Baseball Punches Ticket to World Series as Magical Season Continues
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CCBC Catonsville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
|
Frederick Community College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | X | 9 | 10 | 1 |
CATONSVILLE, MD. - Can't beat fun at the old ballpark! The magical season for the No. 2 FCC baseball team continues on as the Cougars punch their ticket to the NJCAA D2 World Series by winning the Region 20 D2 post-season tourney by the score of 9-4 over the Cardinals from CCBC Catonsville on championship Sunday. The Cougars are 42-5 overall on the season and are winners of 18 consecutive games. The NJCAA D2 World Series will take place in Enid, OK with the opening round starting on May 28th. The Cougars will patiently await their opponent who will be announced by the NJCAA in the upcoming week. This is the eighth appearance at the World Series for FCC baseball and the fifth for Head Coach Rodney Bennett. The is the third Region 20 D2 championship in a row for the Cougars (2019, 2021, 2022). It is the second season in a row that the Cougars are headed to the World Series!
Tip of the cap to FCC pitcher Ezekiel Gongola for tossing 5.2 innings of work in the victory. He scattered just six hits in the win and recorded three punch outs. He improves to 5-1 on the season. Kudos to Riley Grant and Bryce Greene for coming out of the bullpen to secure the victory. Both Grant and Greene came in to the contest in crucial situations and shut the door on the Cardinals.
The Cougars put up a crooked number in the first inning plating three runs, however Catonsville would plate one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings to make it a one-run contest. That's as close as they would get. Then it was hammer time for the FCC offense. The Cougars left-fielder, Brodey Neveker, launched a 2-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 5-2. Then it was freshman phenom, Aidan Masters, who tattooed a 2-run bomb in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-3. Brendan Long tacked on one more insurance run in the eighth with a solo shot. A feather in the cap to Mr. Utility, B. Long. What an unbelievable year he has had doing damage at the plate, platooning at 1st base, roaming the outfield when called upon, and chucking it on the mound when his number is called.
The Cougar offense was barreling up the baseball on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars pounded out 10 hits in the win, led by Aidan Greaney, Long, Masters, and Neveker with two hits apiece. Neveker knocked in four teammates in the victory.
REGION 20 ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM RECIPIENTS:
Justin Acal
Danny Leo
Brodey Neveker
Aidan Masters
HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY
Head Coach Rodney Bennett: "What a tremendous accomplishment for a determined group of young men who represented FCC with class this entire season. They worked extremely hard for this achievement. The coaches and I couldn't be more proud. Special thanks to our Athletic Director, Larry Johnston and our entire staff, Gary Demski, Kelly Demski, and Lisa Hildebrand."
Shortstop, Justin Acal: "I told our guys on day one of the tournament that we have been one of the top teams in the nation throughout the whole year and not once did we receive a single vote for the #1 seed. So we came out every day on a mission to prove to everyone that we aren't a team to be taken lightly. We have unfinished business and we come out every day looking to get a job done. Every one of our guys is gritty and will run through a wall to get a job done."
Left-fielder, Brodey Neveker: "Regardless of the regular season or playoffs, we all had the same goal, to achieve what we did today. Everyone has backed each other up all year and especially through the post-season. Everyone did their job, that's why we were successful."
FCC BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 42-5
Win Streak: 18 games
Conference Record: 22-4
Region 20 Champions: 1998, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022
World Series Participants: 1998, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2021, 2022
NJCAA D2 National Ranking: No. 2
SEASON STATS: https://www.njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2021-22/div2/teams/frederickcommunitycollege?view=lineup
