Leopards Fall to Top-Seeded Curry in ECAC Finals
Wentworth finishes 2010 campaign with 29 wins; sophomore shortstop Conner Flisnik breaks single season hit record
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 15 | 4 |
|
|
2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 3 | X | 22 | 24 | 2 |
(Courtesy of Curry Sports Information)
WALTHAM, Mass. – Top-seeded Curry College captured the 2010 ECAC Division III New England Baseball Championship, defeating third-seeded Wentworth, 22-10, on the campus of Bentley University in Waltham on Sunday. Colonels' junior catcher Brad Hawn (Chino Hills, Calif.) went 6-for-6 with seven runs scored in the title game, and was named as the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Curry's potent offensive attack produced runs in all but the third inning. Through two frames, the Colonels held a 5-0 advantage on RBI hits by seniors Jesse Bruinsma (Lynnfield, Mass.), Tim Sweeney (Walpole, Mass.) and Rick Vail (Lynnfield, Mass.), and sophomore Brian Morante (Westwood, Mass.).
The Leopards fought back with three runs in the third and three more in the fourth to briefly take a 6-5 lead. Key hits during the Wentworth rally included a two-run double by junior Ben Danker (Branford, Conn) and a bases-loaded triple by sophomore Conner Flisnik (Marcy, N.Y.).
After a Morante sacrifice fly tied the game in the fourth, the Colonels exploded for 16 runs over the final four frames off five different Wentworth hurlers. Curry sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth, scoring five times, then extended the lead to 13-6 in the sixth on a two-run single by Sweeney.
The Leopards cut the lead to 13-9 with a three-run seventh, but the Colonels responded with six more in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple by Vail.
Hawn led the 24-hit attack, followed by Sweeney (4-for-6, five RBI), Bruinsma (4-for-6, three RBI), Vail (2-for-4, four RBI) and Morante (2-for-5, four RBI). Wentworth got a four-hit, four-RBI effort from Flisnik, while junior Mike Diodato (Asbury, N.J.) added three hits, and Danker and sophomore Justin Bolla (Groveland, Mass.) each knocked in a pair of runs. With Flisnik's four hits, he sets a new Wentworth single-season record with 56. One of those hits was his 14th double of the season, which also ties a single-season record, which was earlier matched by junior Ben Danker (Branford, Conn.)
Sophomore Miles Galvin (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), in relief of junior starter Mike Hughes (Middleboro, Mass.), picked up the win to improve to 4-4 on the season. Galvin allowed nine hits, no walks and three earned runs while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings of work. Wentworth senior starter Chris Sandini (Upton, Mass.) absorbed the loss, falling to 5-5 on the season. Sandini allowed 13 hits, two walks and six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Tournament M.O.P. Hawn batted .733 (11-for-15) over the three-game Championship, with five RBI and 10 runs scored.
The Leopards conclude their season at 29-15, while the Colonels (30-13) await word on a possible at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Those selections will be announced on Monday morning.