5/6/26

SCRANTON, Pa. – Despite an up-and-down 2026, Lackawanna College baseball will do its best to gear up for a Region XIX Division II title defense, as the Falcons and three other squads in Region XIX square off this coming weekend in the Region XIX DII tournament at Mercer County CC in West Windsor Twp., NJ, starting on Thursday, May 7^th.
 
The Falcons (19-26-1) will be the three-seed, and are set to take on two-seed Sussex County CC (27-16) at 10:00am ET on Thursday at Mercer County Park, adjacent to Mercer County CC. Meanwhile, at Mercer County CC's home field on campus, the top-seeded Mustangs (30-13-1) will square off with fourth-seed Raritan Valley CC (18-16) at the same time. The double-elimination tournament lays out like this:
 
Thursday 5/7
Game 1: (1) Mercer County CC [30-13-1] vs. (4) Raritan Valley CC [18-16], 10:00am ET (MCCC Baseball Field)
Game 2: (2) Sussex County CC [27-16] vs. (3) Lackawanna College [19-26-1], 10:00am ET (Mercer County Park)
Game 3: TBD vs. (1) Mercer County CC, 2:00pm ET (MCCC Baseball Field)
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD, 2:00pm ET (Mercer County Park)
 
Friday 5/8
Game 5: Elimination Game, 10:00am ET (MCCC Baseball Field)
Game 6: Region XIX DII Championship Game, 2:00pm ET (MCCC Baseball Field)
 
Saturday 5/9
Game 7 (If Necessary): Region XIX DII Championship Game, 11:00am ET (MCCC Baseball Field)
 
On Thursday, no matter the result of its first game, Mercer County CC will play the second session on its home field. The result will determine whether that be in a semi-final or an elimination game. The winner of Thursday's 2:00pm elimination game will face the loser of Thursday's 2:00pm semi-final contest in an elimination game on Friday at 10:00am. The winner of that game will advance to the Region XIX DII title game at 2:00pm. The unbeaten team can win the title outright with a victory that afternoon. If the one-loss team is victorious, a winner-take-all game is scheduled for Saturday at 11:00am.
 
Only the Region XIX Division II champion can advance to next weekend's East District tournament, being hosted by the champion out of Region XV.
 
#1 Mercer County CC (30-13-1, 12-3) vs. #4 Raritan Valley CC (18-16, 5-10)
Mercer County will square off with Raritan Valley CC on Thursday at 10:00am ET on its home field to get things started. The Mustangs, the top-seed for the third-straight season, seek a redemption from last year, when they fell to Lackawanna at home in the region title game, then flamed out in the East District tournament the next weekend at Lackawanna College. Mercer swept past Raritan Valley in its season series, winning on April 10^th and April 11^th by scores of 23-10, 18-1, and 8-3.
 
Mercer has been a model of consistency, but the Mustangs are seeking a berth in the World Series for the first time since 2022. Mercer has won six region championships since 2014, including the 2024 tournament. However, the Mustangs were upset at Westchester in the East District tourney that season, and were denied a chance to return to Enid. Last year's squad entered as the top-seed and odds-on favorite, but dropped a semi-final game to Lackawanna, then fell in the championship game after battling through an elimination game against Sussex. Mercer still qualified for the East District the next weekend, but fell in a nail-biter to UConn Avery Point in the first round, then dropped the elimination game to SUNY Rockland CC the next day, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the Mustangs heading into this season.
 
This year's team was the best in the region, once again, but enters the tournament 3-3 through its final six games. The Mustangs dropped a doubleheader to Harford CC at home, where they only scored one run through the pair of contests. They then swept Salem CC on the road, followed by a win at nationally ranked Brookdale CC, before falling to RCSJ Gloucester, 20-1, in seven innings last week.
 
Offensively, the Mustangs are proficient, 12^th in the country in doubles (122) and 14^th in triples (20) this season. Mercer averages around 9.8 runs per contest, and is inside the top 30, nationally, in extra-base hits (185). Mercer is also 12^th in the country in batting average (.350).
 
As a pitching staff, Mercer has a collective 6.70 ERA. Opponents are hitting .282 against the Mustangs, and have struck out 266 times.
 
Raritan, meanwhile, enters the tournament as the four-seed, into the region final four for the first time since 2021. The Lions did participate in a play-in game against Sussex in 2024, but fell in two games and failed to make the final four that season. Before 2021, the Lions had not made the tournament field since at least 2012. Raritan was a Division III member for some time in the late 90's and early 2000's, before bumping up to Division II.
 
This year's team is 18-16 overall, the first time in forever that Raritan has had a winning record. Despite getting swept in its final region series against Sussex, Raritan has had some important wins down the stretch, including victories over SUNY Westchester (24-16) and SUNY Rockland (17-2) last week in nonconference play.
 
As a team, the Lions hit .329 at the plate, posting 30 home runs, 48 doubles, and 23 triples. Raritan has a solid .448 OBP, and the Lions have drawn 181 walks this year, while striking out 241 times.
 
The pitching staff for Raritan has a 9.12 ERA this year. Opponents are hitting .340 against Lions pitching, and they have posted 79 doubles and 38 homers. Raritan has thrown out 16 runners trying to steal this season.
 
These are the projected lineups for each team heading into Thursday's contest. Please note, these are not predictions, nor are they finalized, and they are subject to change:
 
Mercer
(1) – Jordan Raba, SS (.491 BA, 66 runs, 38 RBIs, 28 BBs, 1.281 OPS, 19 2Bs, 5 3Bs)
(2) – Mikey Amrhein, CF (.358 BA, 57 runs, 22 HBPs, 1.147 OPS, 50 RBIs, 25 BBs, 18 2Bs, 7 HRs)
(3) – Shaniel Maldonado, 1B (.393 BA, 1.187 OPS, 49 RBIs, 13 2Bs, 8 HRs)
(4) – Geno Bianco, 3B (.336 BA, 42 runs, 34 RBIs, 14 HBPs, 12 2Bs, 4 HRs)
(5) – Kevin Stewart, RF (.329 BA, 46 runs, 37 RBIs, 22 BBs, 13 2Bs)
(6) – Anthony Crudo, DH (.351 BA, 41 RBIs, 1.107 OPS, 12 2Bs, 7 HRs)
(7) – Slade Harrill, LF (.349 BA, 22 RBIs, 24 BBs, 6 2Bs)
(8) – Quaran Williams, 2B (.374 BA, 44 runs, 26 RBIs, 24 BBs, 10 2Bs)
(9) – Josh Hernandez, C (.323 BA, 14 RBIs, 3 2Bs)
 
Raritan Valley CC
(1) – Nick Sellitti, CF (.375 BA, 39 runs, 30 RBIs, 4 3Bs, 4 HRs, 14 SBs, 1.016 OPS)
(2) – Anthony DeNora, LF (.357 BA, 32 RBIs, 23 BBs, 9 2Bs, 7 HRs, .745 SLG, 1.225 OPS)
(3) – Tommy Baase, SS (.432 BA, 48 runs, 47 RBIs, 19 BBs, 9 HRs, 4 3Bs, 1.347 OPS, .802 SLG)
(4) – Mike Shipula, 1B (.438 BA, 34 RBIs, .567 OBP, 1.211 OPS)
(5) – Jesse Lance, RF (.400 BA, 25 runs, 35 RBIs, 6 2Bs, 1.061 OPS, .531 OBP)
(6) – Andrew Kessler, DH (.297 BA, 17 RBIs, 3 2Bs, 2 HRs, 10 BBs)
(7) – Miky Tavarez, 2B (.307 BA, 18 RBIs, 3 HRs, 11 BBs)
(8) – Joey Sanchez, C (.191 BA, 13 RBIs, 14 BBs, 3 2Bs)
(9) – Benjamin Hernandez, 3B (.346 BA, 37 runs, 13 RBIs, 20 BBs, 6 2Bs)
 
Mercer's Jordan Raba is a standout player, with his .491 batting average placing him seventh in the country. He's 15^th across the nation in triples (5) and top 15 in total hits (79). His 66 runs are top 40, and he's 12^th in OBP (.573). He's got 25 games with two or more hits, and was a combined 9-for-15 (.600 BA) in three games against Raritan, driving in six runs in the trio of victories back on April 10^th and 11^th. He had three doubles that weekend, along with a homer.
 
For Raritan, the two-headed attack of Mike Shipula and Tommy Baase makes the Lions dangerous at the top of the lineup. Shipula, who had missed some games through the early parts of the schedule, leads the team with a .438 batting average, driving in 34 runs in 23 appearances. He has a 1.211 OPS so far this season, posting four doubles and three homers. He had a combined three hits against Mercer earlier this season. Baase is second on the team at .432, driving in a team-best 47 runs and scoring a team-high 48 runs. Baase leads the Lions in homers with nine, has four triples, and boasts a 1.347 OPS this season. Baase has 12 games with two or more hits this season. He was a combined 4-for-11 with three RBIs against Mercer this season.
 
Pitching-wise, Mercer has three solid starters at the top of the rotation, with Shaniel Maldonado pitching a team-high 42.1 innings this year and going 4-3 in eight appearances with a 5.31 ERA. Maldonado has truck out 38 batters and walked 20, allowing 28 runs, 25 earned, on 45 hits this year. Behind him, John Koch has thrown 40 innings, going 4-3 in ten appearances with a 5.40 ERA. Koch leads the team with 50 strikeouts, but has walked 36 batters. He has allowed 40 runs, just 24 earned, on 39 hits. Finally, Slade Harrill has thrown 36.1 innings and gone 5-1 in seven appearances. Harrill has a 4.71 ERA and has struck out 45 batters, allowing just 21 runs on 39 hits.
 
Raritan also has a trio of starters that can see action this weekend. Ben Linzer leads the team with 51 innings pitched, posting a 7.24 ERA and a 4-3 record in 13 appearances. Linzer has given up 52 runs, 41 earned, on 69 hits, striking out a team-best 63 batters this season. Kevin Pepe is second on the team at 45.2 innings pitched this season, going 3-3 in ten appearances with a staff-best 5.32 ERA. Pepe has given up 41 runs, 27 earned, on 55 hits, while striking out 44 batters and walking 22. Ray Nault is another potential starter for the Lions, giving up 62 runs, 39 earned, in 41.2 innings. He has a 3-3 record in eleven appearances, with an 8.42 ERA.
 
Mercer's head coach is Russ Stupienski, into his fourth season in charge of the program. 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 a 119-79-1 record in his four years, winning a Region XIX DII championship in 2024.
 
Raritan Valley is led by Dan Mondelli, now in his fourth season in charge of the program. Mondelli was an associate head coach at County College of Morris before coming to Raritan, and has been involved in coaching baseball at the collegiate and high school levels for 35 years. Mondelli's first team took its lumps, but he got the 2024 squad to 16-18 and into the region playoffs via the play-in game. After a dip last season, he's got Raritan above .500 and into the region playoffs final four for the first time since 2021. Mondelli is 47-83-1 in his four seasons in charge.
 
#2 Sussex County CC (27-16, 12-3) vs. #3 Lackawanna College (19-26-1, 10-5)
In game two, the second-seed Sussex County CC will play defending champion Lackawanna College, the third-seed in this year's tournament. The Skylanders swept the Falcons earlier in the season, winning games on March 27^th and 28^th by scores of 13-7, 6-5, and 10-9. Lackawanna, in each game, held a late lead, only to see the Skylanders rally to win.
 
Sussex has now qualified for the region tournament for the fourth-straight season, and is hoping to prove it belongs. The Skylanders fell last year on day two of the tournament, blowing a lead and falling to Lackawanna College in game one, before beating Morris in game two, then dropping to Mercer the next day in the elimination game. The Skylanders went 0-for-2 in 2024, and fell on day two to Delaware Tech CC in an elimination game in Scranton in 2023. Coincidentally, this is the fourth-straight season where Sussex has won 24 or more games.
 
The 2026 squad has won 27 games, with only three losses in region play (two to Mercer), and the Skylanders come into the tournament after dropping a pair of games against UConn Avery Point this past Sunday. Before that, the Skylanders had won six-straight. The offense has been great for Sussex, hitting .343 as a team this season and posting a collective 1.013 OPS. The Skylanders average 9.8 runs per game this season, hitting 101 doubles and 36 home runs this year. They have 292 walks to just 158 strikeouts, along with 17 stolen bases.
 
Defensively, the pitching staff has limited opponents to a .311 batting average and has a 7.88 ERA this season. The Skylanders have struck out 202 opponents in 282 innings, giving up 336 runs, 247 earned, on 336 hits and walking 212 batters. The squad has a .933 fielding percentage and has five double plays turned this season.
 
Defending champion Lackawanna College enters as the third-seed in this year's tournament. Lackawanna College has won ten 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 four times in the seven previous years under coach Mike McCarry. Last year, the Falcons won three-straight games to win the region tournament, twice besting Mercer County CC, which spurred Lackawanna on to win the East District the next weekend and make the DII World Series.
 
The 2026 team comes in sputtering a bit, having dropped its last seven contests after winning ten-straight to get to .500. The Falcons have hit over 50 home runs (52 to be exact), but struggle at the plate, striking out 320 times and hitting just .291 this year as a team. Lackawanna averages 8.7 runs per game, and the Falcons have hit 84 doubles this year, while stealing 105 bases. The Falcons have drawn 268 walks and been hit by 81 pitches.
 
On the bump, the Falcons have a collective 10.33 ERA. Getting strikeouts hasn't been an issue, as the Falcons have struck out 326 batters this season, but opponents are hitting .311 against Lackawanna College, posting nearly identical extra-base numbers (84 doubles, 50 homers) and scoring 458 runs on 421 hits in a collective 323.1 innings. Lackawanna has issued 283 walks this year. Defensive miscues have hurt the Falcons this year, as well, as Lackawanna has a .926 fielding percentage and 105 errors in the field. The Falcons have turned 15 double plays, however, and have thrown out 26 runners trying to steal.
 
The projected lineups for each side are below:
 
Sussex County CC
(1) – Seiji Umezawa, SS (.397 BA, 1.182 OPS, .527 OBP, 47 runs, 33 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 20 SBs, 30 BBs)
(2) – Mike Porzio, CF (.33 BA, 1.072 OPS, 56 runs, 9 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 5 HRs, 31 RBIs, 36 BBs, 44 SBs)
(3) – Reed Peterson, LF (.417 BA, 1.246 OPS, .733 SLG, .513 OBP, 47 runs, 48 RBIs, 13 2Bs, 7 HRs, 18 BBs)
(4) – Joseph Suero, 3B (.292 BA, .929 OPS, 21 runs, 7 2Bs, 4 HRs, 29 RBIs, 20 BBs)
(5) – Zakary Dodier, DH (.443 BA, 1.177 OPS, .506 OBP, 23 runs, 8 2Bs, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs)
(6) – Nick Struble, 2B (.444 BA, 1.188 OPS, .583 OBP, 41 runs, 6 2Bs, 35 RBIs, 21 BBs)
(7) – Bryce Cross, RF (.344 BA, .911 OPS, 31 runs, 8 2Bs, 3 HRs, 43 RBIs)
(8) – Mitchell Doucette, 1B (.214 BA, 15 runs, 5 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 13 RBIs, 19 BBs)
(9) – Derik Toutant, C (.308 BA, .879 OPS, 4 2Bs, 17 RBIs, 10 BBs)
 
Lackawanna College
(1) – Julian Abreu, 2B (.296 BA, 1.078 OPS, .496 OBP, 42 runs, 10 2Bs, 6 HRs, 29 RBIs, 26 BBs)
(2) – Deacon Brown, RF (.344 BA, 1.077 OPS, .630 SLG, 42 runs, 9 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 9 HRs, 45 RBIs, 23 BBs)
(3) – Jake Virbitsky, LF (.366 BA, 1.094 OPS, .506 OBP, 12 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 37 RBIs, 38 runs, 33 BBs)
(4) – Sean Moore, 1B (.328 BA, .868 OPS, 31 runs, 10 2Bs, 33 RBIs, 18 BBs)
(5) – Hunter Austra, DH/C (.284 BA, .957 OPS, 29 runs, 7 2Bs, 6 HRs, 29 RBIs, 22 BBs)
(6) – Danny Stickney, C/DH (.294 BA, 1.081 OPS, 49 runs, 7 2Bs, 10 HRs, 45 RBIs, .635 SLG, 33 BBs)
(7) – Kolton Haifley, 3B (.234 BA, 18 runs, 7 2Bs, 4 HRs, 21 RBIs, 17 BBs)
(8) – Jose Soquiel, CF (.340 BA, .862 OPS, 15 runs, 2 2Bs, 10 RBIs, 5 BBs)
(9) – Mark Zuppo, SS (.210 BA, 37 runs, 7 2Bs, 3 HRs, 24 RBIs, 30 BBs, 11 SBs)
 
The speedy Seiji Umezawa is an on-base machine for Sussex, posting a .527 OBP and 20 SBs so far this season, while scoring 47 runs, second on the team, and hitting 12 doubles for 33 RBIs. Umezawa is also second on the team with 30 walks this year. Umezawa has 14 multi-hit games this year, and he was a combined 2-for-9 with five walks, five runs, and two RBIs against Lackawanna College in three games. Sussex also relies on Reed Peterson, who plays the outfield and doubles as a pitcher. Peterson leads the team in total hits (50) and has a .417 batting average this year. Peterson also leads the team with a 1.246 OPS, scoring 47 runs and hitting a team-high seven homers for 48 RBIs. He has 16 multi-hit games this season, and was a combined 4-for-10 with three runs, a double, and six RBIs against Lackawanna College in two games.
 
The two main production points for Lackawanna College at the plate come from the outfield, in left fielder Jake Virbitsky (Media, PA) and right fielder Deacon Brown (Williamsport, PA). Virbitsky leads the Falcons with a .366 average and has a team-best 1.094 OPS. He has 12 doubles, first on the squad, and has four triples and three homers for 37 RBIs. Virbitsky is tied for the team lead with 33 walks this year, and has a team-high .506 OBP. Virbitsky has 13 multi-hit games on the year. He was a combined 3-for-8 with two runs, a triple, and a two-run homer against Sussex in three games. Brown, an honorable mention All-American last year, is hitting .344 this season. He leads the Falcons in total hits (53) and has nine doubles, four triples, and nine home runs for a team-best 45 RBIs. Deacon has 23 walks and has stolen nine bases this season. He's got 13 multi-hit games on the year, and he was a combined 2-for-10 with three runs, a double, and an RBI in three games against Sussex.
 
Sophomore pitcher Alejandro Garcia has the most innings pitched for Sussex, throwing 38.1 innings in eight appearances, going 4-2 with a 5.63 ERA. Garcia has given up 36 runs, 24 earned, on 50 hits, while striking out a team-best 33 batters. Second on the team is Mike Struck, who has made eleven appearances and thrown 36 innings, going 4-1 with a 7.25 ERA. Struck has allowed 48 runs, 29 earned, on 54 hits, while striking out 17 and walking eleven. The aforementioned Peterson is 2-1 in eight appearances, pitching 25 innings with a 2.52 ERA. Peterson has allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 15 hits, while striking out 20 batters this year.
 
Lackawanna has a trio of reliable starters for the weekend, and it starts with Makai Day (South Williamsport, PA), who leads the team with 49.1 innings pitched this year, going 3-2 in 13 appearances with a 5.29 ERA. Day has 54 strikeouts and has allowed 37 runs, 29 earned, on 53 hits, with 25 walks. Josiah Williams (Emmaus, PA) is second on the team with 45.1 innings thrown this year, going 4-6 in 13 appearances with a high 11.91 ERA. Williams has struck out 50 batters, second on the team, and he has allowed 69 runs, 60 earned, on 70 hits. He's also walked a team-high 39 batters. Nico Nattle (Phoenixville, PA) has thrown 40.1 innings, going 3-2 in eleven appearances with a 4.02 ERA. Nattle has struck out 39 batters, allowing 25 runs, 18 earned, on 35 hits this season. Nattle has typically been the Friday/first game of the series starter, with Williams and Day splitting the rest of the weekend.
 
Ramadan Mehmedi, a Sussex County CC graduate who played baseball for the Skylanders, is the man in charge, now in his 13^th season at the helm. Mehmedi has won 20+ games in four-straight seasons and now has five different seasons where he has guided Sussex to 20+ wins. Mehmedi has gone 226-235 in his time in charge of the Skylanders.
 
The head coach for the Falcons is Mike McCarry, now in his eighth 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 previous seven 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. Last year's team won six-straight playoff games on the way to a region and district title, qualifying for the Division II 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 219-144-1 in his career at Lackawanna.
 
The 2026 Region XIX DII Baseball Tournament
WHEN: Thursday, May 7^th, Friday May 8^th, and Saturday, May 9^th
WHERE: Mercer County CC (1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor Township, NJ, 08550)
WATCH: Mercer County CC YouTube Page (Only Mercer County CC Games/Games At Mercer's Field)
WHO: (1) Mercer County CC, (2) Sussex County CC, (3) Lackawanna College, (4) Raritan Valley CC
 
Tournament Schedule (Double Elimination):
***Games 3 and 4 sites will be determined by the result from Game 1. Mercer will play on its home field regardless of winning or losing game one***
Game 1: (1) Mercer County CC vs. (4) Raritan Valley CC (5/7/26, 10AM at Mercer County CC)
Game 2: (2) Sussex County CC vs. (3) Lackawanna (5/7/26, 10AM at Mercer County Park)
Game 3: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser (5/7/26, 2PM at Mercer County CC OR Mercer County Park)
Game 4: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner (5/7/26, 2PM at Mercer County CC OR Mercer County Park)
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser (5/8/26, 10AM at Mercer County CC)
Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner (5/8/26, 2PM at Mercer County CC)
Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (5/9/26, 11AM at Mercer County CC) *IF NECESSARY*
 
What's At Stake:
The team that finishes the weekend as the Region XIX DII champion will advance to the NJCAA East District tournament, which is being held next weekend at the home site of the Region XV champion in New York. The Region XIX champion, along with the sub-regional winner between Monroe CC and UConn Avery Point, will take on the Region XV champion and runner-up. The winner of that weekend's tournament will be named the East region champion and advance to the NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series, happening in Enid, Oklahoma from Saturday, May 23^rd through Saturday, May 30^th.