5/23/25

SCRANTON, Pa. – The pairings are set, the teams have made their way to the Sooner State, and the pomp and circumstance has almost worn off. Now, it's time for the real fun to begin.
 
On Saturday, May 24^th, the 2025 NJCAA Division II World Series will get underway in Enid, Oklahoma at David Allen Memorial Ballpark with a quadruple header of first-round contests. Lackawanna College baseball, the #12 seed in the 12-team tournament, will compete against #5 Madison College (WI) in the third game of the day, playing at 5:00pm ET (4:00pm CT) in the historic ballpark.
 
The winner of the game will advance to a second round meeting with #4 Heartland CC (IL) on Sunday, May 25^th. The loser will fall into the consolation bracket and play an elimination game on Monday, May 26^th.
 
Every game at the NJCAA DII World Series will have a pay-per-view video livestream available via the NJCAA Network HERE. Full tournament information, including schedules, brackets, and on-site information, can be found at the NJCAA site, linked HERE.
 
About #12 Lackawanna College
The Falcons (34-16) have won 13 of their last 14 contests entering the weekend, including seven straight and a perfect 6-0 in playoff games the past two weekends. After winning the Region XIX DII championship on the road at Mercer County CC two weeks ago, Lackawanna hosted the East District tournament in the Electric City, playing with Region XIX runner-up Mercer County CC, Region 3/21 Champion UConn Avery Point, and Region 15 Champion SUNY Rockland CC. After a delay due to rain and lightning, and an exciting 11-10 win from UCAP over Mercer in the first contest, Lackawanna faced Rockland in the following game. Rockland scored 13 runs in the first inning and led 14-0 after just 1.5 innings, but the never-say-die Falcons rallied with an astounding 21-straight runs over the next seven innings, taking the lead and eventually winning the first-round contest, 23-17. That win put Lackawanna into the East District semifinal, where the Falcons took on the Pointers from UConn Avery Point. Lackawanna won that game fairly easily, winning 9-1 in seven innings to clinch their place in the East District championship series. After two elimination contests between the other three teams, UConn Avery Point was the survivor and faced the Falcons in the championship on Sunday. The exhausted Pointers couldn't keep pace with the Falcons, who scored the game's first 14 runs over five innings en route to an 18-5 championship victory, clinching the sixth World Series appearance in program history for Lackawanna College, and its fourth in seven years.
 
The Falcons have made five previous appearances in the NJCAA Division II World Series. Their first came in 2012, where they finished with a school-record 47 wins. They have made appearances in 2013, 2019, 2021, and 2023 since then. In their last run, the 2023 season, Lackawanna College made program history by winning multiple games at the showcase, taking down Glendale CC 9-1 in the opening round game, and then defeating the Gauchos again in an elimination game, 10-8. In between, the Falcons led the top-ranked team in the nation, Heartland CC, 3-1 into the seventh inning, before the eventual national champion Hawks rallied for a 6-3 win. The Falcons were eliminated in 2023 by St. Johns River State College, 23-9, in a game where they fought hard to get a big deficit down to two, but ran out of gas in the later innings.
 
On the season, the Falcons are hitting a combined .358, compiling a collective 1.027 OPS, which includes a .457 OBP and a .570 slugging percentage, up to third in NJCAA Division II. Lackawanna has 216 extra-base hits, tied for sixth in the country, including 144 doubles (3^rd) and 61 home runs (T-17^th). The Falcons have scored 501 runs this year, a ten runs per game average. Lackawanna has drawn 232 walks and struck out 321 times as a team this year, while stealing 76 bases.
 
On the mound, the Falcons have a 6.27 ERA, giving up 316 runs, 257 earned, on 401 hits through 368.2 innings pitched. Teams are hitting .270 against the Falcons this season, with 16 home runs and 94 extra-base hits. Lackawanna has struck out 416 batters and walked 264. The Falcons have also plunked 72 batters this year.
 
Defensively, the Falcons have 71 errors and a .954 fielding percentage. The Falcons have caught eleven baserunners stealing this year and have forced 19 double plays.
 
Sophomore shortstop Brooks Henderson IV (Feasterville, PA) is first on the team with 76 hits this season, posting a .409 batting average in his 49 appearances. Henderson has a 1.114 OPS with 20 doubles, first on the team, and 60 RBIs, also a team-high. He's also got seven home runs, tied for third on the team. He's got a .463 OBP on the year and has scored 58 runs, second on the squad this year. Brooks has drawn 16 walks on the year and has been hit by eight pitches, and he is second on the team with 14 stolen bases this year. Henderson has 23 multi-hit games this season. 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 April 27^th. In the region tournament two weekends ago, Henderson struggled, going just 1-for-13 in three games, but still managed to score three runs and had a two-run homer in the region title game victory over Mercer. He was much better in the district playoff last weekend, going a combined 7-for-13 in three games, scoring seven runs, driving in five more, and hitting a home run and two doubles. Defensively, Henderson has 55 putouts, 133 assists, and 13 errors on the year from his shortstop position, posting a .935 fielding percentage and helping turn 12 double plays on the year. Henderson was a first-team All-Region XIX selection this year.
 
First-year outfielder Deacon Brown (Williamsport, PA) has a .429 batting average and is second on the Falcons with 72 total hits in 50 games. Brown has a 1.308 OPS and a .528 OBP, second on the team in both categories, respectively. Brown has scored 56 runs, third on the team, and he has posted 17 doubles and a team-best 12 homers. Brown's 57 RBIs are second on the team this year, and he has 32 extra-base hits, first this year on the Falcons. He's drawn 29 walks, second on the Falcons this season, and he has been hit by eleven pitches, fourth on the team. Brown has 20 multi-hit games on the year and had a 21-game hitting streak earlier this season, and he had a 13-game hitting streak recently come to an end. Brown was the EPAC Player of the Week one month ago, driving in 12 RBIs, hitting four home runs, and scoring seven runs, while going 8-for-13 from the dish in three games. Deacon had seven RBIs and two home runs in the game one victory against Monroe CC on April 27^th. He hit a two-run homer and scored three runs in the victory over Delaware County CC on April 30^th. Deacon was a combined 6-for-14 with four runs, two doubles, and an RBI in the three region playoff games two weeks ago. He went a combined 3-for-8 with six runs, four RBIs, a double, and a homer in three district playoff games last weekend. He had four walks and a two-run homer in the championship victory over UConn Avery Point. Deacon has 69 putouts, four assists, and one error this year in the field, posting a .986 fielding percentage. Deacon was a first-team All-Region XIX selection this year.
 
Sophomore catcher and designated hitter Jake Kelleher (Exeter, PA) is a .434 hitter through 44 games this season, second on the team in batting average and compiling 66 hits this year, third on the team. Kelleher has a 1.205 OPS on the year, posting a .678 slugging percentage and a .527 OBP, third on the team. Kelleher has scored 59 runs, a team-high, and he has posted 16 doubles, seven home runs, and 37 RBIs. Kelleher has drawn 20 walks, and he has six stolen bases. Kelleher has 17 multi-hit games this season and had a 17-game hitting streak ended in the second game of the Monroe CC doubleheader on April 27^th. He is currently on an eight-game hitting streak. 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. Jake was a combined 6-for-15 with five runs and three RBIs in three games at the region tournament two weeks ago, then went a combined 5-for-11 with seven runs, five RBIs, a double, and a two-run home run. He was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and that two-run tank in the championship win against Avery Point. Kelleher has caught three runners stealing this season as a catcher and has 12 assists behind the plate this season. Jake was named a first-team All-Region XIX selection this season.
 
Sophomore first baseman John Hughes (Hamilton, NJ) is a .444 hitter with 63 hits in 44 games this year. Hughes has a 1.383 OPS, first on the team, with 55 runs, fourth on the team, and 54 RBIs, third on the squad. He has 19 doubles, second on the Falcons, a triple, and ten home runs this season, second behind Brown in long balls this season. Hughes has drawn 32 walks, first on the squad, and he has been hit by 17 pitches. Hughes has a .580 OBP this year, first on the team, and he's slugging at .803. Hughes has 21 multi-hit games this season, and he has a 17-game hitting streak entering the World Series. Against Monroe CC, Hughes was 3-for-7 with four runs and two RBIs in two games on April 27^th. He had two doubles and two RBIs, along with four runs, in the win against Westchester, going 4-for-5. Hughes went a combined 5-for-10 with two runs, two doubles, five RBIs, and five HBPs in three games at the region playoffs. He was a combined 5-for-13 with five runs and three RBIs in three games in the district championships last weekend. He has 245 putouts and 20 assists at first base this season, with a .985 fielding percentage. Hughes was a first-team All-Region XIX selection, and the Region XIX Player Of The Year.
 
Sophomore Louis Kegerreis (Murrysville, PA) is a .360 hitter this season through 45 appearances, collecting 58 total hits. Kegerreis has 53 runs scored this season, fifth on the Falcons, and he has 19 doubles and seven home runs this year, driving in 51 RBIs. Kegerreis has a 1.071 OPS this year, with a .462 OBP. He has drawn 19 walks and been hit by 14 pitches on the season. Kegerreis has 18 multi-hit games this season and had a ten-game hitting streak come to an end this past weekend. Kegerreis has been on a tear as of late, posting seven multi-hit games in his last eleven contests. He has driven in 21 RBIs, scored 14 runs, and hit three home runs and five doubles in that stretch. Kegerreis had a grand slam and a double against Delaware County on April 30^th, and he had five RBIs, a two-run home run, and a double in the 13-1 win against Monroe CC on April 27^th. He was a combined 4-for-13 with four runs, five RBIs, and a double in three games at the region tournament two weeks ago. Kegerreis was a combined 4-for-11 with four runs, three RBIs, and two doubles in three games in the district playoffs last weekend at home. He has 58 putouts and 51 assists this season in the field, turning eight double plays on the season. Kegerreis was named to the second-team All-Region XIX squad this year.
 
Sophomore outfielder Nick Matson (Nanticoke, PA) is a .338 hitter this season through 48 games, collecting 54 hits and driving in 44 RBIs. Matson has scored 36 runs, has put up 12 doubles on the year, and has three home runs. He has drawn 17 walks and has stolen 16 bases, first on the team. Matson has 19 multi-hit games this season, and he has recorded a hit in 12 of his last 14 games. Matson was 3-for-7 with three runs and four RBIs in the doubleheader sweep over Monroe CC on April 27^th. He was 3-for-13 with three runs, a triple, and three RBIs in three games in the region tournament two weeks ago. Last weekend, he was red hot in the district playoffs, going a combined 7-for-12 with six runs and three RBIs in all three games for the Falcons. Matson has 79 putouts on the season with a .976 fielding percentage in center field.
 
Sophomore infielder Tyler Lepage (Macungie, PA) is a .462 hitter with a 1.278 OPS through 28 appearances this season. Lepage has five homers, eight doubles, and 30 RBIs this year. He has a .756 slugging percentage this season. Lepage has 19 runs scored on the year and carries a .522 OBP. Lepage has drawn ten walks and been hit by a pair of pitches. Lepage has 12 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 another two weeks until seeing time against Monroe CC on April 27^th, going 1-for-1. He was a combined 2-for-11 with two runs, six RBIs, and a double in the three games in the region tournament two weeks ago, but really turned it on for the district playoffs last weekend. He was a combined 8-for-12 with three multi-hit games and nine RBIs, while scoring three runs and hitting three doubles. He had six RBIs in the district title game against UConn Avery Point. Lepage has six putouts and eight assists this season.
 
Sophomore catcher Kenny Hirschfeld (New Hyde Park, NY) is a .396 hitter this season in his 32 appearances, collecting 36 total hits and driving in 23 RBIs. Hirschfeld has nine doubles and two homers, and he has scored 26 runs. Hirschfeld has a 1.015 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 April 27^th in game two. Kenny was not used in the region tournament for the Falcons two weeks ago, and he came on in a pinch hit role in the championship game against Avery Point last weekend, going 1-for-1 with a run scored in the victory. Hirschfeld has five assists and a .962 fielding percentage this season behind the plate, catching a pair of runners stealing.
 
Sophomore pitcher Liam O'Leary (Souderton, PA) leads the team with 76.2 innings pitched, making 16 appearances, 12 of which have been starts. O'Leary has a 7-4 record with a 3.99 ERA. He has given up 43 runs, 34 earned, on 76 hits, while striking out a team-high 115 batters and walking 33. The opposition is hitting .248 against him this year, and he has hit ten batters. O'Leary's best outing came in the Region XIX DII championship, where he went a season-long eight innings and struck out 13 batters in the win for the Falcons over Mercer County CC. O'Leary gave up seven hits and two runs, but had a stretch where he retired 16 in a row and kept the Vikings off the board for the majority of the contest. O'Leary set a season-high in his last start, striking out 14 batters in six innings of the 18-5 win against UCAP last weekend in the district title game. He has recorded at least four strikeouts in 14 of his 16 appearances this season, the lone exceptions being a pair one-inning appearances to close out a pair of playoff games over the last two weeks. 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 has six or more strikeouts in ten games this year. He was a first-team All-Region XIX selection this year.
 
Sophomore Trey Sajeski (Holland, PA) is second on the team, pitching 57 innings in 14 appearances this season. He's 8-1 with a 5.21 ERA. Sajeski has given up 39 runs, 33 earned, on 65 hits, striking out 62 and walking 25 batters. The opposition is hitting .278 against him this season. Sajeski threw his best game in his most recent appearance, going a complete seven innings in a run-rule win for the Falcons over UConn Avery Point in the East District playoffs, where he gave up an unearned run on four hits and struck out seven in the 9-1 win for the Falcons. 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 on April 27^th. Sajeski has struck out five or more batters in five of his last seven contests.
 
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Novakowski (Forty Fort, PA) is third on the team in innings pitched, throwing 53.1 innings on the year. Novakowski is 5-3 with an 9.28 ERA in his 14 appearances, with 12 starts. Novakowski has given up 62 runs, 55 earned, on 76 hits, with 55 strikeouts and 25 walks. Batters are hitting .332 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 pitched 1.2 innings of work for the Falcons at the region tournament, giving up two runs on four hits in 1.2 innings against Mercer in the semi-final game, picking up the win for the Falcons. He only went 0.1 innings against Rockland last weekend, giving up 10 runs, six earned, on seven hits to the Hawks in a game the Falcons came back to win.
 
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 four of his seven seasons in charge. 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 has now won four Region XIX championships in his time at Lackawanna College. He is 200-116 in his career at Lackawanna.
 
About #5 Madison College
The WolfPack (43-9) are no strangers to Enid and are back for a 19^th national tournament appearance. The WolfPack are winners of seven straight Region 4 championships, 14 coming since the 2010 year, and are back in Enid for the seventh consecutive year. Madison comes in on a heater, winning eleven-straight games entering the weekend. The WolfPack won six playoff games in a row, winning their sectional tournament to make the Region 4 final, and then defeating Black Hawk College, Elgin CC, and nationally-ranked Kankakee CC in the title game for the victory. Against Kankakaee, Madison built an early 3-0 lead, then overcame a five-run fourth from the Cavaliers to score the game's final seven runs and post the 10-5 win at home.
 
Madison made the national championship game in 2022, falling to Pearl River CC in three games. They lost in the semi-final to LSU Eunice back in 2013. Despite their constant presence in Enid, the WolfPack never met the Falcons on the diamond.
 
As a team, the WolfPack are hitting .312 this season, posting a combined .878 OPS on the year. Madison has scored 398 runs in 52 games, a 7.6 runs per game average. Madison has a .432 on-base percentage on the year, and they slug at .446 as a team. The WolfPack has 127 extra-base hits this season, posting 83 doubles and 33 homers this year. Madison has drawn 253 walks and been hit by 83 pitches, while striking out 291 times on the year. Madison has stolen 67 bases this year.
 
A real strength for the WolfPack has been their pitching staff, posting a 3.35 ERA as a team. In a combined 386.1 innings, the Wolfpack has given up 180 runs, just 144 earned, on 325 hits, striking out 360 batters and walking 157. The opposition is hitting .226 against Madison this year, getting hit by 40 pitches.
 
The WolfPack also fields well, posting a .960 fielding percentage this year, catching 17 runners stealing and turning a combined 31 double plays.
 
Sophomore outfielder Marcelino Edison Alonso leads the Wolfpack this season with 59 total hits and a .345 batting average through 49 games on the year. Alonso has a 1.008 OPS, third on the team, and has scored a team-best 51 runs this year. Alonso has 22 extra-base hits, second on the team, posting eleven doubles and eight home runs, which is tied for the team-high this year. Alonso's 45 RBIs are third on the team this year, and he's slugging at a team-high .585 this year. Alonso has draw 21 walks, one of six Wolfpack players to draw 20 or more free passes this season. His 12 stolen bases are tied for the team-high. He has 16 multi-hit games on the year and was the Region 4 Player of the Tournament this past weekend. He was a combined 5-for-8 with three runs, five RBIs, and two doubles in the semi-final and championship games. He had a game earlier this season where he was a perfect 5-for-5, scoring three runs and driving in four RBIs in a 13-3 win against Triton College on March 27^th. Alonso has 113 putouts and no errors this year in the outfield.
 
Sophomore infielder Jalen Gellings is second on the team with 53 total base hits in 46 games, posting a .363 batting average on the year. Gellings has scored 48 runs, second on the team, and is tied with Alonso for second on the team with eleven doubles this year. Gellings has 26 RBIs and has drawn 24 walks, third on the squad. He has posted a .945 OPS on the year, including a .472 on-base percentage, first on the team. Gellings has 12 multi-hit games on the year, and he enters the weekend on a seven-game hitting streak. Gellings was a combined 5-for-10 last week in three games, and he had one of his better games in the win against Elgin, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs on a double in the victory. He was 1-for-4 with two runs, a double, and an RBI in the championship win against Kankakee. Gellings has 56 putouts and 105 assists with a .942 fielding percentage on the year. He has helped turn 16 double plays this season.
 
First-year catcher and outfielder Nate Novinska is third on the team with 47 total hits and a .324 batting average through 49 games this season. Novinska has a 1.010 OPS, second on the team, scoring 40 runs, which is third on the team. Novinska has 19 extra-base hits this year, including eight homers, tied with Alonso for first on the team. Novinska leads the WolfPack with 46 RBIs this season. He has 18 walks and has been hit by ten pitches. His .579 slugging percentage is second this year, and he has eleven stolen bases, third on the WolfPack. Novinska has 13 multi-hit games on the year. He was a combined 4-for-11 in three games last weekend, driving in four RBIs and scoring three runs, while hitting two doubles. He was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs in the win against Kankakee. His best game came in a win against Triton College on April 19^th, going 3-for-5 with two runs and five RBIs, three coming on a three-run home run. He also went 3-for-4 with four RBIs on a double and a home run against Highland CC on April 16^th. Novinska has a team-high 214 putouts and 14 assists this year.
 
Sophomore outfielder Chris Calico has 44 total hits and is a .324 batter through 46 games on the year. Calico has scored 36 runs, hitting seven doubles and driving in 29 RBIs this year. He has drawn 20 walks and has a .817 OPS, which includes a .427 on-base percentage. Calico leads the WolfPack with 12 stolen bases on the year. Calico has 12 multi-hit games, including all three playoff games last weekend. He was a combined 6-for-13 with four runs and four RBIs, hitting a pair of doubles in the three wins for Madison. He had two doubles and two runs in the semi-final win against Elgin, then had a run scored on two hits in the win against Kankakee in the championship. His best game came against Phoenix College back on March 21^st, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, five RBIs, and three doubles in the win. Calico has 64 putouts and three errors for a .956 fielding percentage this season, turning a pair of double plays this year.
 
First-year first baseman Tyler Butina is one of the power threats for Madison this year, hitting .301 with 43 hits in 46 games this year. Butina has a team-high 1.013 OPS, hitting a team-high 17 doubles and posting six homers, third on the team. Butina has 46 RBIs, tops on the squad, and he leads the WolfPack with 25 extra-base knocks. Butina's 25 walks are second on Madison this year, and his 13 HBPs are second on the team. Butina has ten multi-hit games on the season, and he enters the weekend on a nine-game hitting streak. Butina was great last weekend, going a combined 5-for-13 with three runs, three RBIs, a double, and a triple in three games. He was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double in the semi-final win against Elgin CC. He was 4-for-5 with five RBIs on three doubles in a win against Rockford University back on April 28^th. Butina has 186 putouts and a .990 fielding percentage this season, helping turn 22 double plays this year.
 
First-year pitcher Noah Marschke has a 2.32 ERA in team-best 62 innings this season, going 7-1 in eleven appearances, all starts. Marschke has allowed 21 runs, 16 earned, on 50 hits, while striking out a season-high 84 batters and walking 23 this year. Opponents are hitting .219 against him this season. Marschke has struck out four or more batters in all of his appearances this year, and he has gone over ten strikeouts in three games this year. He set a season-best with 14 punchouts against rock Valley College on April 10^th, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings. He pitched the first game of the playoffs last weekend, giving up just three hits in six innings and striking out eight in the win against Black Hawk College.
 
First-year pitcher Quinn Falish has a 2.36 ERA in 42 innings, second on the team in terms of innings, going 4-0 in his nine appearances. Falish has surrendered just 13 runs, eleven earned, on 33 hits, striking out 23 and walking eleven batters this year. Falish has held his opponents to just .213 on the year. Falish struck out a season-best six batters in six innings of work in the win against Triton on March 27^th, giving up two runs on six hits in the victory. He has struggled a little in his last two starts, giving up a combined eight runs across two games. He went 3.1 innings in the championship game against Kankakee last weekend, giving up four runs on three hits in the game that Madison eventually won.
 
First-year pitcher Axel Donaldson has a stellar 1.34 ERA in his eleven appearances, going 6-0 in 40.1 innings of action this year. Donaldson has given up just six runs on 26 hits, striking out 33 batters and walking 15. Teams are hitting just .184 against him this year. Donaldson's best outing came against Carl Sandburg College on April 11^th, striking out a season-high nine batters and allowing just one hit in the five-inning victory. He had seven strikeouts in the clinching win against Highland CC in the sectional, allowing two runs on seven hits in the 13-2 win. He pitched well against Elgin CC the next week, allowing just one run on one hit and striking out five in 6.1 innings.
 
The head coach is Mike Davenport, now in his 21^st season in charge of Madison College baseball. Davenport has been with the program since 2005, and he has 804 victories in his time as head coach of the Wolfpack. Davenport has taken the WolfPack to the national tournament 14 times, getting the program to the national title game in 2022. He has produced 99 all-conference players and 75 all-region recipients, instructing 14 All-Americans helping 15 different players to be drafted by Major League Baseball. Before Madison, Davenport was the head baseball coach, athletic director, and assistant wellness center director at Kishwaukee College in Illinois, his alma mater. He won 339 games at Kishwaukee, also taking the national championship in 1999. Davenport is from DeKalb, Illinois, and went on to play collegiately at Kishwaukee, and then Clarke College in Iowa. Davenport has won 1,143 games in his collegiate coaching career.
 
The Rest Of The Field And The First Round
The full field of teams competing in the NJCAA Division II World Series this weekend is:
 
#1 Pasco Hernando State College (FL) 48-10
#2 Pearl River CC (MS) 50-8
#3 South Mountain (AZ) 47-17
#4 Heartland CC (IL) 46-14
#5 Madison College (WI) 43-9
#6 East Central CC (MS) 42-14
#7 Southeastern CC (IA) 48-13
#8 Frederick CC (MD) 51-11
#9 Iowa Central CC (IA) 44-15
#10 Kellogg CC (MI) 38-13
#11 Catawba Valley CC (NC) 43-16
#12 Lackawanna College (PA) 34-16
 
The top four seeds all receive byes and will play their first games on Sunday, May 25^th. The first-round games on Saturday, May 24^th, will be:
 
10AM (CT) - #10 Kellogg CC vs. #7 Southeastern CC
1PM (CT) - #11 Catawba Valley CC vs. #6 East Central CC
4PM (CT) - #12 Lackawanna College vs. #5 Madison College
7PM (CT) - #9 Iowa Central CC vs. #8 Frederick CC
 
The tournament is double elimination. Every game will be played at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma.
 
What's At Stake
Lackawanna College has never played Madison College in baseball, so this will be the first time the two teams have locked horns. The Falcons do have some familiarity with the rest of the field, having played against Pasco Hernando, Heartland CC, Frederick CC, Kellogg CC, and Catawba Valley CC in their history. Lackawanna has not faced Frederick CC in the World Series, but has played regular season contests with the Cougars in the past. The two were scheduled to play each other this season, but the games were cancelled due to inclement weather.
 
All-time, Lackawanna is 3-10 in the NJCAA Division II World Series, with two of those wins coming in its last appearance in 2023. Lackawanna has never won a second-round game in the showcase.
 
Saturday's game has a first pitch scheduled for 5:00pm ET (4:00pm CT), and the game is the third game of four scheduled for the opening day of the tournament. Every game at the NJCAA DII World Series will have a pay-per-view video livestream available via the NJCAA Network HERE. Full tournament information, including schedules, brackets, and on-site information, can be found at the NJCAA site, linked HERE.
 
The winner of Saturday's game will advance into the second round to face #4 Heartland CC on Sunday, May 25^th at 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT). The team that loses will fall into the elimination bracket, awaiting the loser of top-ranked Pasco Hernando State College and either #8 Frederick CC or #9 Iowa Central CC for an elimination game on Monday, May 26^th.
 
The tournament is double-elimination until the championship round is set, which will be a winner-take-all contest scheduled for either Friday, May 30^th or Saturday, May 31^st, depending on whether either semi-final goes an extra game or not.