5/9/24
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – After a week away, Lackawanna College baseball is set to defend its Region XIX DII title this weekend when the Falcons and three other squads square off in the Region XIX DII Baseball Tournament, starting Friday, May 10th, hosted by Mercer County CC in West Windsor Twp., NJ.
 
The Falcons will enter the tournament as the second seed, which means they will face off against third-seed County College of Morris, a team the Falcons took two-of-three games from earlier this year. The other match-up will pit the hosts and top-seeded Mercer County CC Vikings against the fourth-seed Sussex County CC Skylanders.
 
The double-elimination tournament starts on Friday at 10:00am, with Mercer hosting Sussex at its home field. At the same time, Lackawanna and Morris will clash at the nearby Mercer County Park baseball field, just down the road. The winners of those games will meet at 2:00pm, while the losers of the 10am games will play in an elimination contest, also at 2:00pm.  
 
On Saturday, May 11^th, the two teams remaining with one loss will play in an elimination game at 10:00am, then the winner of that game will play the remaining unbeaten team in the Region XIX DII Championship game at 2:00pm. If both teams have one loss after the 2:00pm game, a winner-take-all championship game will occur on Sunday, May 12^th, at 11:00am. The Region XIX champion will advance to the next week's East District Championship, to be hosted by Region XV in New York.  
 
The only games with a livestream for the weekend will be the games occurring at the Mercer County CC baseball field. That means the Mercer vs. Sussex game at 10:00am on Friday, as well as Mercer's subsequent game at 2:00pm. The remaining games from Saturday through the potential game on Sunday will all take place at Mercer County CC baseball field, so there will be livestreams available for those elimination and championship games. You can access the Mercer County CC Baseball livestream HERE.
 
About #2 Lackawanna College
Lackawanna (29-21) comes into the tournament on a tear, having won nine straight games, and eleven of its last 13 contests. The Falcons, who started 2-10 this year, have been on a steady climb back above .500, but have gotten there through improving pitching and more consistent hitting from their potent offense. The Falcons hit .359 collectively, and have scored 479 runs this year, a 9.6 runs per game clip. Lackawanna has scored ten or more runs in 20 games this season. The Falcons have 131 doubles, 24 triples, and 40 homers for 195 extra-base hits this season. The Falcons have 262 walks and 61 hit-by-pitches, but have also struck out 279 times this season. Lackawanna has also stolen 71 bases in 82 attempts.
 
On the mound, the Falcons have definitely improved, but the team ERA is hovering just below eight at 7.92, with a 1.97 WHIP. The Falcons have allowed 348 runs, 300 earned, on 371 hits in 341 innings pitched this season. Opponents are hitting .275 against the Falcons this year, and Lackawanna has 353 strikeouts to 300 walks as a staff this season. In the field, Lackawanna has 86 team errors for a .945 fielding percentage this season. The Falcons have turned 14 double plays and caught opponents stealing 28 times this year.  
 
Lackawanna College is the defending Region XIX DII champion, and has won three in the first five years under head coach Mike McCarry, with one of those seasons without a title coming in 2020, when the young campaign was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the Falcons rallied to score three runs in the sixth and win 4-2 over Morris in the first game of the tournament, then used a pair of two-run homers from Dennis Pierce and 12 strikeouts from Kyle Scott to hold off Delaware Tech, 6-4, in the afternoon sessions. Then, in the championship game, Lackawanna once again beat Del Tech, 15-2, thanks to three homers and an offensive onslaught, securing the third Region crown in five years for the Falcons.
 
This year's edition is led by sophomore corner infielder Aydan McNelly (Limerick, PA), who is a .448 hitter with a 1.150 OPS on the season. McNelly leads the Falcons in total hits (77), extra-base hits (23), RBI (56), and doubles (17), while also stealing seven bags and walking 24 times against 18 strikeouts this year. McNelly has scored 46 runs, tied for second on the team, and has appeared in all 50 games for Lackawanna this season. He has a pair of triples and four homeruns. McNelly has 23 multi-hit games this year, and was a combined 4-for-11 for two runs and an RBI in the three games he played against Morris this year. In his last appearance, McNelly was a combined 5-for-7 with a run scored, two doubles, and two RBI in the doubleheader sweep over CCBC Essex.  
 
First year catcher Jake Kelleher (Exeter, PA) is second on the team, hitting .402 this season, with a 1.097 OPS. In his 39 games, Kelleher has collected 45 hits and scored 29 runs, driving in 32 RBI this year. Kelleher has hit ten doubles, a trio of triples, and three homers. He also has a pair of stolen bases, and has drawn 12 walks this year.  Kelleher has 12 multi-hit games on the season, and has three games with four RBI this season. He was a combined 1-for-6 with a double in three games against Morris, and was 0-for-3 in one game against CCBC Essex last Friday.
 
Redshirt first year outfielder Louis Kegerreis (Murrysville, PA) is a .383 hitter this year with a 1.121 OPS. In 39 games, Kegerreis has collected 54 hits, third on the team, and has 39 runs scored, which is fourth on the squad. Kegerreis has 22 extra-base knocks, including a team-high nine homers, and has 43 RBI this campaign, second on the team. Kegerreis has a team-best .674 slugging percentage, and has 13 walks and five stolen bases on the year. Kegerreis has 19 games with multiple hits, and comes into the weekend on a seven-game hitting streak. He was 5-for-14 with three runs, a double, a homer, and four RBI in three games against Morris earlier this season, and had a pair of hits and a run scored in the doubleheader victory over CCBC Essex on Friday.
 
On the bump, the Falcons are led by sophomore lefty Nicholas Finarelli (Hunlock Creek, PA), who has a 3.98 ERA and a 6-3 record in eleven appearances. Finarelli has given up 27 runs, 23 earned, on 48 hits in 52 innings, striking out 60 and walking just 18. Finarelli has held opponents to a .234 batting average this season. Finarelli's best start came against Delaware Tech back on April 26^th, where he struck out 12 and threw a no-hitter in an 8-0 victory for the Falcons. His best strikeout performance came against Mercer, where he went a complete seven innings, striking out 14, in a win for Lackawanna on April 15^th. He did make a start against Morris, striking out eight and giving up just two runs, both earned, on seven hits in a 7-2 win over the Titans on March 25^th. Finarelli has four games with five or more strikeouts, and has not given up a run in his last eleven innings of work.
 
First year hurler Nicholas Biasi (Hazle Twp, PA) is the other main pitcher this season for the Falcons, going 5-3 with a 7.50 ERA in 12 appearances this year. Biasi, in 42 innings pitched, has given up 38 runs, 35 earned, on 29 hits, while striking out a team-best 74. Biasi is holding his opponents to just a .195 batting average, but he has struggled with command, walking a team-high 50 batters and throwing a team-high 17 wild pitches. Biasi has eight outings with five or more strikeouts, highlighted by striking out 15 in six innings of work against Monroe College Bronx, surrendering just one hit back on March 15^th. On the flip side, he has nine appearances with four or more walks, with a season-high nine coming in a loss to Harford back on March 30^th. Biasi was great against Morris earlier this season, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits in five innings, striking out ten in a 10-4 win for the Falcons back on March 22^nd. He came on in relief in his last outing, striking out six but walking four in three innings against CCBC Essex last Friday, giving up two runs on two hits in an eventual win for the Falcons.
 
The Falcons also have a pair of pitchers who can give Lackawanna some spot starts or long relief, if necessary. First year pitcher Hayden Klyver (Wilton, CT) has a 9.40 ERA and a 2-1 record in 12 appearances this season. In his 37 1/3 innings, Klyver has given up 47 runs, 39 earned, on 58 hits, while striking out 29 and walking 20. Klyver has hit 14 batters this season, and had a rough start, but has been great in his last three appearances, giving up just five runs in 12 combined innings, striking out eight and walking just two. Klyver pitched an excellent five innings of relief, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out four in a come-from-behind win for Lackawanna over Northampton, then pitched three innings and struck out four in relief against Monroe College the next week, in what became a 10-4 win for the Falcons. Sophomore righty Jace Cunnane (Clarkstown, NY) has been mostly a relief pitcher late in games, but has begun to throw more middle relief, and even a few starts. Cunnane is 4-3 in 12 appearances, three starts, and has a 6.17 ERA. Cunnane has given up 34 runs, 24 earned, on 45 hits in 35 innings pitched, striking out 32 but walking 22. Cunnane has four appearances with four or more strikeouts, and his best appearance came against Delaware Tech, pitching five innings and giving up a run on three hits and striking out four in a win for the Falcons back on April 27^th. Cunnane made two separate appearances against Morris in a three-day stretch, pitching four effective innings on March 22^nd, where he gave up two runs on four hits, but then surrendering three runs, two earned, on two hits in just an inning on March 25^th in a game the Falcons lost. In his last outing, Cunnane went three innings in a start against CCBC Essex on Friday, striking out a season-best six, but walking four and giving up two runs, none earned, on three hits, in a game the Falcons would eventually win, 3-2.
 
The Falcons are led by head coach Mike McCarry, now in his 6^th season. Coach McCarry has 164 career victories at Lackawanna, and is a win away from a fourth season with 30 or more wins in his tenure. The Falcons have qualified for the NJCAA DII World Series in three of McCarry's five seasons, and last year's squad won 40 games, the most in his tenure, and won a pair of games on the national stage, the first Lackawanna College squad to do that in baseball's storied history. Since 2009, Lackawanna has won eight Region XIX DII baseball championships.  
 
About #3 County College of Morris
Morris comes into the weekend at 29-13, finishing third behind the Falcons in the Region standings due to a tiebreaker, with Lackawanna winning the season series. The Titans are hot entering the tourney, winning eleven of their last 14, including a game against Mercer that clinched the GSAC championship for Morris. They were victorious in their last game, an 11-6 victory over Kingsborough CC last Friday.
 
Last year, the Titans defeated Mercer County CC in the play-in series to make the postseason, before dropping the opening game to Lackawanna, and then the elimination contest to Sussex.
 
Morris is hitting .369 as a team this year, scoring 423 runs in 42 games, a 10.1 runs per game average. The Titans have 103 doubles, 12 triples, and 21 homers this year, and have drawn 270 walks and stolen 118 bases. Morris does have 231 strikeouts, and has been hit by 53 pitches this season.
 
On the mound, the Titans have a 6.10 ERA as a staff, giving up 282 runs, 205 earned, on 331 hits in 302 1/3 collective innings pitched. Morris has 243 strike outs, and has walked 208 opponents. Morris has turned five double plays this season, and has 45 errors as a squad, accounting for a .763 fielding percentage.
 
Sophomore utility player Ray Moreta leads the squad with a .466 batting average in 33 games, collecting 55 hits and scoring 39 runs. Moreta has a 1.129 OPS, and has 15 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles, second on the squad. He also has 41 RBI, tied for second on the team. He has 18 stolen bases and eleven walks this year. Moreta has 17 multi-hit games this season, and was a combined 4-for-10 with two runs scored, three RBI, and a double in three games against the Falcons earlier this season. Moreta was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI in the win over Kingsborough last week.  
 
Sophomore corner infielder Max Oswald is hitting .406 this year, with a team-best 56 hits in 40 games this year. Oswald leads the Titans in several categories, including doubles (15), homeruns (9), extra-base hits (26), RBI (49), slugging (.739), and OPS (1.262). Oswald has scored 48 runs, second on the team, and has 31 walks, tied for second this year for the Titans. He does have 32 strikeouts, which is most on the team. Oswald has 15 multi-hit games this season, and went a combined 4-for-11 with a run scored, an RBI, and a homer, in three games against Lackawanna earlier this season. Oswald was 0-for-4 with two runs scored in the win against Kingsborough.  
 
Aidan Pierre is a sophomore outfielder hitting .410 on the year for the Titans. Pierre has 55 hits, tied with Moreta for second on the team, and has appeared in 38 games for Morris. Pierre leads the squad with 54 runs scored, and has a team-best 41 steals and 37 walks this season. Pierre has 13 doubles, third on the team, and is second on the squad with six homeruns. Pierre has driven in 37 runs this season. Aidan has 16 multi-hit games on the year, and was a combined 3-for-13 with four runs scored and a double in three games against Lackawanna. He was 3-for-5 with two runs scored in the 10-4 loss at home back on March 22^nd. Against Kingsborough, Pierre was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the win last week.  
 
First year righty Jordan Ake has pitched the most for Morris, making ten appearances and pitching in 43 2/3 innings this season. Ake has a 5.56 ERA, giving up 39 runs, 27 earned, on 46 hits. He has 32 strikeouts vs. 29 walks this year. Ake has four games with four or more strikeouts, his best performance coming against Susquehanna JV, striking out eight in five innings of a 10-6 win back on March 10^th. Ake picked up the loss against the Falcons back on March 22^nd, giving up six runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 10-4 loss, striking out one and walking five. In his last outing, Ake pitched three innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on three hits, walking three and striking out three in what was eventually an 11-6 win for Morris.  
 
Derek Barteck is a first year right-hander with eleven appearances this season, throwing 40 1/3 innings for the Titans, giving up 43 runs, 27 earned, on 42 hits. Barteck leads the Titans with 55 strikeouts, but also has a team-high 34 walks. Barteck has six games with four or more strikeouts, twice reaching his season-best ten punch-outs. His best outing came against Delaware Tech, giving up just four hits and a run in six innings, striking out five in a 17-1 win over DTCC back on April 20^th. Barteck lost his outing against Lackawanna, surrendering five runs on six hits in four innings of a 7-2 loss back on March 25^th. Barteck got the win in his last outing, giving up a run on three hits and striking out seven in three innings against Kingsborough last week.  
 
First year right-handed pitcher Donovan Hughes has made eleven appearances, pitching in 35 innings this year. Hughes has given up 30 runs, 19 earned, on 44 hits this season, striking out 31 batters and walking 19 with a 4.89 ERA. Hughes has four games with four or more strikeouts this season, twice striking out seven batters in an outing. Hughes only made an inning appearance in relief against Lackawanna in a 7-2 loss. Hughes won his last outing, giving up a run on five hits in five innings to get the win, striking out seven in an 8-7 victory over Cecil.
 
Joe Matarazzo is in his first season at the helm for the Titans, and has Morris playing some of its best ball in a while, guiding the Titans to their most wins in a season since 2019, when the program won 32 games.
 
About #4 Sussex County CC
The Skylanders (24-15) head into the weekend just as blistering hot as Lackawanna, having won their last nine games to make the postseason. Back on April 20^th, Sussex scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game, then hit an RBI single with two outs to walk it off, 8-7, against Lackawanna College, salvaging a doubleheader split. That win put Sussex at 16-15, and at 5-10 in the region, a game behind Raritan Valley. The Skylanders, to qualify for the postseason, needed to keep their overall record above .500. That win over Lackawanna was the start of an impressive streak, as Sussex swept Orange, grabbed wins against Middlesex, Monroe Bronx, Northampton, and then Orange again to round out the regular season. Sussex, by virtue of its overall record, forced a play-in series for the final Region XIX playoff spot against Raritan Valley, and then beat the Lions by scores of 11-6 and 11-2 to win the series and get themselves into the playoffs.
 
Sussex is matched-up with Mercer, which beat the Skylanders in all three match-ups this season. Mercer won 13-3 on the road at Sussex back on March 29^th, then beat the Skylanders by scores of 3-1 and 7-6 in a doubleheader sweep at Mercer on March 30^th.
 
In last year's playoffs, the Skylanders were the third-seed, and held a 6-0 lead after three innings against Delaware Tech, but blew that lead and eventually lost, 8-6, in the first round match-up. Sussex bounced back for a 5-2 win over Morris in the elimination game, but then dropped a 12-4 decision the next day to Del Tech in another elimination contest.  
 
Sussex comes into the weekend hitting .285 as a unit so far this season, scoring 265 runs in its 39 contests, a 6.8 runs per game average. The Skylanders have 60 doubles, seven triples, and 15 homeruns, with 188 walks and 241 strikeouts at the plate. Sussex has stolen 61 bases as a team, and has been hit by 76 pitches this season.
 
On the mound, the Skylanders have been solid, with a 4.59 team ERA in 290 1/3 innings pitched. The Skylanders have allowed 225 runs, just 148 earned, on 330 hits, with 248 strikeouts and 159 walks issued. In the field, the Skylanders have committed 58 errors and have a .935 fielding percentage, with 12 double plays and seven runners caught stealing.  
 
First year infielder Derek Lazier leads the Skylanders with 45 total hits, hitting .352 on the year. Lazier has a team-best 12 doubles and 16 extra-base hits, posting 38 RBI this season. Lazier has 20 walks, tied for second on the team, and has scored 33 runs, also second on the squad. His three homers are tied for first this season, and he has three stolen bases and 17 strikeouts. Lazier has 14 multi-hit games this year, and was a combined 3-for-11 in three games against Mercer earlier this season, hitting a double, scoring a run, and driving in two more. Lazier was 1-for-7 with two runs scored and two RBI in the two wins against Raritan last weekend.
 
First year infielder Domenic Lotruglio is hitting .333 this season, and tied for second with 42 total hits this year. Logtruglio has scored 30 runs, and hit six doubles, a triple, and a homer, driving in 16 runs this year. He has 19 walks and nine stolen bases, and has 18 strikeouts. Lotruglio has ten multi-hit games on the season, and was a combined 2-for-11 with an RBI and four strikeouts in three games against Mercer. Lotruglio was 2-for-8 with a run scored and an RBI in the pair of victories against Raritan.
 
Sophomore outfielder Jason Taylor leads the team in batting average, hitting .342 this season. Taylor has 42 hits, tied with Lotruglio for second on the team, and has eight doubles, third on the team this year. His 28 RBI are second on the squad, and Taylor has a pair of homers and 21 runs scored. He also has ten walks, three stolen bases, and 14 strikeouts. Taylor has nine multi-hit games, including two last weekend against Raritan. In game one on Friday, he was 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a pair of doubles, and two RBI. On Saturday, he went 3-for-4 with two more runs, a double, a homer, and three RBI. Taylor was 3-for-8 in three games against Mercer County earlier this season.
 
Sophomore outfielder Evan Amato is a .342 hitter this season, scoring a team-best 36 runs and putting up 38 hits on the year. Amato has 25 RBI and seven doubles this season, walking 17 times and stealing a team-best 22 bases, while striking out 15 times this year. Amato has 12 multi-hit games on the year, and was a combined 3-for-9 with three runs scored, four RBI, and a double in the two wins against Raritan last weekend. He only appeared in the first game against Mercer, going 1-for-3 with an RBI and two strikeouts in the loss.
 
On the mound, sophomore righty Hunter Canning leads the Skylanders with 46 2/3 innings pitched in ten appearances, going 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA this year. Canning has given up 28 runs, 18 earned, on 46 hits, striking out 42 and walking 33. Canning has five outings with four or more strikeouts, with a season-best nine strikeouts coming in a 7-2 win against Garrett back on March 13^th, where Canning gave up just one unearned run on six hits in five innings. Canning pitched well in his game against Mercer County this year, giving up three runs on seven hits in five innings and striking out three, but he still got the loss in the 3-1 decision. Canning won his last outing, pitching six innings and striking out six, giving up two runs on six hits, in an 11-2 victory over Raritan last weekend.
 
First year pitcher Kaito Yamaguchi is the other main starter for the Skylanders, posting a 3.07 ERA in 41 innings pitched, giving up 19 runs, just 14 earned, on 48 hits. Yamaguchi has struck out 30 batters, while waking eleven. Yamaguchi has six games with four strikeouts or more, posting a season-best five twice this year in wins over Montgomery (MD) and Delaware Tech. Yamaguchi did not get a start against Mercer earlier this season, pitching an inning of relief and walking a batter, but without giving up runs, in an eventual 7-6 loss for Sussex. Yamaguchi was the winner in his last start, allowing five runs, three earned, on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 11-6 win against Raritan.
 
Sophomore lefty Jax Nyberg isn't a starter, but has the most appearances and is the main closer for the Skylanders. Nyberg has six saves, and has made a team-high 16 appearances, pitching 19 2/3 innings on the year with a 2.29 ERA. Nyberg has 27 strikeouts to just five walks, and has given up eleven runs, five earned, on 18 hits. Nyberg's best outing came when he struck out seven in 2 2/3 innings, giving up a run on a hit, in a 10-5 win over Rockland. He did not get a chance to appear against either Mercer or Raritan Valley, but he did get a one-out save in a win over Northampton back on April 29^th, and pitched a scoreless inning of relief against Orange back on May 1^st.
 
Ramadan Mehmedi, a Sussex County CC graduate who played baseball for the Skylanders, is the man in charge, now in his 11^th season at the helm. Mehmedi has the Skylanders in the Region XIX DII playoffs for the second season in a row. Mehmedi has now won 20+ games in back-to-back seasons, and has the Skylanders with 52 combined wins in their last two years, and now has three different seasons where he has guided Sussex to 20+ wins.
 
About #1 Mercer County CC
Mercer (31-21) has had a very good season, with the Vikings winning 31 games and entering the tournament as the top-seed. Mercer won its first eight games of the year, then dropped six in a row. Later, sitting at 13-9 to start Region XIX play, the Vikings swept past Delaware Tech, which kick-started a 12-3 stretch where the Vikings only lost games to Suffolk County, Morris, and Gloucester. Mercer had a four-game skid late in the season, with a doubleheader loss to Harford, a loss to Morris, and then a loss at home to Brookdale, before taking a pair of games against Cecil College to close the regular season last Thursday.
 
The Vikings won 22 games last year and were eliminated from postseason play last year by Morris, losing the play-in series to the Titans, so they did not get a chance to defend their Region XIX title from 2022, the team that went on to win three games in the NJCAA DII World Series. Between Mercer and Lackawanna, either the Vikings (5) or the Falcons (8) have won the last 13 Region XIX championships.
 
At the dish, the Vikings are hitting .321 as a squad, with 422 runs scored in 52 games this season, an 8.1 runs per game average. The Vikings have 96 doubles, 21 triples, and 34 homeruns on the year, walking 253 times and stealing 71 bases, while striking out 299 times this year. Mercer has been hit by 111 pitches on the year, and has 30 sac flies.
 
On the bump, the Vikings have a team ERA at 6.39 this season, pitching 353 2/3 innings, allowing 310 runs, 251 earned, on 392 hits. Mercer has struck out 294 batters, while walking 212. The Vikings have 65 errors and a .957 fielding percentage, and have turned 13 double plays, while throwing out seven runners trying to steal.  
 
Sophomore outfielder Torin McKenzie leads the squad with 61 total hits, and is hitting .355 on the year. McKenzie has a team-high 54 runs, while compiling ten doubles, five homers, and 18 total extra-base hits. McKenzie has 43 RBI, third on the squad, and has 23 walks and 29 strike outs. McKenzie has 14 games with two or more hits this year, and was a combined 4-for-10 with two runs scored, two doubles, and two RBI in the three games against Sussex this season. McKenzie went 3-for-8 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored in the doubleheader win against Cecil.
 
Second on the team with 59 hits this year is first year infielder Jake Pope, hitting .404 to lead the squad this season. Pope has scored 40 runs and has hit seven doubles, three triples, and a homer for 36 RBI. In his 44 games, he has walked 23 times and stolen a team-best 14 bases, while striking out 14 times. Pope has 19 games with two or more hits on the season, and was 5-for-11 with three runs scored and four RBI in the three games against Sussex. Last week, Pope went 2-for-7 with a run scored, a triple, and two RBI in the two wins against Cecil College.
 
Sophomore corner infielder Joe Gmitter leads the Vikings with 51 RBI and is hitting .366 on the year in 46 games. Gmitter has 56 hits, third on the team, and has 39 runs scored. He has ten doubles and a pair of homeruns, and has drawn 23 walks, while striking out 21 times this year. Gmitter has 17 games with multiple hits, and was 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI in one game against Sussex this season. He is on a nine-game hitting streak, but has not played since April 26^th against Harford, missing the last four games for the Vikings.
 
Sophomore outfielder Ryan Ulisse has appeared in 51 games and has a .262 batting average, but has clobbered a team-best nine homeruns, driving in 44 RBI this year. Ulisse has 19 extra-base hits, most on the team, and has scored 40 runs and compiled 39 hits. Ulisse has 26 walks and ten stolen bases, but has struck out 52 times, most on the squad. Ulisse has nine games with multiple hits, three in his last four games, including both games against Cecil. He was 4-for-7 with four runs scored, four RBI, and two homeruns last week against Cecil. Against Sussex, Ulisse was 2-for-7 with a double, a homerun, and four RBI.  
 
First year pitcher Matteo Mannino leads the Vikings in innings pitched, throwing 53 1/3 innings over his ten appearances, going 6-2 with a 4.05 ERA. Mannino has given up 28 runs, 24 earned, on 52 hits, striking out 27 and walking eight. His best strikeout performance came last week against Cecil, fanning six through four innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He allowed one run on just three hits in seven innings against Delaware Tech back on March 22^nd, and was great against Lackawanna on April 12^th, giving up three runs on six hits in eight innings of a 5-3 victory. He won his start against Sussex, giving up a run on five hits in six innings, while striking out four, in a 7-6 win for the Vikings.
 
Sophomore hurler Colin Bernhard has also made ten appearances, going 4-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 44 2/3 innings pitched this season. Bernhard has given up 34 runs, 21 earned, on 46 hits, while striking out 33 and walking 25. Bernhard had a season-best six strikeouts in just three innings in a win against Delaware County back on April 14^th, and won his last start, giving up three runs on three hits and fanning five in four innings of a 12-7 win against Cecil last weekend. He did not pitch against Sussex.  
 
Sophomore Dyllon King is another of the main starters for the Vikings, going 5-2 in nine appearances with a 4.34 ERA. In his 37 1/3 innings pitched, King has given up 21 runs, 18 earned, on 29 hits, striking out a team-best 35 batters, but also walking a team-high 29. King's best output came against Suffolk County, striking out seven in five innings of a 14-2 victory back on April 7^th. He did not appear against Cecil this past weekend, and lost his last start, giving up six runs on six hits in four innings of an 8-6 loss to Morris. Against Sussex, he pitched 1/3 of an inning, giving up a run without a hit, in a 3-1 victory for Mercer.
 
The main reliever is sophomore Ryan Conover, who has made a team-high 19 appearances and is 3-1 with seven saves and a 3.60 ERA. Conover has pitched 30 innings, giving up 14 runs, 12 earned, on 24 hits, striking out 18 and walking ten. Conover has picked up two saves and a win in his last four appearances, earning the two inning save in the 12-7 win over Cecil, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out four in 2 2/3 innings of work against Sussex in the 3-1 victory for Mercer back on March 30^th, allowing two hits for the save, then came on for another 2/3 innings in the second game, getting his second save of the day.
 
Russ Stupienski is the head coach at Mercer, taking over for Fred Carella. Stupienski had previously served as assistant with the program since 2012. He's a graduate of North Burlington HS in New jersey, where he was an excellent baseball player, and eventually went to Mercer to play baseball, where he was a catcher and a closing pitcher. Stupienski went on to play at St. Peter's College for two years. He has been a part of the Vikings' trips to the NJCAA DII World Series in 2014, 2016, and 2022.
 
The Tournament Weekend
The double-elimination tournament starts on Friday at 10:00am, with Mercer hosting Sussex at its home field. At the same time, Lackawanna and Morris will clash at the nearby Mercer County Park baseball field, just down the road. The winners of those games will meet at 2:00pm, while the losers of the 10am games will play in an elimination contest, also at 2:00pm.  
 
On Saturday, May 11^th, the two teams remaining with one loss will play in an elimination game at 10:00am, then the winner of that game will play the remaining unbeaten team in the Region XIX DII Championship game at 2:00pm. If both teams have one loss after the 2:00pm game, a winner-take-all championship game will occur on Sunday, May 12^th, at 11:00am. The Region XIX champion will advance to the next week's East District Championship, to be hosted by Region XV in New York.  
 
The only games with a livestream for the weekend will be the games occurring at the Mercer County CC baseball field. That means the Mercer vs. Sussex game at 10:00am on Friday, as well as Mercer's subsequent game at 2:00pm. The remaining games from Saturday through the potential game on Sunday will all take place at Mercer County CC baseball field, so there will be livestreams available for those elimination and championship games. You can access the Mercer County CC Baseball livestream HERE.