This was the seventh consecutive conference title for the Golden
Bears and fifth straight as a member of the CCC.
It also was Western New England's 800th all-time victory since the
program first started back in 1969.
The Golden Bears, who won three elimination games in the
tournament, now have a 33-11 record heading into the NCAA Division
III Championship. Pairings and locations for the national event
will be announced next Monday (May 14).
Jefferis, who was pitching for the first time since April 21,
walked the first batter he faced to load the bases with no outs
before junior third baseman Mike Rubino
(Northford, CT) made perhaps the defensive play of the year for the
Golden Bears.
Shading a step toward the line, Rubino drove to his right to
smother a hard-hit grounder by senior designated hitter Tim
Georgen (Bristol, CT). Rubino stepped on third and fired
high to first where 6'3" sophomore first baseman Steve
Ambrosino (Laurel Hollow, NY) leaped to catch the throw
and step on the bag to just beat Georgen on a close play. Ambrosino
had entered the game in the top of the inning as a defensive
replacement.
Jefferis then got the final out to record the first save of his
career and give Breton his eighth victory against only one
loss.
Western New England banged out 10 hits with junior second
baseman Tim Clark (West Springfield, MA) going
4-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of runs-batted-in.
Junior left fielder Taylor Perun (Plainville, CT)
went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, run scored, and RBI. Perun was
among the top stories on the team this spring; he missed last year
with an injury and spent the season handling the balls and strikes
in the press box. This year Perun emerged as one of the top players
in the conference.
Roger Williams took a 2-0 lead in the third after taking advantage
of a pair of errors and a sacrifice fly by sophomore left fielder
Mike Pascarella (Milford, CT). WNE came back to
tie the game with two runs in its half of the inning following a
two-run double by senior designated hitter Mike
Taylor (Andover, MA).
Western New England went ahead 5-2 after scoring three times in
the sixth on a run-scoring single by Clark and doubles by Rubino
and Perun. Clark executed a perfect bunt base hit with two outs in
the eighth to plate the final run.
Sophomore center field Jeff Schult (Wappingers
Falls, NY) didn't get a hit, but he walked three times, scored
twice, and stole his 28th and 29th bases of the season. He also
made a nice running catch in left center with two runners on base
and one out in the eighth.
Sophomore Sean Boyle (Arlington, MA) (6-5) took the loss in relief for the Hawks who end their season with a 17-27 record. He gave up six hits and three runs with two walks and two strikeouts.
Sophomore right fielder Trevor Larson
(Northbridge, MA) walked twice and scored a run while freshman
catcher Chris Travers (East Freetown, MA) had a
single with a run scored.
Roger Williams 7, Curry 4
Box
Score
Roger Williams advanced to the CCC title game after defeating
Curry by the score of 7-4 earlier in the day at Trelease Park.
The Hawks broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the fourth and tallied
a pair of runs in the seventh to take a 7-3 advantage. Curry
threatened in the ninth scoring a run before junior Chris
Anderson (Westerly, RI) came in to retire the side with
runners on second and third for his second save of the season.
Senior center fielder Chris Comeau (Southbury,
CT) had three hits, including a double, with a pair of RBIs.
Georgen, Travers, and junior third baseman Matt
Swensen (Charlton, MA) each finished with two hits.
Georgen also knocked n two runs while Swensen scored two runs.
Sophomore Bryan Motta (Dighton, MA) (3-3) pitched
eight innings permitting 10 hits and three earned runs with three
walks and three strikeouts.
Curry senior second baseman David Stearns
(Deerfield Beach, CA) had two hits and two RBI while senior
shortstop Carlos Cornejo (Lake Forest, CA) and
senior first baseman Matt Drew (Waltham, MA) also
chipped-in with two hits. Sophomore Matt O'Neill
(Milton, MA) (0-4) was the losing pitcher.
Curry ends its campaign with an 18-24 mark.