
 
The Falcons are hitting .339 on the year so far, posting a combined 1.001 OPS, with a .462 on-base percentage. The Falcons have scored 460 runs, while giving up 287, and have scored ten or more runs in 24 games this season, 22 of which have been wins. Lackawanna College has 170 extra-base hits (2^nd in Region XIX), including 97 doubles (4^th in Region XIX) and 44 homeruns (2^nd in Region XIX), and the Falcons have been deadly on the base paths, going 160-for-170 on steals this year. Lackawanna leads Region XIX in triples (29) and is first in stolen bases. Lackawanna has drawn 282 walks this season, but has struck out 272 times. The Falcons pitching staff holds a 6.71 ERA so far this season, giving up 287 runs, 245 earned, on 334 hits in 328.2 innings. The Falcons have struck out 320 batters and are holding their opponents to a .255 batting average this season.
 
Corner infielder Ian Murphy (West Deptford, NJ) is a .378 hitter this year, and leads the Falcons with 59 total hits on the year. Murphy has a 1.062 OPS on the season in 45 games, and is slugging at .596 for the Falcons this season. Murphy is fourth on the team with six homeruns this season, and he has a team-best 55 RBI on the year, collecting 22 extra base hits and scoring 52 runs, third on the team this year. Murphy's 16 doubles are fourth in all of Region XIX. Murphy has also drawn 22 walks this season, sixth on the squad, and is one of eleven Falcons with ten or more walks, and one of eight with 20 or more. Murphy has 18 multi-hit games this season, and was 1-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI in the two games against Essex last week.     
 
Outfielder Christian Rush (Perkasie, PA) has the most at-bats (158) and holds a .354 batting average through 46 games on the year, compiling 56 hits, second on the team. Rush has a 1.084 OPS, with a team-high five triples and eight homeruns, second on the squad, with 52 RBI on the year. Rush is second in RBI behind Murphy this year. His 54 runs scored are second on the team this year. Rush has 27 stolen bases this season, second on the team. He has drawn 23 walks, fourth-most on the squad, but has struck out a team-high 35 times this year. Rush has 16 multi-hit games this year, and was a combined 1-for-6 with two runs scored and a grand-slam homerun in two games against Essex last Tuesday.
 
Outfielder Zachary Walsh (Spring Brook Twp., PA) holds a .386 batting average so far this season, and is third on the team with 54 hits. Walsh has a 1.195 OPS, and has scored a team-high 64 runs. Walsh has 36 RBI, and 19 extra base hits this season, including seven homers, third on the team. He has drawn a team-best 45 walks, and has stolen 50 total bases this year, first on the team and first in NJCAA DII. Walsh has a .545 on-base percentage, but has struck out 31 times, second-most on the team this year. Walsh has 15 multi-hit games this year, but was a combined 0-for-6 with two runs scored in two games against CCBC Essex last week.
 
Catcher and DH Michael Miller (Lafayette Hill, PA) is hitting .463 in his 37 games this year, and has an OPS of 1.354. Miller's 50 hits are fourth on the team, and he's scored 36 runs on the year. Miller has 19 extra base hits this season, with a team-best nine homeruns and ten doubles on the year. He's driven in 40 RBI this year, and has a slugging percentage at .806, with a .548 on-base percentage. He's drawn 20 walks and has been hit by four pitches so far this season. Miller has 16 multi-hit games, and had a 16-game hitting streak recently. He was a combined 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a solo homerun against Essex last week.  
 
Shortstop Brayden D'Amico (Bethlehem, PA) has a .329 batting average in his 44 games this year. D'Amico has a .926 OPS, and has 46 hits, fifth on the team this year. D'Amico has scored 37 runs, fifth on the squad, and has eleven doubles this season, driving in 39 runs this year, fifth on the Falcons this season. D'Amico has a .462 on-base percentage, getting hit by a team-high 14 pitches and drawing 25 walks, tied for second on the team. D'Amico has 12 multi-hit games this season. He was 0-for-5 with a run scored in two games against CCBC Essex last week.    
 
Utility player Eric Ludwick (Bethlehem, PA) is averaging .313 on the year, with an OPS at .939 this season. Ludwick has 42 hits on the season, scoring 42 runs, fourth on the squad, and he has driven in 46 RBI, third on the team this season. Ludwick has 25 walks this season, tied with D'Amico for second on the team this year, and has 14 extra base hits, with five homeruns, six doubles, and three triples this year. Ludwick has ten multi-hit games on the year, and was a combined 3-for-6 with a run scored, three RBI and a homerun against CCBC Essex last week.
 
Utility player Spencer Butz (York, PA) is hitting .337 on the year in his 32 games, with 24 starts this season. Butz has a 1.105 OPS, and has a .487 on-base percentage this season. Butz has 30 total hits, and has 31 RBI this season. He's also scored 32 runs for the Falcons this year. Butz has 12 extra base hits, including three triples and five homeruns, and has drawn 18 walks, while getting hit by nine pitches this season. Butz has also stolen 17 bases, third on the squad. Butz has eight multi-hit games this season, but has not played since May 1^st against Mercer, where he was 0-for-2 with two RBI in one game.
 
Second baseman Michael Rickert (Moosic, PA) is hitting .397 in his 30 games this season, posting a 1.128 OPS. Rickert has 25 total hits, and has scored 19 runs. He has five doubles and four triples on the season, and has driven in 17 RBI. Rickert has drawn 17 walks, and has a .525 OBP, while stealing eight bags on the year. Rickert has six multi-hit games on the year, and was 0-for-1 in one game against CCBC Essex last week.
 
On the mound, the Falcons are led by Kyle Scott (Westminster, MD), who is 6-2 on the year in eleven starts. He went five innings against SWVCC in the season opener, striking out ten batters and allowing just two hits in what became a shutout 12-0 win for the Falcons. Scott was the Region XIX Pitcher of the Year in 2021, and battled through injuries last season to still be named to the Region XIX second-team. Scott has a 3.93 ERA in 52.2 innings pitched, giving up 30 runs, 23 earned, on 37 hits, while striking out a team-best 80 batters and walking 25. Scott has held his opponents to .186 on the season, but has seven wild pitches and has hit a team-high eleven batters this season. Scott has four games where he has struck out ten or more batters this season. Scott had won his last four starts entering a start against Sussex, and tossed a season-high 14 strikeouts in a 12-0 win over Monroe CC back on April 7^th. He has not gotten the win in his last two starts, lasting 4.2 innings against Sussex, giving up six runs on three hits in a game the Falcons won in a walk-off, and then going six innings, but giving up four runs, three in the sixth, on three hits and striking out five in a game the Falcons eventually lost to Mercer, on a walk-off, 6-5.        
 
Aiden Starn (Pennsville, NJ) has pitched 45.2 innings so far this season, and has a 4-2 record with a 4.93 ERA this year. He's allowed 30 runs, 25 earned, on 52 hits, with 43 strikeouts and 18 walks this year. Batters are hitting .283 against Starn in his ten appearances. Starn has had back-to-back excellent starts on the year in his last two appearances, giving up two runs, one earned, on seven hits in a complete game 9-2 win over Sussex on April 23^rd, where he struck out a season-high eight batters, and then following that up with another complete game, this one on the road at Mercer, giving up one run on seven hits while striking out a pair in a 4-1 Falcons win on May 1^st.    
 
Matthew McElligott (Columbus, OH) has thrown 30.0 innings of work this year in a team-high 17 appearances, with two starts this season. He's got a 5.40 ERA, giving up 19 runs, 18 earned, on 25 hits, while striking out 30 batters and walking 22. McElligott is holding his opponents to a .219 batting average on the year. McElligott had a great relief appearance on April 28^th against Mercer, pitching three scoreless innings and striking out three for the win, then came in to relieve Scott a few days later on May 1^st against Mercer, lasting just 0.2 innings and giving up two runs on three hits, including the walk-off winner for the Vikings.
 
Reliever Ty Morris (Manchester Valley, MD) has thrown 29.2 innings so far this season, posting a 5.76 ERA and a 5-0 record in his 13 appearances. Morris has given up 19 runs, 13 earned, on 38 hits, striking out 20 and walking 13 on the year. Teams are hitting .309 against Morris this season. Morris was roughed up in his last start, giving up six runs on eight hits in four innings to Mercer in a game the Falcons won 12-7, but pitched an inning of scoreless relief against CCBC Essex last Tuesday in a game the Falcons eventually lost, 2-1.  
 
Nathan Russell (Drexel Hill, PA) has thrown 25 innings of work so far this season, making 14 appearances, and one start, posting a 6.84 ERA and going 3-0 this season, with a save. Russell has given up 19 runs on 24 hits, while striking out 19 and walking 16 this year. Russell's opponents are averaging .255 at the dish against him this year. Russell got his first start of the year in his last appearance, pitching three scoreless innings against CCBC Essex, striking out three, in a game the Falcons lost 2-1.  
 
Reliever Jace Cunnane (Clarkstown, NY) has thrown 22 innings this season, posting a 3.27 ERA in 12 appearances, going 2-0 and posting three saves. He's given up eleven runs on 20 hits, while striking out 16 and walking just seven batters this year. Cunnane is holding opponents to a .225 batting average this season. Cunnane pitched a two-inning save for the Falcons in his last appearance, April 28^th against Mercer County, giving up one run on two hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout in the 12-7 win for Lackawanna College.
 
Reliever Ty Federici (Lehman, PA) has made ten appearances and is 3-2 with an 8.10 ERA so far this season. In his 20 innings pitched, Federici has allowed 24 runs, 18 earned, on 31 hits, while striking out 18 and walking eight. Batters have hit him hard this season, with a .326 batting average against him. Federici started in his last pitching appearance two weeks ago, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out three through three innings of work against Duchess.
 
Lackawanna College is coached by Mike McCarry, now in his fifth season at the helm for the Falcons. McCarry has taken the Falcons to the NJCAA DII World Series twice in the last four years, taking the Falcons to Region 19 crowns in 2019 and 2021, on their way to the World Series tournament in Enid, OK. McCarry, who played under Jamie Shevchik at nearby Keystone College in the early 2000's, has been coaching baseball since 2006, having spent time at Central Bucks West HS, then moved onto the collegiate ranks a few years later when he arrived at LaSalle University, where he was the Head Assistant – Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. While at LaSalle, McCarry helped the Explorers develop a relationship with NJCAA schools, bringing in four NJCAA All-Americans in his time. After LaSalle, McCarry moved on to be the pitching coach at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX. McCarry is 126-72 in his 4+ seasons with the Falcons, winning a pair of Region 19 championships and coaching three NJCAA All-Americans, as well as several All-Region selections in his time at Lackawanna.
 
About #5 County College of Morris
The County College of Morris Titans (23-18) come in as the hottest team in the region, having won its last five contests. Morris most recently played last Friday and Saturday, playing Mercer County CC in the first-round match-up, and sweeping past the Vikings by scores of 7-6 and 11-5. In game one, Morris built a 7-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, only to see Mercer cut that down to just a one-run lead. The Titans managed to hang on for the narrow victory. In game two, Morris blew a 5-0 lead after giving up five runs in the fifth, but recovered to score three runs in the seventh and three runs in the ninth to put away the defending Region XIX champions and advance to the tournament's final four round. 
 
On the year, Morris is hitting .298 as a squad, with a .857 OPS on the year. Morris has scored 269 runs in 41 games, a 6.6 runs per game average, with 76 doubles, eleven triples, and 24 homers on the year. They've drawn 191 walks, and struck out 267 times so far this season, while stealing 109 bases as a squad. The Titans have a collective 5.19 ERA, giving up 252 runs, 174 earned, on 306 hits in 302 innings of work. Morris has struck out 282 batters this year, while walking 191 on the season.
 
First baseman Chris Giacalone leads the Titans with 46 hits this year, posting a .326 batting average on the year. Giacalone has a .957 OPS, boosted by a .546 slugging percentage. He has 29 runs scored this year, good for second on the team, and leads Morris with six homeruns and 37 RBI on the year. He has eleven doubles, second on the team, and has 18 extra base hits, first on the squad. He's drawn 20 walks, but has struck out a team-high 36 times this year. Giacalone has 12 multi-hit games on the year, and was a combined 3-for-7 with three runs scored, a double, an RBI, and three walks in two games against Mercer last weekend. 
 
Outfielder Ryan Vollmer is second on the team with 39 hits this year, averaging .298 at the dish. Vollmer has scored 21 runs, and has a team-high 12 doubles on the year for 25 RBI, second on the Titans. Vollmer has a .797 OPS, and has drawn nine walks on the year, while striking out 30 times. Vollmer has ten multi-hit games this season, including twice against Mercer last week, going a combined 4-for-8 with three runs scored, a double, an RBI, and two walks in the pair of wins over the Vikings.  
 
Corner infielder Ethan Young has 32 hits and is hitting .305 on the year. Young has 18 runs scored, and has six doubles and three homers for 22 RBI on the year. Young has eleven walks and three stolen bases on the year. He has eight multi-hit games on the year, two against Lackawanna, and was a combined 3-for-10 with a run scored, a double, and three RBI in two games against Mercer last week.
 
Outfielder Aidan Pierre has 30 hits on the year and a .349 batting average in 31 games this season. Pierre has scored 20 runs this season, and has compiled seven doubles and a pair of triples on the year, driving in 12 runs. Pierre has drawn 16 walks, tied for third on the team, and has stolen 26 bases, tops on the team. Pierre has eight multi-hit games this season, and was 5-for-10 with two runs scored, a double, a triple, and an RBI, as well as three stolen bases, in two games against Mercer last weekend.
 
Catcher CJ Tomalavage has 28 hits this year and a .295 batting average, scoring a team-high 37 runs this year. Tomalavage has a 1.016 OPS, second on the team, with a team-high .511 OBP this year. Tomalavage has drawn a team-best 30 walks, and has a nine extra base hits, including three doubles and five homers, to drive in 17 RBI this year. He's struck out 20 times, and has stolen eleven bases this year. Tomalavage has seven multi-hit games this year, and was a combined 4-for-9 with three runs scored, three RBI, a triple and a homerun in two games against Mercer last weekend. 
 
Middle infielder Ulisses Ferraz has 25 total hits and a .272 batting average this season in 35 games. Ferraz has scored 20 runs, and driven in eleven RBI on a pair of doubles this year. Ferraz has drawn 16 walks, and struck out ten times, while stealing five bases on the year. Ferraz has six multi-hit games on the season, and was a combined 3-for-6 with two runs scored, an RBI, and two walks in two games against Mercer County last weekend.
 
On the mound, the Titans are led by Ryan Devanney, who has pitched team-best 54 innings, going 7-0 with a 1.83 ERA in nine appearances. Devanney has given up 16 runs, 11 earned, on 29 hits, striking out a team-best 70 and walking 15. Devanney has been on a roll, winning his last six starts in a row. He has two games of ten or more strikeouts, with a season-high 15 coming in a 6-3 win against Lehigh Carbon back on April 2^nd. In his last start, he went eight innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and striking out nine in the 11-5 win over Mercer last Saturday.  
 
Christian Weippert has pitched 49.1 innings so far this year for the Titans, going 1-0 in 14 appearances, most on the team, with a 4.20 ERA. Weippert has given up 43 runs, 23 earned, on 58 hits this year, striking out 23 and walking 21. Weippert set his season-high with five strikeouts against CCBC Essex on April 27^th, punching out five batters while going 5.1 innings, giving up six runs on nine hits in what eventually was a 7-6 win for the Titans. Weippert won his appearance despite giving up six runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings of relief against Mercer County last Friday.
 
Briant Bazydlo is third on the team in innings pitched, going for 35 innings so far this year, posting a 3.86 ERA in eleven appearances. Bazydlo has given up 27 runs, 15 earned, on 35 hits, with 51 strikeouts, second on the team, and 17 walks. Bazydlo set his season-high with 14 strikeouts back on April 2^nd, giving up two runs on three hits in five innings against the Cougars. Bazydlo appeared in relief in his last appearance, pitching a scoreless inning of relief against Mercer last Saturday to seal the series sweep for Morris.  
 
Ishaan Patel has thrown 31 innings of work on the year, appearing in 13 games with a 4.06 ERA. Patel has given up 19 runs, 14 earned, on 24 hits, while striking out 20 and walking 18 on the year. Patel struck out a season-high eleven batters against Lehigh Carbon back on March 31^st, picking up the win in an 11-1 victory, giving up just one run on three hits through six innings. He earned a save in his last appearance, going 1.1 innings in relief to secure the 7-6 win over Mercer County last Friday.  
 
The head coach for the Titans is Jason Fiore, in his second year at the helm for County College of Morris. Fiore previously spent 25 years as a police officer, but is no stranger to Morris, having played at Morris previously, as well as the University of Miami and FDU-Madison. Fiore is a New Jersey native, having gone to HS at Hudson Catholic. He led the Titans to a 21-18 record last year. He's 44-36 in his time at Morris.
 
About #2 Sussex County CC
The Skylanders (27-9) had been receiving votes and were even ranked earlier this season in the NJCAA DII polls. They have lost their last two games coming into the contest, including their last game, a 4-1 loss to Middlesex College back on May 2^nd. In the game against the Colts, the Skylanders fell behind 4-0 midway through the game, managed to push a run across in the ninth, but couldn't get in front.  
 
Sussex is hitting .320 as a team from the plate this season, with a combined .866 OPS as a team. The Skylanders have scored 286 runs in 36 games, a 7.9 runs per game average, with 77 extra base hits, including 46 doubles and 20 triples this year. Sussex has drawn 191 walks and stolen 92 bases, while striking out 218 times as a team. As a pitching staff, the Skylanders have a solid 4.35 team ERA. In 258.1 innings of work, Sussex has given up 177 runs, 125 earned, on 266 hits, while striking out 239 batters and walking 126.
 
Utility player Logan Kobis leads the Skylanders with 56 total hits and a .444 batting average this season, second behind Layton Cuvilier. Kobis leads the Skylanders with 44 runs scored, and also leads the team in extra base hits with 23. Kobis has team-highs in triples (10) and homeruns (6), and he's second in doubles (7). He has a 1.298 OPS, best on the squad, and has driven in 33 runs, second on the team. He's drawn 12 walks and has 18 steals, second on the team. He's got 14 multi-hit games, but was 0-for-4 in the loss to Middlesex last week.   
 
Layton Cuvilier has 52 total hits and holds an impressive .477 batting average in 33 games on the year. Cuvilier has scored 35 runs, third on the team, and has six doubles and three triples for 36 RBI, tops on the team. Cuvilier has a 1.123 OPS, boosted by his .536 OBP. Cuvilier has ten walks and 13 strikeouts, while stealing a team-high 21 bases on the year. Cuvilier has 17 multi-hit games this season, and was 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and a strikeout against Middlesex last week.  
 
Infielder Lorenzo Curbelo has 39 total hits and a .368 batting average this season. Curbelo has scored 28 runs this season, and has a team-high 13 doubles and 27 RBI, fourth on the team. He's also drawn 18 walks and has stolen eleven bases this year, fourth on the team. He's also got a 1.018 OPS on the year. Curbelo has ten multi-hit games this season, and was 1-for-3 with a run scored on a solo homer and a walk against Middlesex last week.  
 
Infielder Ryan Bongiorno has 37 total hits this year, and is averaging .294 on the year. Bongiorno has 33 runs scored this season, fourth on the squad, and has driven in 25 runs, fifth on the team. Bongiorno has four doubles and a triple to his name this year, with 18 drawn walks and nine steals. Bongiorno has five multi-hit games, but was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts last week against Middlesex.  
 
Infielder Jake Wagner has 36 total hits, and is hitting .327 this year, with 43 runs scored, second on the team. Wagner has 23 RBI, and has drawn a team-best 37 walks. He's got a .854 OPS, with a stellar .490 OBP. Wagner has 12 steals this year, third on the team, and has two doubles and a triple on the year. Wagner has struck out 22 times on the year. He's got eleven multi-hit games this year, and was 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in the loss to Middlesex last week.
 
Infielder and pitcher Terryn Babcock has 34 total hits, and is third on the Skylanders with 31 RBI on the season. Babcock has a .293 batting average, and has scored 26 runs this year, with eleven extra base hits, including six doubles and four homeruns. Babcock has a .857 OPS, and has drawn 20 walks, fifth on the team this year. He also has 34 strikeouts, a team-worst on the team this year. Babcock has ten multi-hit games this season, and was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a strikeout against Middlesex last week.
 
On the bump, Tanner MacLean leads the Skylanders in innings pitched, and is 5-0 in six starts and nine appearances with a 2.55 ERA. In 42.1 innings pitched, MacLean has allowed just 20 runs, 12 earned, on 42 hits, striking out a team-high 55 batters and walking just five. He's averaging nearly 12 strikeouts per nine innings. He had a season-high 12 strikeouts in an 11-0 win over North Central Missouri College, allowing just one hit in six innings. MacLean has won his last two starts, including a dominant performance against Delaware Tech back on April 27^th, where he struck out nine in seven innings, giving up two runs on eight hits in seven innings of a 14-2 run-rule victory for the Skylanders.
 
Sota Inden is 3-3 in ten appearances, with a 3.35 ERA, pitching 40.1 innings so far this season. Inden has allowed 23 runs, 15 earned, on 37 hits, with 34 strikeouts, third on the team, and 15 walks. Inden had his season-high of nine strikeouts against Clark State College back on March 16^th, where he allowed just two hits in seven innings. Inden got the loss in his last start, giving up seven runs, just two earned, on seven hits, while striking out two and walking two in six innings of an 11-1 loss to Delaware Tech.  
 
Hunter Canning is 5-1 in 12 appearances, with a 3.99 ERA. He's made seven starts this season. Canning has thrown 38.1 innings, and given up 28 runs, 17 earned, on 36 hits, while striking out 35, second on the team, but also walking a team-high 25 batters. Canning struck out a season-high seven batters against Mercer County, but still got the loss back on April 22^nd, giving up six runs on eight hits in five innings. He won his last start, giving up a run on four hits and striking out four in seven innings of a 5-1 win over Delaware Tech back on April 27^th. His last appearance came last week against Middlesex, where he gave up a pair of unearned runs on two hits in one inning.
 
The aforementioned Terryn Babcock has a 4.85 ERA in nine appearances, going 2-1 in 26 innings of work this year. Babcock has surrendered 16 runs, 14 earned, on 29 hits, with 13 strikeouts and eleven walks this year. Babcock has struck out a season-high three batters twice this season, including in his last appearance, where he gave up just one unearned run on three hits in five innings against Middlesex, but still got the loss against the Colts.
 
Jax Nyberg is 3-1 in 13 appearances, with a 5.68 ERA. Nyberg, in 25.1 innings, has given up 22 runs, 16 earned, on 33 hits, while striking out 27 batters, fourth on the staff, and walking 15. Nyberg had a season-high five strikeouts against Scoutz USA back on March 15^th, getting the win in 4.2 innings of work of a 5-4 victory. He got the loss in his last and only start this year, giving up eight runs on eight hits in just an inning of work against Rockland back on April 6^th. Nyberg was last in action against Middlesex, in a one-inning relief appearance, giving up one run on two hits and striking out three last week.   
 
The head coach for Sussex is Ramadan Mehmedi, now into his tenth season at the helm of the Skylanders. Mehmedi served as an assistant from 2010 through 2012, before taking over as head coach in the fall of 2013. Mehmedi, a Sussex grad and former baseball player for the Skylanders, went to NJCU after his time at Sussex, still playing baseball at the NCAA level. Mehmedi has an overall record of 154-184, and helped guide the Skylanders to the Region XIX playoffs last season, before falling to Lackawanna College.
 
About #3 Delaware Tech CC
Delaware Tech (30-17) comes into the tournament on a three-game winning streak, with a win over Sussex and a doubleheader sweep over CCBC Dundalk most recently on the docket. The Terry Hawks won game one over the Lions with a six-run third inning, then hung on as Dundalk scored three runs in the final two innings to close the gap to two. In game two, Del Tech rallied for two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth inning to flip a 4-2 deficit. Dundalk scored a run in the ninth, but the Hawks hung on for the win.  
 
Delaware Tech is hitting .337 as a team this season, with a .925 OPS this year. Delaware Tech has scored 376 runs in 47 games this season, eight runs per game on the year. The Terry Hawks have 125 extra base hits this season, with 76 doubles and 41 homeruns on the year. Del Tech has 203 walks and has struck out 250 times, while stealing 111 bases on the year. The pitching staff for the Terry Hawks has a 5.61 team ERA, giving up 261 runs, 205 earned, on 333 hits in 329 innings. They have struck out 342 batters this year, at a 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings-clip, and have given up 194 walks this season.
 
Outfielder Kory Pritchard leads Del Tech with 68 total hits this year, and a .395 batting average. He's got a 1.022 OPS this season, and he has scored 57 runs this year, second on the squad. He's got 17 extra base hits, including ten doubles and five homers, tied for third on the team, and has driven in 33 RBI, fourth on the team. Pritchard has walked 17 times this season, and stolen 18 bases, third on the squad. Pritchard has 21 multi-hit games on the year, and went 2-for-4 in the first game of the doubleheader against CCBC Dundalk last week.  
 
Shortstop Hunter Rauch is second on the team with 62 total hits and a .405 batting average this season, posting a 1.044 OPS on the year. Rauch has a .495 OBP, and has scored 60 runs, first on the team this season. Rauch has 12 doubles this year, and has 16 extra base hits overall. He's driven in 29 runs, and has drawn 21 walks, tied for second on the team. He's also posted 32 stolen bases, most on the Del Tech squad this year. Rauch has 16 multi-hit games on the year, and was a combined 2-for-5 with a run scored and a pair of walks in the wins over Dundalk last weekend.  
 
Outfielder Will Turner has 53 total hits and a .384 batting average this year. Turner holds a 1.075 OPS, boosted by his .609 slugging percentage, and has scored 31 runs this year. Turner is third on the team with 43 RBI, posting a team-best 14 doubles and five homeruns, tied with Pritchard and another player for third on the team. Turner has 13 stolen bases on the year, and has drawn eleven walks. He has 15 multi-hit games this season, and went a combined 1-for-7 with a pair of strikeouts in the wins over Dundalk last Saturday.  
 
Catcher Mason Morris has 45 total hits on the year, and is hitting .378 this season in 40 games. Morris has a 1.241 OPS, and has driven in 46 runs, tops on the team, while scoring 40 so far this season. Morris has ten doubles and a team-high ten homers, and has also drawn a team-best 31 walks this season, while striking out 19 times and stealing six bases. Morris has 13 multi-hit games, and was a combined 3-for-6 with two homers, seven RBI, and a pair of walks in the two games against CCBC Dundalk last weekend.
 
Utility player Matt Rodriguez has 43 total hits and is a .368 hitter this season in 40 games. Rodriguez has a 1.002 OPS, and has scored 24 runs this season. He has driven in 45 RBI, second on the team, on ten extra base hits, including five homers, tied with Pritchard and Turner for third on the team. Rodriguez has 21 walks, tied with Rauch for second on the squad, but has 21 strikeouts this season. He's got eleven multi-hit games on the year, and went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a double in game one against Dundalk last weekend.
 
Chase Boyle has 37 total hits and a .301 batting average this season. Boyle has scored 28 runs, and has driven in 22 RBI. Boyle has just two extra base hits, a double and a homerun, and has a second-worst 28 strikeouts this year, while stealing 22 bases, second on the team. Boyle has seven multi-hit games on the year, but was 0-for-0 in the second game against Dundalk last weekend.  
 
Kyle Coffey has thrown 56 innings this season, tops on the team, posting a 3.54 ERA and going 7-3 in his 12 appearances. Coffey has given up 30 runs, 22 earned, on 48 hits, while striking out 51 batters, tied for second on the staff, and walking 19 this season. Coffey had a season-best 12 strikeouts in a complete game, nine-inning 3-1 win over Morris back on March 22^nd, giving up one unearned run on one hit. He got the loss in his last start, giving up eight runs on 12 hits in 3.1 innings against Sussex in a 14-2 run-rule loss. Coffey pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the save against Dundalk in his last appearance, striking out a pair in the 6-4 win.
 
Zach Hart is tied for second on the team with 53 innings pitched, going 6-1 in ten appearances with a 3.06 ERA. Hart has given up 25 runs, 18 earned, on 46 hits, while striking out a team-high 65 and walking 13 this season. Hart has won six of seven starts, with his only blip a loss to Lackawanna back on April 16^th. He had a season-best 13 punchouts in a 24-1 over Lehigh Carbon back on April 22^nd, and won his last start, pitching six innings of scoreless ball, giving up three hits and striking out nine in an 11-1 win over Sussex on May 1^st.  
 
Cade Williams is tied with Hart for second on the team with 53 innings pitched on the year, going 6-2 in eleven games with a 3.91 ERA. Williams has surrendered 31 runs, 23 earned, on 49 hits, while striking out 51 and walking 26 for the Terry Hawks this season. Williams has thrown a no-hitter this season, striking out a season-high eleven in a 1-0 win over Anne Arundel back on March 5^th. He didn't get a decision in his last start, giving up a run on two hits in just three innings of work, striking out for and walking three in the 6-4 win over CCBC Dundalk. He lost the start before that, to Sussex, giving up five runs on five hits in five innings of a 5-1 loss.  
 
Jorge Javier is the top reliever, making a team-high 17 appearances on the year. Javier is 1-2 with a 4.81 ERA, pitching 24.1 innings this season. Javier has given up 25 runs, 13 earned, on 23 hits, striking out 33 and walking 22 this season. Javier has twice achieved his season-high with four strikeouts in a game. He made a rare start in his last appearance, giving up four runs, none earned, on just one hit, walking five and striking out four in the eventual 6-5 win over Dundalk for the Terry Hawks.  
 
The head coach for Delaware Tech is Stu Madden, now in his sixth season in charge. Madden came to Del Tech after spending three seasons at Seaford High School in Delaware, where he won Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year in 2017. Madden is a Langhorne, PA native, and played centerfield for Wesley College for three years. At Wesley, he was a two-time all-conference player, and still is among the all-time leaders in several categories. Madden played professional baseball in Australia for the WA Whips for two years, making an all-star game and winning a gold glove award. In his six years, Madden is 134-86-1, helping guide the Terry Hawks to the Region XIX Championship game in 2021, before falling to Lackawanna College in the final. Del Tech hosted last year's tournament as the top seed, but lost to Lackawanna in the semi-finals, then to eventual champion Mercer in the elimination bracket.
 
Game Details
The Falcons, the #1 seed in the tourney, will face the #5 County College of Morris Titans, who got into the field thanks to defeating #4 Mercer County CC last weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00am ET on Friday, May 12^th, at the Scranton HS baseball field in Scranton.
 
Game two, which pits #2 Sussex County CC and #3 Delaware Tech CC, will take place at Matt McGloin Baseball Field on the campus of Penn State Scranton in nearby Dunmore. First pitch for that game is also at 10:00am ET.
 
The winners of the two games will face each other at one site at 2:00pm ET, while the losers of the ten o'clock games will meet in an elimination game at the other site, also at 2:00pm ET. Lackawanna College, regardless of a win or loss at 10:00am, will play at Scranton HS at 2:00pm ET.
 
The next day, Saturday, May 13^th, will start at 11:00am ET at Scranton HS, where the two teams remaining with a 1-1 record will play in an elimination game. The winner of that game will face the team that went 2-0 on Friday in a Region XIX Championship game at 3:00pm ET at Scranton HS. If the team with one-loss wins that game, a winner-take-all championship game will be played at 12:00pm ET at Scranton HS on Sunday, May 14^th.
 
All Region XIX DII Championship games will be streamed live on the Lackawanna College Athletics Network (lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE) and the Region 19 Sports Network (region19sn.com).
 
The teams that make the Region 19 championship round on Saturday will both be qualifiers for next week's NJCAA DII East District championship tournament. The champion from Region XIX will be the host institution, facing off against two teams from a combination of Regions III, XV, and XXI, in addition to the second-place team from Region XIX.