Bloordale Baseball alumni, Michael Ferracuti just finished playing in the NJCAA College World Series in Tyler Texas. His team (Erie CC Kats) did great, going 2 – 2 and losing out to the eventual winner from Eastfield College, Mesquite Texas. Here are some highlights.
Kats Rally for 12-10 Win over #1 Suffolk-Selden
Monday, May 23, 2011
TYLER, Texas – May 23 – The Erie Community College baseball team scored the game’s final four runs as the Kats rallied for a 12-10 win over Suffolk County Community College-Selden Monday in the NJCAA Division III World Series at Mike Carter Field.
Trailing 10-8 after five innings, the Kats plated a run in the sixth, another in the eighth and two more in the ninth to pick up the victory in the elimination game. ECC, now 30-17, plays Eastfield (Texas) College (36-20) Tuesday at 5 p.m. Suffolk-Selden, the nation’s top-ranked team in the final NJCAA poll, ends its season 33-13.
Freshman Mike Wagner (Clarence, N.Y./St. Mary’s) picked up the win after pitching five innings of scoreless relief. He allowed four hits and struck out three.
In the ninth inning, Joe Pantano (Fredonia, N.Y./St. Francis) walked and stole second base. After moving to third base on an infield out, Pantano scored on a wild pitch to give ECC an 11-10 lead. Ron Lawrence (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Cleveland Hill) walked and scored when Mike Ferracuti (Toronto, Ont./Michael Powers) hit a two-out double to right field. Dylan Huch (Gowanda, N.Y./Gowanda) singled to center but Ferracuti was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
After retiring the inning’s first two batters for Suffolk-Selden, Wagner gave up a pair of walks before getting the final batter to fly out to center.
Neal DeMartin (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) had three hits and drove in three runs. Wagner, Ferracuti and Huch each had two hits. Ferracuti scored three runs and drove in two. Led by Ferracuti’s three walks, ECC recorded 13 walks and had two batters hit by pitch. Suffolk-Selden also committed six errors.
The Kats scored a run in each of their halves of the first and second innings. Austin Benshadle (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) walked to open the game and advanced when Pantano singled. Bensadle scored when Jesse Zellner (Tonawanda, N.Y./Tonawanda) hit a sacrifice fly to center field. In the second, Ferracuti walked, moved to second after an errant pickoff throw and then scored on a single by Huch.
Suffolk-Selden then used eight hits and an error to plate six runs in the second, five coming after two outs.
ECC added a run in the fourth when Ferracuti walked and scored on a double by DeMartin. Suffolk added a run in fourth to push its lead to 7-3.
The Kats answered with five runs in the fifth. Zellner and Emilio Arteta (Miami, Fla./Dr. Michael M. Krop) walked. Wagner then singled to load the bases. Huch reached on an error to score two; Benshadle walked before DeMartin singled to right to score Huch and Wagner. Benshadle would steal home to give ECC an 8-7 lead.
Suffolk-Selden then added three runs in the fifth as the Sharks used six hits and an error to build a 10-8 lead.
In the sixth, Lawrence walked and Wagner doubled to put runners in scoring position. Lawrence scored when Ferracuti singled to left.
In the eighth, Ferracuti walked, stole second and moved to third on an error. Huch walked. In a double steal, Ferracuti stole home while Huch stole second.
Kats Rally to Down Rochester (Minn.) in NJCAA World Series
Sunday, May 22, 2011
TYLER, Texas – May 22- After seeing Rochester (Minn.) Community and Technical College score three runs in the first inning, the Erie Community College baseball team rallied for a 10-5 win in the 2011 NJCAA World Series at Mike Carter Field in a game that finished Sunday morning. The Kats’ game, originally scheduled to start at 8 p.m., started at approximately 10:30 p.m. and finished near 1:30 a.m.
The win now has the Kats, now 29-16, facing Manchester (Conn.) Community College (25-22), which defeated Eastfield (Texas) 11-9. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
Ron Lawrence (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Cleveland Hill) picked up the win, scattering eight hits over 7 and 1/3 innings. He struck out five. ECC recorded 15 hits as each player in the lineup had at least one hit. ECC also picked up nine walks.
Rochester used three hits, a walk and an error to plate three runs in the first. In the second, ECC answered with a walk, two singles and another walk to plate a run with two outs. The Kats tied the game in the third. Neal DeMartin (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) left off with a single to left and Joe Pantano (Fredonia, N.Y./St. Francis) walked. After a wild pitch, Emilio Arteta (Miami, Fla./Dr. Michael M. Krop) singled to left to score DeMartin but Pantano was thrown out at the plate. After Arteta advanced on a wild pitch, Mike Wagner (Clarence, N.Y./St. Mary’s) singled to center to score Arteta.
Rochester CTC used a two-out single to take a 4-3 lead in its half of third frame before the Kats erupted for four runs in the fifth.
With one out, Pantano singled and an out later Arteta singled. Wagner reached on an error, scoring Pantano and Arteta.Mike Ferracuti (Toronto, Ont./Michael Powers) reached on an error, scoring Wagner. Ferracuti eventually stole home to give ECC the 7-4 lead.
The Kats added a run in the eighth inning when Jesse Zellner (Tonawanda, N.Y./Tonawanda) delivered a two-out single to score Austin Benshadle (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North). RCTC added a run in its half of the eighth beforeNick Cummings (Akron, N.Y./Akron) entered the game and retired two outs.
ECC added two insurance runs in the ninth. Ferracuti doubled and scored on a double by Dylan Huch (Gowanda, N.Y./Gowanda). Huch then scored on a single by Justin Carpenter (Ottawa, Ont./Franco-City).
Ferracuti led the Kats with three hits while Pantano, Arteta, Wagner and Huch each added two.
Benshadle Has 4 Hits, Kats Suffer 4-3 Loss
Sunday, May 22, 2011
TYLER, Texas – May 22 – The Erie Community College baseball team suffered a 4-3 loss to Manchester (Conn.) Community College Sunday night in the NJCAA Division III World Series at Mike Carter Field. Manchester CCC, making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NJCAA World Series, used a run in the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie. The win was Manchester CCC’s 13th consecutive victory of the season.
ECC’s Austin Benshadle (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North) had four hits while Neil DeMartin (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) added three hits. Joe Pantano (Fredonia, N.Y./St. Francis) had two hits and drove in two runs.
ECC (29-17) had a chance in the ninth inning when Benshadle singled with two outs and advanced to second base after an errant pickoff throw. However, ECC grounded out to end the game.
Manchester (26-22), which had only three hits in the game, used a walk and stolen base before taking advantage of an ECC error in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. The Cougars then used two singles and two walks to plate a run in the third. With two outs, Benshadle and DeMartin singled before Pantano singled to center to score Benshadle but DeMartin was thrown out trying to advance to third base.
In the fourth with two outs, Mike Wagner (Clarence, N.Y./St. Mary’s) doubled and scored when Mike Ferracuti (Toronto, Ont./Michael Powers) doubled to right-center to tie the game 2-2.
Cody Dunn (Ottawa, Ont./Bea Trice des Loges) entered the game with the bases loaded in the fifth ining and recorded a strikeout and a ground out to get out of inning. Manchester used a walk, a single, a fielder’s choice and another walk to score a run and load the bases in the fifth, setting up Dunn’s appearance.
ECC tied it in the fifth when Benshadle reached on an error and DeMartin singled to center. Pantano singled to left-center field, scoring Benshadle.
ECC had a chance to take the lead in the seventh when Benshadle singled and DeMartin doubled. Pantano flew out to right field but Benshadle was thrown out at home.
The Cougars took a 4-3 lead in the eighth after a walk, an ECC error, an intentional walk and a wild pitch.
The Kats will play Suffolk County Community College-Selden, the nation’s top-ranked team, at approximately 5 p.m. Monday in an elimination game. Suffolk CCC-Selden lost its first game Saturday but recorded a 5-1 win over Westmoreland County Community College Sunday.