| William Paterson's 1996 National Chapionship team |
We all felt in the dugout that all we needed was something to ignite the flame....I'm happy for our kids. They play with a lot of heart. The comeback shows you the type of kids we have in the program. They bend but they don't break. They have fight. This win is tremendously satisfying." - Jeff Albies, head coach, William Paterson
Salem VA -- Just like in 1992, when the same two teams played in the championship game, a three-run home run by William Paterson proved to be the key hit in a Pioneer victory over Cal Lutheran.
It wasn't actually the game-winner like it was four years ago, but an eighth-inning, three-run shot to right field by Mark DeMenna ignited a William Paterson comeback and propelled the Pioneers to a 6-5 victory and their second Division III Baseball Championship title.
In 1992, first baseman Ralph Perdomo hit a dramatic three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift William Paterson to its first title in a 3-1 victory over Cal Lutheran.
Cal Lutheran scored three times in the top of the first inning. Catcher Tom McGee tripled home Rick Work, who was hit by a pitch. After Mike Young was hit by a pitch, Robert Nichols singled, scoring McGee. Young stole home to cap the first inning scoring.
In the third, the Kingsmen stretched their lead to 5-1 when Young followed an Adam Rauch single with a two-run home run to left field.
Pitching then dominated the game until Cal Lutheran hurler Erik Kiszczak opened the fateful eighth inning by hitting William Paterson catcher Dan Egbert. After Mike Scher walked, DeMenna connected for his first and only home run of the series to pull the Pioneers within one run. Cal Lutheran head coach Marty Slimak left Kiszczak in the game, but he could not hold the lead.
"We felt all year long that we could get here," Slimak said. "We believed we could win the whole thing. Today, we did the right things early. We got a few good breaks early, and sometimes that's all you need. But they got the breaks late in the game."
The comeback continued with one-out singles by Paul Bumbaco and Brian Kelly. The runners advanced to second and third following an error by Nichols in center field. First baseman Greg Cimilucca then delivered the game-winning blow with a single to left that scored both Bumbaco and Kelly.
"We all felt in the dugout that all we needed was something to ignite the flame," Albies said. "Hitting is contagious. When you have runners in scoring position to win the game, those men (on defense) get nervous and the momentum switches to the offense."
DeMenna was voted the tournament's most outstanding player. The sophomore outfielder hit .500 (11 for 22) with six runs scored, one home run and six runs batted in over five games.
1996 All Tournament Team
MVP - Mark DeMenna, William Paterson
Catcher - Chuck Anderson, UW-Oshkosh
First Base - Kevin O'Leary, Bridgewater State (Mass)
Second Base - Jim Martorana, Bridgewater State (Mass)
Third Base - Brian Lindner, William Paterson
Shortstop - Paul Bumbaco, William Paterson
Outfield - Anthony Palombizio, Methodist; Adam Rauch, Cal Lutheran; Mark DeMenna, William Paterson
Designated Hitter - Tom McGee, Cal Lutheran
Pitcher - Edwardo Gomez, William Paterson; Richard Bell, Cal Lutheran.