5/7/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – The long and winding road of the 2025 season now comes to an important junction, as the Lackawanna College baseball team gets set for the Region XIX Division II baseball tournament this coming weekend.
 
The four-team, double elimination tourney is being hosted by Mercer County CC in West Windsor Twp., NJ from Thursday, May 8^th through Saturday, May 10^th. The four seeds for the tournament are:
 
1 – Mercer County CC (32-16)
2 – Lackawanna College (28-16)
3 – Sussex County CC (23-14)
4 – County College of Morris (21-21)
 
The games will start at 10:00am ET on Thursday, May 8^th. Mercer will host Morris at the Mercer County CC baseball field, while Lackawanna will take on Sussex at the nearby Mercer County Park. The winning teams will play a semifinal game at 2:00pm ET that afternoon, while the losing teams will play an elimination game at 2:00pm ET. Mercer County CC will play on its home field, regardless of whether it wins or loses game one.
 
On Friday, May 9^th, the two remaining teams with a loss will play another elimination game at 10:00am ET at the Mercer County CC baseball field. The winning team in that game will play the team without a loss in a Region XIX DII championship game at 2:00pm ET. If the team without a loss wins, they are the Region XIX DII champion. If the team with one loss wins that game, there will be a winner-take-all contest played on Saturday, May 10^th, at 11:00am ET at the Mercer County CC baseball field.
 
Both the region champion and the runner-up will advance to the East District tournament, to be held next weekend (5/16-5/17), hosted by the Region XIX champion.
 
Only the games played at Mercer County CC baseball field will have a video livestream available, via the Mercer County CC Vimeo channel, linked HERE. So, the two games that will be played at Mercer County Park on Thursday, including Lackawanna College's game with Sussex, will not have a video livestream available.
 
In the regular season, Lackawanna College went 2-1 against both Sussex County CC and CC of Morris, while going 1-2 against Mercer County CC.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (28-16) have won seven of their last eight contests entering the tournament. Most recently, the Falcons split a doubleheader at UConn Avery Point this Saturday, dropping game one, 6-5, before hanging on for the win in game two, 10-7. Lackawanna lost a 4-1 lead in game one, as the Pointers scored five runs over the final three innings and won in a walk-off. In game two, Lackawanna built a 7-2 lead after 3.5 innings and led 10-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but UCAP rallied with five runs in the bottom frame, before Lackawanna managed to hang on for the victory. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
Lackawanna College has won nine Region XIX DII titles since winning its first in 2007. The Falcons won four-in-a-row from 2010 through 2013, and they have won it three times in the six previous years under coach Mike McCarry. Last year, the Falcons fell to Mercer County CC in the championship contest. Lackawanna College last won the region championship in 2023, on its way to a World Series appearance.
 
On the season, the Falcons are hitting a combined .353, compiling a collective 1.022 OPS, which includes a .451 OBP and a .571 slugging percentage, up to fourth in NJCAA Division II. Lackawanna has 190 extra-base hits, tenth in the country, including 126 doubles (3^rd) and 55 home runs (17^th). The Falcons have scored 419 runs this year, a 9.5 runs per game average. Lackawanna has drawn 202 walks and struck out 292 times as a team this year, while stealing 70 bases.
 
On the mound, the Falcons have a 6.51 ERA, giving up 274 runs, 229 earned, on 344 hits through 316.2 innings pitched. Teams are hitting .270 against the Falcons this season, with 16 home runs and 80 extra-base hits. Lackawanna has struck out 354 batters and walked 240. The Falcons have also plunked 65 batters this year.
 
Defensively, the Falcons have 62 errors and a .953 fielding percentage. The Falcons have caught eleven baserunners stealing this year and have forced 17 double plays.
 
Sophomore shortstop Brooks Henderson IV (Feasterville, PA) is first on the team with 68 hits, tied for second in all of Region XIX, posting a .425 batting average in his 43 appearances. Henderson has a 1.132 OPS with 18 doubles, first on the team and tied for third in Region XIX, and 53 RBIs, first on the team and seventh in Region XIX. He's also got five home runs, tied for fifth on the team. He's got a .476 OBP on the year and has scored 48 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 13 stolen bases this year. Henderson has 21 multi-hit games this season, and he has a 12-game hitting streak entering the playoffs. 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. He had five RBIs and two doubles in the win over Westchester on April 29^th. He was a combined 3-for-7 with two runs and two RBIs in three games against Sussex this season. Brooks was 4-for-9 with three RBIs and two runs in two games against UCAP this past weekend. Defensively, Henderson has 50 putouts, 114 assists, and ten errors on the year from his shortstop position, posting a .943 fielding percentage and helping turn ten double plays on the year.
 
First-year outfielder Deacon Brown (Williamsport, PA) has a .432 batting average and is second on the team with 63 total hits, tied for seventh in the region, in 44 games. Brown has a 1.320 OPS and a .525 OBP, second and third on the team in both categories, respectively. Brown has scored 46 runs, fourth on the team, and he has posted 14 doubles and a team-best eleven homers, tied for second in all of Region XIX. Brown's 52 RBIs are second on the team and are tied for eighth in Region XIX. He's drawn 23 walks, second on the Falcons this year, and he has been hit by ten pitches, third on the team. Brown has 17 multi-hit games on the year and had a 21-game hitting streak earlier this season. He currently is on a nine-game hitting streak, posting seven multi-hit contests in his last eight. Brown was the EPAC Player of the Week two weeks 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 has hit five home runs in his last seven games. He 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. He was a combined 1-for-9 with two runs in the three games against Sussex earlier this season. Against UCAP, he was a combined 4-for-9 with two doubles and three runs. Deacon has 63 putouts, three assists, and one error this year in the field, posting a .985 fielding percentage.
 
Sophomore catcher and designated hitter Jake Kelleher (Exeter, PA) is a .437 hitter through 38 games this season, second on the team in batting average and compiling 55 hits this year, third on the team. Kelleher has a 1.224 OPS on the year, posting a .698 slugging percentage and a .526 OBP, second on the team. Kelleher has scored 47 runs, third on the team, and he has posted 15 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 April 27^th. 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. He went 2-for-5 with three runs, a double, and an RBI in the win against Westchester on April 29^th. He played in all three games against Sussex this year, going 4-for-10 with three runs and two RBIs for the Falcons. He played in game one against UCAP last weekend, going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. 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 .445 hitter with 53 hits in 38 games this year. Hughes has a 1.432 OPS, first on the team, with 48 runs, tied with Henderson for first on the team, and 46 RBIs, third on the team. He has 17 doubles, second on the team, a triple, and ten home runs this season, tied for fourth in all of Region XIX. Hughes has drawn 28 walks, first on the squad, and he has been hit by eleven pitches. Hughes has a .575 OBP this year, first on the team and fourth in Region XIX, and he's slugging at .857, which is second in Region XIX. Hughes has 17 multi-hit games this season, and he has an eleven-game hitting streak entering the playoffs. 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 was a combined 4-for-6 with three runs, four RBIs, and a double in the two games against Avery Point. He was 5-for-8 with three runs, eight RBIs, two doubles, and a homer against Sussex in three games this year. He has 203 putouts and 16 assists at first base this season, with a .982 fielding percentage.
 
Sophomore Louis Kegerreis (Murrysville, PA) is a .368 hitter this season through 39 appearances, collecting 50 total hits. Kegerreis has 47 runs scored this season, third on the Falcons, and he has 16 doubles and seven home runs this year, driving in 43 RBIs. Kegerreis has a 1.101 OPS this year, with a .461 OBP. He has drawn 15 walks and been hit by eleven pitches on the season. Kegerreis has 15 multi-hit games this season. Kegerreis has been on a tear as of late, posting four multi-hit games in his last five contests. He has driven in 13 RBIs, scored six runs, and hit three home runs and two doubles in that five-game stretch. Kegerreis is 10-for-17 in his last five games. He had a grand slam and a double against Delaware County last week, 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 just 1-for-11 against Sussex, scoring two runs and driving in three more. Kegerreis was a combined 3-for-6 with two runs, a homer, and two RBIs against UCAP last weekend. He has 50 putouts and 40 assists this season in the field, turning six double plays on the season.
 
Sophomore outfielder Nick Matson (Nanticoke, PA) is a .326 hitter this season through 42 games, collecting 44 hits and driving in 38 RBIs. 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 has recorded a hit in seven of his last eight games. Matson has had four multi-hit games in his last seven contests. 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-5 with a run, an RBI, and a double in the win against Westchester. Matson was 2-for-9 with an RBI in the three games against Sussex this year. He was 1-for-7 with two RBIs against Avery Point on the weekend. Matson has 68 putouts on the season with a .972 fielding percentage in center field.
 
Sophomore catcher Kenny Hirschfeld (New Hyde Park, NY) is a .389 hitter this season in his 31 appearances, collecting 35 total hits and driving in 23 RBIs. Hirschfeld has nine doubles and two homers, and he has scored 25 runs. Hirschfeld has a 1.005 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 went 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI in the win against Delaware County. Kenny was 1-for-4 in two games against Sussex this year, scoring a run. He was 1-for-4 in game two against UCAP this past weekend. Hirschfeld has five assists and a .962 fielding percentage this season behind the plate, catching a pair of runners stealing.
 
Sophomore infielder Tyler Lepage (Macungie, PA) is a .473 hitter with a 1.342 OPS through 22 appearances this season. Lepage has five homers, tied with Henderson for fifth on the team, and has 15 RBIs. He has a .818 slugging percentage this season. Lepage has 14 runs scored on the year and carries a .524 OBP. Lepage has drawn five walks and been hit by a pair of pitches. Lepage has nine 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 April 27^th, going 1-for-1. He was 2-for-4 in game one against Avery Point on Saturday. Lepage was not available for the Falcons against Sussex this season. Lepage has six putouts and eight assists this season.
 
Sophomore pitcher Liam O'Leary (Souderton, PA) leads the team with 60.2 innings pitched, making 12 appearances, ten of which have been starts. O'Leary has a 5-4 record with a 4.60 ERA. He has given up 40 runs, 31 earned, on 63 hits, while striking out a team-high 86 batters and walking 30. The opposition is hitting .256 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 12 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. O'Leary went three innings against Avery Point in game one this past weekend, giving up one run on two hits and striking out five in a game the Falcons eventually lost, 6-5.
 
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Novakowski (Forty Fort, PA) is second on the team in innings pitched, throwing 51.1 innings on the year. Novakowski is 4-3 with an 8.24 ERA in his 12 appearances, with eleven starts. Novakowski has given up 50 runs, 47 earned, on 65 hits, with 54 strikeouts and 22 walks. Batters are hitting .307 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 had struggled as of late, giving up a combined 13 runs in two starts against Mercer and Morris. He was responsible for eight runs against Monroe CC in a relief appearance April 27^th, getting just one out against the Tribunes. In his last appearance, he gave up a hit and got a strikeout in an inning of work against Avery Point last weekend.
 
Sophomore Trey Sajeski (Holland, PA) is third on the team, pitching 47 innings in 12 appearances this season. He's 7-1 with a 5.74 ERA. Sajeski has given up 35 runs, 30 earned, on 55 hits, striking out 53 and walking 21 batters. The opposition is hitting .281 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 on April 27^th. Sajeski has struck out five or more batters in four of his last five contests. He gave up two runs on five hits in two innings against UConn Avery Point last weekend, striking out three in a game the Falcons lost.
 
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 194-116 in his career at Lackawanna.
 
About #3 Sussex County CC
The Skylanders (23-14) are the hottest team entering the tournament, winners of ten straight games coming into the postseason. Sussex has scored 40 runs in their last two games, posting a 23-9 win against Rockland on April 28^th, then beating SUNY Orange 17-6 on the road the next day on April 29^th. Against Orange, the Skylanders hit two homers, four doubles, and scored seven runs in the ninth inning to really put distance between themselves and the Colts. The game against Lackawanna will be the first for the Skylanders in nine days.
 
The Skylanders have not won a region championship in baseball, but have had many more chances of late, as Sussex has now qualified for the region playoffs for a third straight season under head coach Ramadan Mehmedi. This year's team has won 20+ games for a third straight year. In the previous two years, the Skylanders didn't make it past the first day, dropping the first game and then the elimination game. Last year, Sussex fell to Mercer, then lost in the elimination game to Morris.
 
Coming into the playoffs, the Skylanders are hitting .342 as a team, driving in 310 runs in 37 games, an 8.4 runs per game average. Sussex has 110 extra-base hits on the year, putting up 88 doubles and 16 home runs. The Skylanders have 254 strikeouts and 182 walks, and they have stolen 55 bases on the year. Sussex has a collective .929 OPS, with a team OBP of .458. The Skylanders have been hit by 85 pitches this season. 
 
On the mound, the Skylanders have a staff ERA of 6.12, giving up 237 runs, 183 earned, on 308 hits in 269 innings. The Skylanders have struck out their opponents 255 times, while walking 142. They have given up 23 home runs and teams are batting .302 against them this season.
 
In the field, the Skylanders have 65 errors and a .923 fielding percentage this season. Sussex has turned six double plays and caught three runners stealing this year.
 
Sophomore infielder Derek Lazier is among the best in Region XIX again this season, compiling 60 total hits, top ten in the region, and a .438 batting average, which is fifth in the region, through 37 games. Lazier has a team-high 19 doubles, tied for first in Region XIX, and 23 extra-base hits, posting 38 RBIs this season, first on the Skylanders. Lazier has 14 walks and has scored 37 runs, second on the squad. He has a .491 OBP, second on the team, and leads Sussex in slugging (.650) and OPS (1.141). Lazier has 19 multi-hit games this year, with his best coming against Henry Ford College on March 12^th, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs on a double and a home run. He was a combined 4-for-10 against Lackawanna in three games this year, going 3-for-4 in the 9-8 win on April 6^th, hitting a double and driving in two RBIs. Lazier was a combined 5-for-10 in two games with Rockland and Orange last week, scoring three runs, hitting a double and a homer, and driving in two RBIs. He has 123 putouts and 25 assists this season, posting a .949 fielding percentage.
 
First-year player Reed Peterson is second on the team with 50 total hits and a .410 batting average through 36 games this season. Peterson has 20 runs and 33 RBIs, second on the team, and his 15 doubles are second behind Lazier this year. He's got a 1.058 OPS this season, with a .460 OBP. Peterson has 12 walks and five stolen bases on the year. Peterson has 15 multi-hit games on the season, with his best coming against Rockland on March 25^th, going 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Peterson had a nice series against Lackawanna, going 5-for-10 with a run, two doubles, and three RBIs. He had three hits in two games last week, posting a 2-for-4 showing against Rockland, with two runs and two RBIs. He had three runs against Orange. Peterson has 40 putouts and four assists on the year, posting a .957 fielding percentage.

Sophomore infielder Domenic Lotruglio has 44 hits and is hitting .358 this season in 36 games. Lotruglio has scored 33 runs, third on the team, and has nine doubles and 15 RBIs so far this season. He has a .457 OBP and a .888 OPS on the year. Lotruglio has 17 walks and six stolen bases, and he has 28 strikeouts, tied for a team-high. Lotruglio has 15 multi-hit games on the season, with his best coming against Quinsigamond CC on March 15^th, going 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs. He had three hits in a win against Northern Essex on March 8^th, hitting a pair of doubles and driving in one run. Lotruglio went a combined 2-for-6 with three runs and three walks in three games against the Falcons this season, posting both his hits in the 9-8 win on April 6^th. He was 3-for-7 with a double and two RBIs in the win against Orange last week. Lotruglio has 29 putouts and 63 assists on the season in the field, putting up a .893 fielding percentage, and helping turn five double plays.
 
First-year infielder Seiji Umezawa has a .316 batting average and 37 hits through 37 games this season. Umezawa has scored 55 runs, by far first on the team, and has a team-best 37 walks this season. Umezawa has a 1.001 OPS with a team-high .497 OBP. Umezawa has 24 RBIs on ten doubles and four homers, first on the Skylanders. He also has seven stolen bases this season. He's got eight multi-hit games on the year, with his best game coming against Delaware Tech on April 19^th, where he was 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs in the 8-7 win. He struggled in three games against the Falcons, going a combined 1-for-11 with two runs and two walks. Umezawa scored six runs in two games last week with Rockland and Orange. He has 49 putouts and 76 assists in the field this season, with a .899 fielding percentage. Umezawa has turned four double plays this year.
 
On the mound, first-year pitcher Ryan Miller leads the team with 37 innings pitched in eleven appearances, going 3-2 with a 5.35 ERA this year. Miller has given up 28 runs, 22 earned, on 34 hits, striking out a team-high 48 batters and walking 19. Miller has five games with four or more strikeouts, setting his season-high with ten punchouts in five innings, giving up just one run in the win against Quinsigamond CC on March 15^th. Miller pitched well without getting the win in his last start, giving up two runs on two hits in five innings and striking out eight in an 8-7 win for the Skylanders at Morris on April 27^th. Against Lackawanna, he gave up seven runs on eight hits in four innings on April 6^th, in a game the Skylanders rallied to win, 9-8.
 
First-year hurler William St-Pierre has thrown 33.2 innings, second on the team, in 15 appearances this season. St-Pierre is 3-1 with a 5.35 ERA, giving up 32 runs, 20 earned, on 42 hits. He has struck out 28 batters and walked just nine this season. St-Pierre set a season-high with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings against Raritan Valley on March 21^st, allowing two runs in a 17-7 victory for the Skylanders. He gave up one run on five hits in 3.2 innings of relief against Mercer on March 29^th, in game the Skylanders lost 8-5. He took the loss against Lackawanna on April 4^th, surrendering six runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of a 6-0 loss to the Falcons. He gave up two runs on two hits in one inning of relief last week against Orange in his last appearance.
 
First-year pitcher Derek Apa is second on the team with 16 appearances and is 2-0 with a 6.33 ERA and three saves this year, acting as the primary closer for the Skylanders. Apa, in 21.1 innings, has given up 19 runs, 15 earned, on 29 hits, while striking out 25 and walking just six. Apa threw a season-best three innings in his last appearance, starting against Orange last week. He gave up three runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts. His saves have come against Northern Essex, Henry Ford, and Delaware Tech CC this season. The DTCC save came on April 19^th, where he pitched an inning of scoreless relief, striking out a pair in the 8-6 win. Against Lackawanna, he appeared once, pitched a clean 1.2 innings and striking out two in the 6-0 loss on April 4^th. In his last relief appearance, Apa got the win, pitching a third of an inning and allowing one hit, while striking out a batter in the 8-7 win against Morris on April 27^th.
 
Ramadan Mehmedi, a Sussex County CC graduate who played baseball for the Skylanders, is the man in charge, now in his 12^th season at the helm. Mehmedi has guided the Skylanders to the Region XIX DII playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Mehmedi has won 20+ games in three-straight seasons and has four different seasons where he has guided Sussex to 20+ wins. Mehmedi has gone 198-217 in his time in charge of the Skylanders.
 
About #1 Mercer County CC
The Vikings (32-16) enter the weekend as both the hosts and the top-seed, meaning they will always have the home field advantage when it comes to batting. Mercer, after taking 2-of-3 against Lackawanna back in mid-April, has stumbled a bit, going 6-6, which includes a three-game slide to Gloucester, Brookdale, and then Gloucester again to end April. The Vikes bounced back with a wild 28-20 win against Camden on Saturday, May 3^rd, in their last game. The DIII Cougars trailed to Mercer, 12-6, after four innings, then outscored Mercer 10-1 over the next two innings to go ahead, 16-13, after six. Mercer then turned the tables on Camden, scoring 14 runs in the final three innings to pull away. The game featured 39 combined hits, 14 errors, including nine from Camden alone, 14 combined extra-base hits, 19 stolen bases, and then pitching changes.
 
Other than Lackawanna, Mercer County has been one of the best teams in the region, in terms of winning Region XIX championships. The Vikings have won the region six times since 2014, which includes a smattering of NJCAA Division II World Series runs. Mercer last made the World Series in 2022, winning three games, including two elimination games, to make the semi-final round, before bowing out to eventual runner-up, Madison College. The Vikings were champions last year, but lost to Westchester in the first round of the East District tournament, then got upset but Sullivan in the elimination game. Westchester won the district and went on to the World Series.
 
Mercer enters the playoffs hitting .330 as a team, with a combined OPS of .950. The Vikings have scored 381 runs in 48 games, a 7.9 runs per game average. The Vikings have 162 extra-base hits, which includes 104 doubles, 18 triples, and 40 home runs. The Vikings are fourth in doubles in all of Region XIX, and they are tied for third in the region in home runs this year. Mercer has struck out 302 times and walked 224 times this season, and the Vikings have 137 stolen bases this year. They've also been hit by 74 combined pitches this year.
 
The Vikings' pitching staff has a 5.76 ERA, giving up 295 runs, 222 earned, on 365 hits in 346.2 innings on the year. Opponents have struck out 322 times, while drawing 215 walks. Opponents are hitting .275 against the Vikings this season, and they have 109 stolen bases this year.
 
Defensively, the Vikings have 81 errors and a .946 fielding percentage, catching seven runners stealing and forcing ten double plays this year.
 
First-year player Jordan Raba is hitting .435 on the season and leads the team with 73 hits, first in all of Region XIX, in 47 games. Raba has scored 58 runs, most on the team, and has 24 extra-base hits, a team-high. Jordan also leads the Vikings with 18 doubles and 34 walks this season. He has a 1.153 OPS, with a .534 on-base percentage and a .619 slugging percentage. Raba has 25 RBIs this year and had stolen 24 bases on the year, second on the team. Raba has 21 multi-hit games on the year and enters the weekend on a 15-game hitting streak. Raba was 5-for-7 with three runs, a triple, and five RBIs in the win against Camden last Saturday. Against Morris this season, he was a combined 4-for-11 with two runs and two doubles. Raba has 63 putouts and 55 assists on the season, posting a .929 fielding percentage and helping turn eight double plays.
 
Sophomore Jake Pope is hitting .371 on the season with 59 total hits in 48 games. Pope has scored 49 runs, second on the squad, and he has ten doubles and 30 RBIs. Pope has a .948 OPS this year, with 23 walks and a team-best 29 stolen bases. Pope has 17 multi-hit games this year and had a career day against Camden last weekend, when he was 4-for-6 with four runs, a season-high six RBIs, two triples, and one double. Pope was a combined 3-for-11 with two runs, a double, and one RBI in three games against Morris earlier this season. Pope has 84 putouts and a team-high 103 assists on the year, posting a .959 fielding percentage and turning 14 double plays.
 
Sophomore catcher Owen Friddell has a .384 batting average, second on the team, and has 48 hits in 39 games this season. Friddell has scored 40 runs, third on the team, and has 35 RBIs, second this year. Friddell has 15 extra-base knocks, including nine doubles and five home runs, tied for the team-high. Friddell has 12 walks and ten stolen bases. Friddell's .592 slugging percentage is second on the squad, and he has a 1.045 OPS this season. Friddell has 15 multi-hit games this season. He was 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBIs, and a homer in the 14-13 loss to Gloucester on May 1^st. He had five combined hits and five RBIs in the three games against Lackawanna earlier this season. Against Morris, he was 3-for-5 with four runs, two RBIs, and two homers in a 6-2 game one victory, then added a double in the other two games. Friddell has caught 12 runners stealing this season, and he has 20 assists from his position behind the plate this year.
 
Sophomore Joey Socorro is fourth on the team with 42 total hits in 34 games, hitting .353 this year. Socorro has scored 34 runs and has five homers, tied with Friddell and Geno Bianco for the team-high, with a team-best 39 RBIs. Socorro has eight doubles and two triples, while drawing eleven walks and stealing four bases. He has a 1.004 OPS this season. Socorro has 14 multi-hit games this season, including his last three contests. In his last three, Socorro was 6-for-14 with five runs, six RBIs, and three doubles. He was 2-for-6 with three runs, two doubles, and two RBIs in the win at Camden last weekend. Socorro was a combined 3-for-12 with two runs and an RBI in three games against Morris earlier this year. Socorro has seven assists in the field and has caught four runners stealing this year.
 
Sophomore pitcher Collin Williams has made ten appearances this year and is 8-0 with a sparkling 1.91 ERA. In 47 innings, Williams has given up just 12 runs, ten earned, on 30 hits, striking out a team-high 66 batters and walking 34 this season. Williams has struck out seven or more batters in six games this season, striking out ten or more batters in three games. Williams struck out ten in six innings against Itasca back on March 15^th, allowing five hits and no runs in the 4-0 win. His best game came against Del Tech on April 5^th, striking out a season-high eleven batters and allowing no runs on three hits in six innings of the 6-0 win against DTCC. Williams got the win in his start against Morris on March 22^nd, striking out eight in four innings, giving up a run on three hits in the 5-3 victory for the Vikings. He has not pitched since April 25^th, allowing two runs on five hits in three innings of an 11-5 loss to Harford CC.

Sophomore pitcher Matteo Mannino has made ten appearances, all starts, going 5-5 with a 4.79 ERA this season. Mannino has thrown 47 innings, allowing 40 runs, 25 earned, on 69 hits. Mannino has 24 strikeouts and eight walks this season. Mannino's best game came against Delaware Tech on April 4^th, allowing just two hits in eight innings of a 10-0 victory. He posted a season-high five strikeouts against Raritan Valley CC on April 19^th, allowing four runs on ten hits in seven innings of a 16-4 win. He took the loss in his last game, giving up 12 runs, only four earned, in just two innings against Brookdale on April 30^th. He got the win in his start against Morris, allowing just one run on six hits in five innings of the 6-2 win back on March 21^st.
 
Sophomore pitcher Michael Whitmore is tied for the most appearances on the team this season with 16, and he's 2-0 with six saves and a 1.66 ERA this year. In 21.2 innings, Whitmore has given up 12 runs, four earned, on 19 hits, while striking out 23 and walking eight. Whitmore set a season-high with six strikeouts in three innings against Rockland on March 1^st, picking up the win in the 5-4 victory. He picked up a save against Morris earlier this season, giving up an unearned run on two hits in an inning of work. In his last outing, Whitmore gave up three runs, all earned, on two hits in an inning against Camden last Saturday.

The head coach for the Vikings is Russ Stupienski, who is in his third year in charge of the Vikings. Russ was an assistant with the squad for two different stints since 2012, taking over when Fred Carella stepped down after the 2022 World Series run. Stupienski is a New Jersey native, where he was an outstanding baseball player at Northern Burlington HS, before moving on to attend Mercer for two seasons in 2009 and 2010. He was an All GSAC selection his sophomore year, and he went on to play at St. Peter's College, where he led the Peacocks in hits his senior season. Stupienski spent five years as an assistant at Mercer under coach Kevin Kerins, before leaving to be the JV and assistant baseball coach at Limestone College in South Carolina for two seasons. He returned in 2019 as an assistant. Stupienski has guided the Vikings to an 88-62 record in his three years, winning a Region XIX DII championship last year.
 
About #4 County College of Morris
The Titans (21-21) started the year strong at 12-4, but have struggled down the stretch, going 2-6 in their final eight, including a four-game losing streak heading into the tournament. In its last game, Morris fell 10-0 to Brookdale in a single nine-inning contest on Friday, May 2^nd. The D3 Jersey Blues held the Titans to just four hits, scoring seven runs in the first two innings and coasting to victory. Brookdale hit four doubles, a triple, and a homer, while striking out the Titans eight times.
 
Morris hasn't had a ton of postseason success, finishing second a handful of times to both the Falcons and Mercer over the years. Recently, the Titans have found themselves with losses on the first days of action, losing to Lackawanna in both 2023 and 2024. Last year, the Titans won the elimination game to get to the next day, before falling to the Falcons again, 5-4, in a game that ended when Lackawanna College drew five straight walks.
 
The Titans are hitting .309 as a team this season, posting a .841 OPS. They have scored 348 runs on the year, averaging 8.3 runs per game. Morris has 86 extra-base hits, hitting 61 doubles and 18 triples this year. The Titans have drawn 269 walks, while striking out 290 times. They have also stolen 164 bases this year.
 
As a pitching staff, Morris holds a collective 5.62 ERA on the season. The Titans have given up 257 runs, 185 earned, on 315 hits in 296.1 innings. They have struck out 297 batters, while walking 214 and giving up 16 homers. The opposition has hit .274 against the Titans this season.
 
Defensively, the Titans have committed 73 errors and have a .715 fielding percentage on the year. They have turned five double plays and caught two runners stealing this season.
 
First-year player Josh Brancy is tied for the team-high with 57 hits this season, averaging .377 at the plate in 42 games. Brancy has scored 57 runs, second on the Titans this season, while posting 34 RBIs and nine extra-base hits, including seven doubles and two triples. Brancy has drawn 28 walks, fourth on the team this year, and has 35 stolen bases, second on the team. Brancy has a .929 OPS, posting a .479 OBP, third on the team. Brancy has 18 multi-hit games this year, including a stretch of five of six games in early March. He had a three-game stretch against Raritan where he was 9-for-12 with eight runs. Brancy was 1-for-6 with a run against Rockland on April 29^th, while going 0-for-3 against Brookdale on May 2^nd. Against Mercer, Brancy was a combined 3-for-13 in all three games.
 
Sophomore Jimmy Turchi also has 57 hits this season, posting a .390 batting average through 42 games this year. Turchi has scored 39 runs this year, and leads the team with 16 doubles, along with four homers. Turchi also leads the Titans in extra-base hits (22), RBIs (65), batting average (.390), OPS (1.128), OBP (.505), and slugging (.623). Turchi leads the region in RBIs this year. Turchi has 17 multi-hit games this season, including a stretch of seven straight games for two weeks in April. He had a 4-for-5 showing against Columbia-Greene on March 12^th, driving in six RBIs with a double. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles and five RBIs in a win against Bergen on April 16^th. Turchi has a hit in 14 of his last 15 games. He was 2-for-3 with four runs and an RBI against Rockland on April 29^th, then had a hit in the loss to Brookdale on May 2^nd. Against Mercer in three games, he was 2-for-11 with two RBIs and a run in three games.
 
Sophomore infielder Avery Whitney has 54 total hits and a .375 batting average in 42 games this season. Whitney leads the Titans with 58 runs, while posting 26 RBIs on six doubles and a triple. He has 31 walks and a team-best 37 stolen bases. Whitney has a .934 OPS, with a .503 OBP this season. Whitney has 15 multi-hit games this year. Whitney had a 4-for-5 showing against SUNY Orange on April 22^nd, scoring four runs and driving in five RBIs. Against Rockland, he was 2-for-4 with three runs on April 29^th. In his last game against Brookdale, Whitney was 1-for-3 in the loss. Whitney was a combined 2-for-11 with three runs and a double in three games with the Vikings.
 
Sophomore player Myles Nova has 38 hits and a .311 batting average in 36 games this year. Nova has scored 27 runs, hitting five doubles, three triples, and a homer on the year. Nova has also driven in 31 RBIs, drawing 13 walks and stealing 17 bases on the year. Nova has a .826 OPS on the year. Nova has eight multi-hit games on the year. He was 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs against Rockland on April 29^th. He was 0-for-3 against Brookdale last weekend. He was a combined 3-for-10 with an RBI in three games with Mercer in March.
 
Sophomore pitcher Derek Bartek has ten appearances this season, pitching 34 innings and posting an 8.47 ERA on the year. Bartek has allowed 35 runs, 32 earned, on 46 hits. He has struck out a season-best 47 batters, while walking 24 on the year. In all but two of his appearances, Bartek had six or more strikeouts. He twice had a season-high seven strikeouts, posting seven K's against Cecil College on March 8^th, and then again against Sussex on April 15^th. Bartek didn't get a decision in his last start, giving up five runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings against Sussex. Morris rallied to tie the game, only to see Sussex take the lead back in the eighth. In his last appearance, he pitched 0.2 innings against Brookdale in relief, giving up a run on a hit. In his game against Mercer, Bartek took the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out six in the 4-2 loss on March 22^nd.
 
Sophomore hurler Donovan Hughes also has ten appearances, pitching in 34 innings and posting a 4.76 ERA. Hughes has given up 31 runs, 18 earned, on 39 hits this year. He has struck out 38 and walked 27 this year. His best game came against SUNY Orange on April 22^nd, allowing just one run on one hit, striking out a season-best nine batters in six innings in a 15-1 win against the Colts. Hughes took the loss in his last start, giving up seven runs on six hits in two innings against Brookdale last weekend. He took the loss in his game against Morris on March 21^st, allowing four runs on six hits in five innings, striking out five in the loss.
 
Pitcher Ryan Iberer has the most appearances on the team this year, pitching 16 times this year. Iberer has a 5.79 ERA, allowing 22 runs, 18 earned, on 27 hits in 28 innings this year. Iberer has struck out 35 batters, third on the team, while walking 23. Iberer struck out a season-best eight batters against Nassau on March 1^st, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings of a 7-6 win for the Titans. He gave up four runs on a hit in 1.1 innings against Rockland on April 29^th. His last appearance was 0.2 innings against Brookdale last weekend, keeping things scoreless in his outing. He made one appearance against Mercer, giving up a run on two hits in two innings, while walking three in a 5-3 loss to the Vikings on March 22^nd.
 
The head coach for Morris is Joe Matarazzo, in his second season in charge of the Titans. Morris was 30-15 in his first year, their best year since 2019. He is 51-36 in his two years leading Morris.
 
What's At Stake
The double-elimination tournament will start on Thursday, May 8^th, with two games at 10:00am ET. The matchups are:
 
Game 1: (1) Mercer County CC vs. (4) County College of Morris, 10:00am ET at Mercer County CC Baseball Field
Game 2: (2) Lackawanna College vs. (3) Sussex County CC, 10:00am ET at Mercer County Park Baseball Field
 
The winners will play in a semi-final match-up at 2:00pm ET. The losing teams will play in an elimination game at 2:00pm ET. Mercer will play at its home field, regardless of whether it wins or loses its first game.
 
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Elimination Game, 2:00pm ET
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Semi-Final Game, 2:00pm ET
 
On Friday, May 9^th, the winner from game three and the loser from game four will play in another elimination game at 10:00am ET at Mercer County CC Baseball Field. The winner from that game will face the remaining unbeaten squad in a region championship game at 2:00pm ET.
 
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, Elimination Game, 10:00am ET
Game 6: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, Region XIX Championship, 2:00pm ET
 
If the team with one loss defeats the undefeated team, there will be a winner-take-all Region XIX championship game set for 11:00am ET on Saturday, May 10^th, at Mercer County CC Baseball Field.
 
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, Region XIX Championship, 11:00am ET (IF NECESSARY)
 
Only the games played at Mercer County CC baseball field will have a video livestream available, via the Mercer County CC Vimeo channel, linked HERE. So, the two games that will be played at Mercer County Park on Thursday, including Lackawanna College's game with Sussex, will not have a video livestream available.
 
The Region XIX DII champion and the runner-up will advance to the East District tournament, to be held on May 16^th and 17^th at the Region XIX champion's home site. The other participating teams will be the Region XV champion and the winner of the sub-district playoff between Monroe CC and UConn Avery Point. The winner of the district tournament will punch its ticket to Enid, Oklahoma for the NJCAA Division II World Series.