5/2/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – With the Region XIX DII playoffs looming large the next weekend, Lackawanna College baseball will spend its time this weekend playing a potential playoff opponent and a local rival in a pair of doubleheaders to close out the regular season and tune-up for the postseason.
 
On Saturday, May 3^rd, Lackawanna College will travel to take on UConn Avery Point in a non-region doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00pm ET in Groton, CT at Roger Bidwell Field at Washington Park. The Pointers could be a potential district tournament opponent in two weeks, providing the Falcons win or finish second in the region playoffs. There will be a video livestream available via the TheCapsTV YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
Finally, on Sunday, May 4^th, Lackawanna is set to travel to Bethlehem, PA to take on the Northampton CC Spartans for a doubleheader in the Lehigh Valley. First pitch is set for 12:00pm ET at Spartan Park. There will be a video livestream available via the Northampton Sports Network, linked HERE.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (27-15) have won six straight contests, most recently knocking off Delaware County CC, 14-4, in eight innings on Wednesday, April 30^th. Lackawanna struggled a bit initially, tied at two heading into the bottom of the fourth, but the Falcons got the offense going in the bottom frame, kickstarted by a grand slam and a three-run error. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
On the season, the Falcons are hitting a combined .352, compiling a collective 1.026 OPS, which includes a .452 OBP and a .574 slugging percentage, up to fifth in NJCAA Division II. Lackawanna has 184 extra-base hits, seventh in the country, including 121 doubles (3^rd) and 54 home runs (17^th). The Falcons have scored 404 runs this year, a 9.6 runs per game average. Lackawanna has drawn 197 walks and struck out 283 times as a team this year, while stealing 69 bases.
 
On the mound, the Falcons have a 6.45 ERA, giving up 261 runs, 217 earned, on 328 hits through 303 innings pitched. Teams are hitting .270 against the Falcons this season, with 16 home runs and 78 extra-base hits. Lackawanna has struck out 340 batters and walked 231. The Falcons have also plunked 59 batters this year.
 
Defensively, the Falcons have 59 errors and a .954 fielding percentage. The Falcons have caught eleven baserunners stealing this year and have forced 14 double plays.
 
Sophomore shortstop Brooks Henderson IV (Feasterville, PA) is first on the team with 64 hits, fourth in all of Region XIX, posting a .424 batting average in his 41 appearances. Henderson has a 1.139 OPS with 17 doubles, first on the team and tied for third in Region XIX, and 50 RBIs, second on the team and eighth in Region XIX. He's also got five home runs, tied for fifth on the team. He's got a .477 OBP on the year and has scored 46 runs, tied for first on the team. Brooks has drawn 15 walks on the year and has been hit by five pitches, and he is second on the team with 12 stolen bases this year. Henderson has 19 multi-hit games this season, and he has a ten-game hitting streak. He was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a triple in the game one win against Onondaga on March 9^th. Henderson was 5-for-6 in a 21-1 win against Raritan Valley on March 29^th, hitting a three-run homer, scoring three runs, and driving in five total. Henderson was a combined 5-for-7 with four runs, a double, a triple, and two RBIs in the doubleheader win against Monroe CC on Sunday. He had five RBIs and two doubles in the win over Westchester on Tuesday, then had two runs and a hit in the win against Delco on Wednesday. Defensively, Henderson has 49 putouts, 106 assists, and ten errors on the year from his shortstop position, posting a .939 fielding percentage and helping turn eight double plays on the year.
 
First-year outfielder Deacon Brown (Williamsport, PA) has a .431 batting average and is second on the team with 59 total hits in 42 games. Brown has a 1.332 OPS and a .529 OBP, second on the team in both categories, respectively. Brown has scored 43 runs, fourth on the team, and he has posted 12 doubles and a team-best eleven homers, tied for first on all of Region XIX. Brown's 52 RBIs, lead the team and are tied for sixth in Region XIX. He's drawn 23 walks, second on the Falcons this year, and he has been hit by ten pitches, second on the team. Brown has 16 multi-hit games on the year and had a 21-game hitting streak earlier this season. He currently is on a seven-game hitting streak, posting six straight multi-hit contests. Brown was the EPAC Player of the Week last week, driving in 12 RBIs, hitting four home runs, and scoring seven runs, while going 8-for-13 from the dish in three games. Deacon has hit five home runs in his last five games. He had seven RBIs and two home runs in the game one victory against Monroe CC this past Sunday. He hit a two-run homer and scored three runs in the victory over Delaware County CC on Wednesday. Deacon has 60 putouts, three assists, and one error this year in the field, posting a .984 fielding percentage.
 
Sophomore catcher and designated hitter Jake Kelleher (Exeter, PA) is a .439 hitter through 37 games this season, leading the Falcons in batting average and compiling 54 hits this year, third on the team. Kelleher has a 1.226 OPS on the year, posting a .699 slugging percentage and a .527 OBP, third on the team. Kelleher has scored 46 runs, tied with Henderson for first on the team, and he has posted 14 doubles, six home runs, and 29 RBIs. Kelleher has drawn 18 walks, and he has six stolen bases. Kelleher has 14 multi-hit games this season and had a 17-game hitting streak ended in the second game of the Monroe CC doubleheader on Sunday. He was a combined 6-for-10 with seven runs, two RBIs, two doubles, and one home run against Raritan Valley in three games on March 28^th and 29^th. Kelleher had three hits, three runs, and two RBIs in the game one victory against Monroe CC this past Sunday. He went 2-for-5 with three runs, a double, and an RBI in the win against Westchester on Tuesday. Kelleher has caught three runners stealing this season as a catcher and has 12 assists behind the plate this season.
 
Sophomore first baseman John Hughes (Hamilton, NJ) is a .434 hitter with 49 hits in 36 games this year. Hughes has a 1.430 OPS, first on the team, with 45 runs scored and 42 RBIs, third on the team. He has 16 doubles, second on the team, a triple, and ten home runs this season, tied for third in all of Region XIX. Hughes has drawn 27 walks, first on the squad, and he has been hit by eleven pitches. Hughes has a .572 OBP this year, first on the team and fourth in Region XIX, and he's slugging at .858, which is second in Region XIX. Hughes has 15 multi-hit games this season, and he has a nine-game hitting streak entering the weekend. Against Monroe CC, Hughes was 3-for-7 with four runs and two RBIs in two games. He had two doubles and two RBIs, along with four runs, in the win against Westchester, going 4-for-5. He has 192 putouts and 15 assists at first base this season, with a .981 fielding percentage.
 
Sophomore Louis Kegerreis (Murrysville, PA) is a .362 hitter this season through 37 appearances, collecting 47 total hits. Kegerreis has 43 runs scored this season, tied for fourth on the Falcons, and he has 16 doubles, tied with Hughes for second on the team, driving in 41 RBIs. Kegerreis has a 1.075 OPS this year, with a .452 OBP. He has drawn 14 walks and been hit by ten pitches on the season. Kegerreis has 14 multi-hit games this season. Kegerreis has been on a tear as of late, posting three straight multi-hit games. He has driven in eleven RBIs, scored four runs, and hit two home runs and two doubles. Kegerreis is 7-for-11 in his last three games. He had a grand slam and a double against Delaware County on Wednesday. Kegerreis had five RBIs, a two-run home run, and a double in the 13-1 win against Monroe CC on Sunday. He has 49 putouts and 39 assists this season in the field, turning five double plays on the season.
 
Sophomore outfielder Nick Matson (Nanticoke, PA) is a .336 hitter this season through 40 games, collecting 43 hits and driving in 36 runs. Matson has scored 27 runs and has put up 12 doubles on the year and has three home runs. He has drawn 14 walks and has stolen 14 bases, first on the team. Matson has 15 multi-hit games this season, and he is on a seven-game hitting streak. Matson has had four multi-hit games in his last five contests. In those five games, Matson had nine RBIs, six runs, three doubles, and a triple. Matson was 3-for-7 with three runs and four RBIs in the doubleheader sweep over Monroe CC on Sunday. He was 3-for-5 with a run, an RBI, and a double against Westchester on Tuesday. Matson has 64 putouts on the season with a .985 fielding percentage in center field.
 
Sophomore catcher Kenny Hirschfeld (New Hyde Park, NY) is a .395 hitter this season in his 30 appearances, collecting 34 total hits and driving in 23 runs. Hirschfeld has nine doubles and two homers, and he has scored 25 runs. Hirschfeld has a 1.028 OPS on the season. He has nine multi-hit games on the season. Hirschfeld came into the game against Gloucester on March 18^th as a pinch runner and finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI. He played in one game against Raritan Valley on March 29^th, going 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, three runs, and three RBIs. He went 4-for-4 with three runs, two doubles, and five RBIs in the 20-13 win against Monroe CC on Sunday in game two. Kenny went 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI in the win against Delaware County on Wednesday. Hirschfeld has five assists and a .960 fielding percentage this season behind the plate, catching a pair of runners stealing.
 
Sophomore infielder Tyler Lepage (Macungie, PA) is a .471 hitter with a 1.368 OPS through 20 appearances this season. Lepage has five homers, tied with Henderson for fifth on the team, and has 15 RBIs. He has a .843 slugging percentage this season. Lepage has 14 runs scored on the year and carries a .525 OBP. Lepage has drawn five walks and been hit by a pair of pitches. Lepage has eight multi-hit games this season. He was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, two homers, and three RBI in a 15-7 loss to Patrick & Henry on February 23^rd. He went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, four RBI, and two homers in a win against Bryant & Stratton back on February 9^th. Lepage missed four games, but returned to the lineup on March 12^th against RCSJ Cumberland. However, he left the March 28^th game against Raritan Valley early with an injury. He was 1-for-1 with an RBI double. He missed nine games for the Falcons before making appearances in all three games against Mercer. He was a combined 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs. Lepage missed two weeks until seeing time against Monroe CC on Sunday, going 1-for-1. He was 1-for-3 against Delaware County on Wednesday. Lepage has six putouts and eight assists this season.
 
Sophomore utility player Jason Prudente (Bear Creek Twp., PA) is a .274 hitter this season, putting up 23 hits in 33 games. Prudente has a .914 OPS and 20 runs scored. He has eight doubles and four homers, driving in 26 runs on the season. Prudente has a .512 slugging percentage and a .402 OBP. Prudente has 15 walks on the year, and he has been hit by five pitches. Prudente has four multi-hit games on the season. He was 2-for-5 with a grand slam homer in the win against Delaware Tech on March 21^st. He hit another homer the next day against DTCC in the first game of a doubleheader. He was 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, and three RBIs in the 20-18 loss to Gloucester on March 18^th. He was a combined 8-for-12 with seven runs, three doubles, and four RBIs in three games against Raritan on March 28^th and 29^th. Prudente had a run and an RBI in the win against Delaware County on Wednesday. He has 20 putouts and 28 assists in the field this season, posting a .906 fielding percentage.
 
Sophomore pitcher Liam O'Leary (Souderton, PA) leads the team with 57.2 innings pitched, making eleven appearances, nine of which have been starts. O'Leary has a 5-4 record with a 4.68 ERA. He has given up 39 runs, 30 earned, on 61 hits, while striking out a team-high 81 batters and walking 30. The opposition is hitting .260 against him this year, and he has hit ten batters. O'Leary's best outing happened against Monroe on March 8^th, where he went six innings, striking out nine batters and allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits. O'Leary has recorded at least four strikeouts in all eleven of his appearances this season. He went seven innings on March 29^th, picking up the 21-1 win against Raritan Valley CC, giving up just one run on five hits and striking out eight for the win. He went 5.1 innings on April 6^th against Sussex, striking out a season-best eleven batters but giving up four runs on seven hits in a game the Falcons eventually lost, 9-8. O'Leary struck out eight in four innings, allowing just one run on four hits in the 13-1 victory for the Falcons against Monroe CC on Sunday. He has struck out at least eight batters in his last five starts.
 
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Novakowski (Forty Fort, PA) is second on the team in innings pitched, throwing 50.1 innings on the year. Novakowski is 4-3 with an 8.40 ERA in his eleven appearances, with ten starts. Novakowski has given up 50 runs, 47 earned, on 64 hits, with 53 strikeouts and 22 walks. Batters are hitting .308 against Novakowski this year. His best outing came against Allegany on March 15^th in game one of the doubleheader, striking out nine in a complete game shutout in seven innings. He scattered four hits and walked three in the 14-0 win. He pitched seven innings in a win against Delaware Tech March 21^st, striking out a season-best eleven, while giving up six runs, four earned. Against Raritan Valley on March 28^th, he gave up just one run, coming in the seventh inning, while striking out eight and only allowing two hits in a 14-1 win. Novakowski has struggled as of late, giving up a combined 13 runs in his last two starts against Mercer and Morris. He was responsible for eight runs against Monroe CC in a relief appearance on Sunday, getting just one out against the Tribunes.
 
Sophomore Trey Sajeski (Holland, PA) is third on the team, pitching 45 innings in eleven appearances this season. He's 7-1 with a 5.60 ERA. Sajeski has given up 33 runs, 28 earned, on 50 hits, striking out 50 and walking 21 batters. The opposition is hitting .270 against him this season. Sajeski threw his best game on March 9^th against Onondaga, striking out seven in six innings. He gave up just one run on five hits for the win in the 11-1 victory for Lackawanna. On April 13^th, Sajeski was excellent against Mercer, going the complete seven innings and giving up four runs on eight hits in an 11-4 win for the Falcons. Sajeski struck out five in the victory. He struck out a season-high eight, while giving up two runs on eight hits in four innings in the 20-13 win against Monroe CC this past Sunday. Sajeski has struck out five or more batters in his last four contests.
 
The head coach for the Falcons is Mike McCarry, now in his seventh season with Lackawanna College. McCarry has had loads of success in his time with the Falcons, making the NJCAA Division II World Series in three of his previous six seasons. In 2019, his first year, the Falcons went 32-17, won the Region XIX championship, and then the Northeast District championship on their way to the national showcase. The Falcons duplicated that result in 2021, going 30-16, winning another region and district title, and then appearing in Enid, Oklahoma for the NJCAA DII World Series. McCarry's 2023 team went 40-17, tied for second all-time in program history in wins, and the Falcons won region and district gold, while also winning two games at the NJCAA DII World Series. McCarry is a southeastern Pennsylvania native, and he has ties to Northeast PA dating back to his time playing at Keystone College in 2003. McCarry started his collegiate coaching career at LaSalle University, where he served as the head assistant. He moved on the Stephen F. Austin as a pitching coach, before joining the Lackawanna staff. He is 193-115 in his career at Lackawanna.
 
About UConn Avery Point
The Pointers (25-4) will play one game before facing the Falcons on Saturday, taking on Mount Saint Charles Academy on Friday afternoon. The Pointers had an eleven-game winning streak at one point, and they were on an eight-game surge before dropping a 9-8 decision to Northern Essex CC this past Sunday. NECC blew an 8-4 lead when UCAP scored four in the fifth, but NECC scored a run in the seventh and hung on for the 9-8 victory. Avery Point bounced back for a 22-5 win against Eastern Connecticut State, putting up 20 hits, posting eight extra-base knocks in the process. The Pointers had three home runs and had seven players put up two or more hits.
 
UCAP is hitting .304 as a team this season, posting a .932 OPS on the year. The Pointers have scored 277 runs on the year, averaging 9.6 runs per game on the year. The Pointers have 70 extra-base hits, with 41 doubles and 19 home runs. They have drawn 188 walks, struck out 180 times, and been hit by 94 pitches this year. UCAP has also stolen 50 bases this season.
 
As a pitching staff, the Pointers have a 3.59 ERA this year. UCAP has allowed 98 runs, 80 earned, on 185 hits in 200.2 innings pitched this year. They have struck out 219 batters and walked just 91 this year. Opponents are hitting .249 against UCAP this season. The Pointers have hit 23 batters and thrown 19 wild pitches.
 
Defensively, UCAP has 34 errors and a .959 fielding percentage this season. The Pointers have turned four double plays and caught 20 runners trying to steal this season.
 
First-year catcher Tim Cap is a .419 hitter this season, posting a team-high 36 hits through 29 appearances. Cap has a team-best 1.345 OPS, and he's tied for second on the team with 32 runs this year. Cap also leads the Pointers in doubles (9), triples (4), extra-base hits (18), RBIs (39), slugging percentage (.791), and walks (25). Cap has a .554 OBP, second on the team this year, and his five homers are also second. Cap has ten multi-hit games entering the weekend. He was 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs, hitting a homer and doubling in the win against Eastern Connecticut. He had a season-best six RBIs on a triple and a home run in the season-opener against University of Saint Joseph on March 1^st. Cap has nine assists and a .994 fielding percentage on the season, and he has caught eight baserunners trying to steal this season.
 
First-year infielder Aaron Lopresto is a .316 hitter this year with 31 hits, second on the team in 28 games. Lopresto has 28 runs and has driven in 27 RBIs this year. Lopresto has drawn 16 walks, sixth on the team, and he's tied for first on the team with eleven stolen bases this year. Lopresto has a .763 OPS on the year. Lopresto has eight multi-hit games on the season, and he enters the weekend with a five-game hitting streak. He had a season-high five RBIs on a 3-for-4 showing against Eastern Connecticut on April 30^th. In the field, Lopresto has 29 putouts and 51 assists, with six errors and a .930 fielding percentage this year.
 
Sophomore outfielder John Bureau is a .357 hitter this season, posting 30 total hits in 29 games this year. Bureau is tied with Cap for second on the team with 32 runs, and he leads the Pointers with seven homers this year. Bureau has 35 RBIs, second on the team, and he's got three doubles and a triple on the year. Bureau has drawn 24 walks this year, tied for second on the team, and he has been hit by nine pitches. His .534 OBP is third on the team this year. He has a 1.201 OPS, second on the squad. He has stolen six bases, third on the team. He has ten multi-hit games on the season, and has a seven-game hitting streak entering the weekend. Bureau had a season-high five RBIs with a double, a homer, and two hits in the win against Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday. Bureau has 107 putouts and eleven assists, posting a .992 fielding percentage this season.
 
First-year catcher AJ Montejano is a .330 batter this season, posting 29 hits in 28 games this year. Montejano has a .993 OPS this season, with a .504 OBP and eleven stolen bases, tied for the team-high with Lopresto. Montejano leads the team with 37 runs, and he is tied for second on the team with five doubles. He has driven in 24 RBIs this year. His 24 walks are tied for second with Bureau this season. Montejano has eight multi-hit games on the year. He was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs against Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday. He had back-to-back games with five RBIs against SUNY Westchester CC and Mount Saint Charles in March. Montejano has 23 assists and a .990 fielding percentage, catching a pair of runners stealing this year.
 
Sophomore pitcher Daniel Lang has made six appearances, all starts, and is 5-0 with a 3.62 ERA this season. Lang, first on the team with 32.1 innings, has given up 15 runs, 13 earned, on 26 hits. He has struck out a team-best 42 batters, while walking 19. Opponents are hitting .226 against Lang this year. His best game came in a win against Westchester, where he struck out a season-best ten batters in seven innings, allowing one run on two hits on March 29^th. He got another win against the Vikings on April 19^th, giving up a run on three hits in five innings, while striking out eight. He was ineffective in his last appearance, giving up eight runs, seven earned, on five hits in 3.1 innings. He walked a season-high eight batters in the loss to Northern Essex. He was not hit with the loss, however.
 
Sophomore pitcher Jackson Pray has made seven appearances, four starts, this season. He is 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA, allowing 19 runs, 13 earned, on 33 hits in 30.1 innings. Pray has struck out 40 batters, second on the team, and walked ten batters this year. Pray has hit five batters this season, and opponents are hitting .264 against Pray. Pray struck out a season-high nine batters in a shutout win over Bridgton Academy on March 30^th, allowing just two hits in six innings. He gave up one run on four hits in 4.2 innings of relief against Northern Essex on Wednesday, striking out seven but getting hit with the loss.
 
First-year pitcher Albert Savino has made seven appearances and four starts this year. Savino is 4-0 with a 4.56 ERA on the year. He has given up 13 runs, all earned, on 28 hits in 25.2 innings. Savino has struck out 26 batters and walked 14 batters. The opposition is hitting .346 against Savino this year. Savino's best game came against Westchester on March 29^th, striking out a season-best seven in five innings, allowing one run on three hits in the win. Savino got the start in his last appearance, giving up five runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings in game that UCAP eventually won, 12-7.
 
Connor Lewis is the head coach for the Pointers, now in his second season in charge. Lewis helped lead the Pointers to the East District championship game last year, falling to Westchester in the final. Lewis joined UCAP from Mitchell College, where he was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Lewis is a Waterford, CT native, where he was an outstanding baseball player, eventually going to the University of Hartford to play baseball. He graduated Hartford with a Business Administration degree, and he helped the Mitchell pitching staff to a top-20 ranking in several categories in NCAA Division III, including ERA (3.89), WHIP (1.30), and Strikeout to Walk Ratio (3.11). Lewis is 45-19 in his two years in charge.
 
Northampton CC
The Spartans (21-18) enter Sunday's doubleheader with the Falcons on a two-game winning streak, scoring 16 runs in back-to-back Region XIX DIII contests against Salem CC (16-12) and Union College (16-8) this past Wednesday and Thursday. Northampton had a combined 32 runs on 33 hits, posting 13 extra-base hits, including eleven doubles. Against Union on Thursday, the Spartans scored eleven runs through the first five innings, but still led by just three heading into the bottom of the seventh. They cashed in five more runs that inning, thanks to a two-run single and a bases-clearing three-run double. In the final four innings, the Spartans held the Owls without a hit and posted six strikeouts.
 
The Spartans are currently "in" for the Region XIX DIII playoff picture after their victory over Union on Thursday. Even if they were to lose their final four games (DH vs. Lackawanna, DH at Union), their region record at .500 would mean they sneak into the playoffs as the seven-seed. The doubleheader against Lackawanna obviously affects their overall record, but does not impact their Division III record.
 
Northampton, as a team, is hitting .341 this year, with a collective .913 OPS. The Spartans are great at getting on base, with a .449 OBP this season. They average 8.8 runs per contest this year, with 110 extra-base hits, which includes 82 doubles, 17 triples, and eleven home runs. The Spartans have drawn 201 walks and been hit by 54 pitches, while striking out 207 times. They have stolen 105 bases this season.
 
As a pitching staff, Northampton has a collective 6.98 ERA. In 280 innings, Spartan pitchers have surrendered 285 runs, 217 earned, on 331 hits. They have 300 strikeouts and 187 walks, while hitting 26 batters and throwing 58 wild pitches. Teams are hitting .285 against the Spartans this season.
 
Defensively, Northampton has a .935 fielding percentage with 77 errors this season. The Spartans have turned 18 double plays and caught 12 runners stealing this year.
 
Sophomore outfielder Braden Cummings is first on the team with 55 hits, posting a .374 batting average this year. Cummings has appeared in all 39 games, posting a team-high 46 runs. He has a team-best five triples and 13 extra-base hits, driving in 26 RBIs. He has a .966 OPS, with a .456 OBP this year. His 21 walks are tied for the team lead, while his 30 stolen bases lead the Spartans this year. Cummings has 20 games with two or more hits this season, including his last three contests. Cummings was 2-for-5 with two runs in the win against Salem on Wednesday. He went 2-for-6 with a run and the three-RBI double in the seventh inning against Union on Thursday. Cummings is 11-for-25 (.440 BA) in his last six games, scoring seven runs, driving in five more, and hitting two doubles and a triple. Cummings has 59 putouts and four assists this season.
 
Sophomore infielder Cody Miller is second on the team with 53 total hits, posting a .408 batting average through 39 appearances this season. Miller has scored 36 runs, third on the team this season, and has eleven doubles, second on the squad. His 30 RBIs are fourth on the team this year, while drawing 12 walks and getting hit by three pitches this year. Miller has a 1.015 OPS, and he's one of two players with an OPS north of 1.000. His .546 slugging percentage is second on the team. He also has 12 stolen bases, fourth on the Spartans this year. Miller has 17 multi-hit games this season, including his last two contests, and eight of his last eleven games. Miller was 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBIs, a homer and a double in the win against Salem on Wednesday. He was 2-for-6 with another double and two RBIs, along with three runs, in the win against Union on Thursday. He's been hot as of late, going 21-for-45 (.467 BA) over his last eleven games, scoring eleven runs and driving in 16 RBIs. Miller has 20 putouts and eleven assists on the field this season, posting a .969 fielding percentage.
 
First-year corner infielder Shane Henrick is tied with Miller for second with 53 hits this year, posting a .376 batting average through 39 games. Henrick has a .923 OPS, scoring 29 runs and posting a team-high 14 doubles this year. His 35 RBIs are second on the team. He's also second on the squad with 21 walks, and he has seven stolen bases this season. Henrick has 13 multi-hit games this season. He was a perfect 6-for-6 with four RBIs in a win against Delco CC back on March 22^nd. He had another perfect game, going 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI in a 16-7 loss to Middlesex College back on April 18^th. Henrick was 3-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs in the win against Union on Thursday. He has 67 putouts and 37 assists in the field this season, posting a .904 fielding percentage. He has helped turn five double plays this year.
 
Sophomore outfielder Jack Smale has 39 hits this season and a .312 batting average through 39 games. Smale has a .950 OPS and leads the Spartans with five homers and a team-high 38 RBIs. Smale has 15 extra-base hits, also first on the team, and has drawn a team-high 26 walks. He has also stolen nine bases this season. Smale has ten multi-hit games on the season. Smale was 2-for-3 with a triple and a homer and five RBIs in a 14-13 loss to St. Clair County CC back on March 12^th. He had four hits, two of which were doubles, and two RBIs in a 12-9 in against Camden County College on April 25^th. Smale had four RBIs and a double in the win against Salem on Wednesday, and he scored a run in the win against Union on Thursday. Smale has 58 putouts and three assists this year, while helping turn three double plays.
 
First-year pitcher Jared Diefenbach leads the Spartans this year in appearances (14), starts (10), and innings pitched (57.1). Diefenbach is 4-3 on the year with a 7.06 ERA. He has given up 58 runs, 45 earned, on 72 hits, striking out a team-best 75 batters, while walking 35. Opposition hitters have a .299 batting average against Diefenbach this season. Diefenbach set his season-high with eleven strikeouts in a 12-3 win against Brookdale, pitching all seven innings and giving up three runs, just two earned, on five hits. He had a ten-strikeout outing in four innings against Montco CC back on March 4^th. He last pitched this past Thursday, allowing eight runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings against Union. He didn't get a decision. He has given up 13 runs on 14 hits in his last 9.2 innings, walking ten and striking out 12.
 
Sophomore Nathan Mostosky is second on the team with eight starts in ten appearances, pitching 37.2 innings this season. Mostosky is 4-4 with a 5.26 ERA. He has given up 38 runs, 22 earned, on 41 hits, while striking out 40 and walking 18. Opponents are hitting .263 against Mostosky this year. The lefty set a season-high with eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings of a win against Camden on April 25^th, allowing three runs on six hits. He gave up six runs on five hits in six innings on Wednesday against Salem, striking out five in a game the Spartans eventually won, 16-12.
 
The head coach for Northampton CC is Adrian Yaguez, now in his 17^th season in charge of the Spartans baseball program. Yaguez is a six-time EPAC coach of the year, and he saw his 2024 squad set a school-record for wins (47) and hold its first-ever #1 ranking in the course of the season. Yaguez captured the Region XIX championship in 2018 and has taken the Spartans to two NJCAA DIII World Series appearances (2017, 2018). Yaguez, before taking over the program, served as the assistant coach at Northampton, with stops at Phillipsburg HS and Lafayette College, as well. He's a DeSales University graduate, and he received his master's from East Stroudsburg University. Yaguez holds a 438-224 record in his time at Northampton CC.
 
The Match-Ups
Since 2007, UConn Avery Point is 10-9 against Lackawanna College. The Falcons are 6-5 since the 2021 season and beat the Pointers in their last match-up, which came during the East District playoffs in 2023. Lackawanna won that game, 12-4, in Scranton, on its way to the 2023 East District title and an NJCAA DII World Series appearance.
 
The Falcons hold a 6-4 edge over Northampton CC, dating back to 2010. The two sides have only played three times since 2021, with the Falcons holding a 2-1 edge. Northampton won the last match-up in Bethlehem, 15-11, back in 2022. The Falcons won the last match-up, period, 11-7, last season in Scranton.
 
The doubleheader with UCAP is set for 1:00pm ET start on Saturday in Groton, CT at Roger Bidwell Field in Washington Park. There will be a video livestream available via the TheCapsTV YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
The Sunday doubleheader at Northampton is scheduled to start at 12:00pm ET at Spartan Park in Bethlehem, PA. There will be a video livestream available via the Northampton Sports Network, linked HERE.
 
The two doubleheaders are the final four games of the regular season for Lackawanna College, and the Falcons will advance to the Region XIX Division II playoffs, which are set to start next weekend. Lackawanna, the second seed, will play Sussex County CC, the third seed, at a time to be announced on Friday, May 9^th, in West Windsor Twp., NJ. Top-seed Mercer County CC, which is hosting the tournament, will play County College of Morris at the same time.