Westchester Sports Recap

BASEBALL (RECORD 21-9, REGION 13-2, CONFERENCE 13-2)

THURSDAY APRIL 26 A year from now, Jose Delacruz (New York, NY/George Washington HS) will take the mound for Manhattan College with the hopes to help lead the Jaspers to MAAC supremacy. On Thursday, the Westchester Community College sophomore did just about everything else brilliantly to lead the Vikings to their most improbable win of the season, an 8-5 comeback triumph over Sullivan Community College. With the win, the Vikings are now 19-9 overall and 11-2 in both the Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV.

More importantly, WCC clinched a spot in the upcoming NJCAA Region XV Championships.

For much of the game, a win did not seem to be in the cards for Westchester. Facing a Sullivan squad that has had a tough start to the 2018 campaign, the visiting Generals struck early, scoring unearned runs during the first and second innings to grab the lead. Thanks to Sullivan pitcher Leonel De La Rosa, Sullivan seemed to be completely in command as the sophomore did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, and struck out 10 Westchester batters.

However, once De La Rosa ran out of steam, the Westchester bats came alive. Delacruz singled home Christian Lovecchio (North White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) in the fourth inning to make it a 2-1 game. Down 3-1 in the sixth inning, Westchester broke the game open, scoring four runs to take a 5-3 lead. Bobby Wootten (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley HS) opened the scoring as he crossed home plate on a walk. CJ Sager (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac HS) then tied the game at three when he scored on a balk.

Scottie Giordano (Croton-on-Hudson, NY/Croton HS) then brought home two runs with a single to make it a 5-3 lead.

In the seventh inning, Steve Messerschmitt (Carmel, NY/Carmel HS) came on to pitch in relief of Nick Cona (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas HS), who gave WCC six strong innings on the mound, and pitched out of a jam to maintain the lead. In the bottom of the frame, Delacruz rewarded Messerschitt’s efforts with a two-run home run to give WCC a 7-3 lead. The Vikings scored one more run in the either inning when Lovecchio scored James Houlahan (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland HS) on a sacrifice fly to make it 8-3.

Sullivan scored twice during the top of the ninth to make it closer, but the Vikings secured the win.

Delacruz had three hits, three RBI’s and two runs scored, and would have been 4 for 4 had he not been retired on a slick Sullivan defensive play during the second inning. He also made an incredible fielding play of his own in the third inning, diving to his right to prevent a sharply hit Sullivan ball from going up the middle to the outfield for a hit, and making a strong through to first base for the out.

Also for Westchester, Giordano went 2 for 5 with two RBI’s, Lovecchio had two hits, and Sean Vanegas (Bronx, NY/Mount Saint Michael) went 1 for 2 with two walks.

Cona picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching six innings, allowing only one earned run, while out five, including a strike out of the sides in the sixth inning. Messerschitt allowed only two hits over the final three winnings, while striking out two, to earn his first save of the 2018 season.

SATURDAY APRIL 28, Fortunately, the baseball doubleheader between Westchester Community College and Sullivan Community College took place on a Saturday, and there were no classes or events in the nearby Knollwood Center, just beyond the right centerfield fence. If there were, Scottie Giordano (Croton-On-Hudson, NY/Croton HS) would have sent participants running for cover. The SUNY Cortland-bound sophomore blasted two enormous home runs, had five RBI’s, drove in three runs, and pitched two fine innings in relief as the Vikings won the second game of the doubleheader, 15-8, after winning the opener, 5-3.

With the wins, Westchester is now 21-9 overall, 13-2 in Region XV play, and have won seven straight games. More importantly, with Rockland Community College losing two to Dutchess CC, Westchester is now in first place in the region with five games to go.

The opener featured WCC pitcher Nick Antenucci (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) continuing his stellar 2018 season on the mound. He pitched a complete game, striking out six, while walking only one. Antenucci only faced trouble during the sixth inning when he allowed three runs via three-run home run. Otherwise, he was sensational, and is now 6-1 this season, and he dropped his ERA to less than 4.5 per game.

Westchester scored three runs during the second inning without benefit of a hit when two Vikings walked. A Steve Messerschmitt sacrifice bunt attempt thrown into right field by the Sullivan pitcher, allowing two runs to score. After moving to third on a fielder’s choice, Messerschmitt stole home to give WCC a 3-0 lead.

Two innings later, Giordano began his warm-up with a two-RBI double to put the Vikings ahead 5-0. That was more than enough for Antenucci, who was dominant.

The second game saw Westchester compete as the visiting team, but making themselves, right at home as the Viking scored their 15 runs during the final four innings of play. Sullivan took a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning, but the Vikings scored five times during the frame to pull ahead for good. A Bobby Wootten (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley HS) single followed by two walks to load the bases, and Messerschmitt came through once again, singling home two runs to make it a 3-2 game. After Messerschmitt was caught stealing, a walk brought up Giordano with two runners on board, and he crushed his first home run of the game, a blast that hit the top of the stadium scoreboard to make it 5-2.

Sullivan scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning via a two-run home run to make it 5-4, but Jose Delacruz (New York, NY/George Washington HS) extended the lead back to three runs in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run double to make it 7-4.

An inning later, a three-run rally extended the lead even further, beginning with a solo shot by Giordano that sailed dozens of feet beyond the right centerfield fence to make it 9-4. After three walks loaded the basis, CJ Sager (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac HS) singled home two runs to make it 11-4. The lead extended to as much as 15-4 after a five-run seventh inning for the Vikings. Sullivan scored three runs during the bottom of the seventh inning, two of which were unearned; to make things a litter closer, but Giordano shut the door on the mound for the win.

Giordano went 3 for 5 during the second game, and 4 for 6 for the day with seven total RBI’s. Also for WCC, Paul Franzese (Somers, NY/Somers HS) had three hits, an RBI, and two runs scored.

Four WCC pitchers combined for the win with Giordano and Max Marienberg (Scarsdale, NY/Scarsdale HS) combining to allow only one earned run during the final three innings.

GOLF

MONDAY APRIL 23 Sophomore Andy Perez (Ossining, NY/Ossining HS) continued his outstanding start to the 2018 season, finishing in first-place by a two-stroke margin as the Westchester Community College Golf team placed second at the opening Mid-Hudson Conference Invitational of the season, hosted by SUNY Ulster on Monday at the Wiltwyck Gardens Golf Course. The Vikings finished with 388 strokes to finish 11 strokes behind team winner Orange Community College.

Perez was outstanding, finishing with an 83 as he was one of three Vikings to break a 100. Also for Westchester, Joseph Danko (Yorktown Heights, NY/Somers HS) shot a 95, while Cian Guilfoyle finished with a 96.

THURSDAY APRIL26 After a close second place finish to open Mid-Hudson Conference play on Tuesday, the Westchester Community College Golf team notched its first win of the season on Thursday, placing first during the Mid-Hudson Conference Invitation at Hickory Hill Golf Course in Warwick, New York. The Vikings played 14 strokes better than they did only two days earlier, finishing with a 374 team score to defeat second place Rockland CC by six strokes. The 374 represented the best outing turned in by a Mid-Hudson Conference team thus far this season. After two Mid-Hudson Conference Invitational events, Westchester is now in first place with nine points.

As has been the case all spring, sophomore Andy Perez (Ossining, NY/Ossining HS) was the story as he turned in the best individual performance of the day with an 84 to win the field by an incredible five strokes. It was the third time during three events this season that Perez claimed the best individual score.

Also for Westchester, two other golfers finished in the top seven as Cian Guilfoyle shot a 92, while Joseph Danko (Yorktown Heights, NY/Somers HS) finished with a 94.

GIORDANO NAMED MID HUDSON CONFERENCE BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

After leading the Westchester Community College Baseball team to a four-game sweep over Dutchess Community College last weekend, SUNY Cortland-bound sophomore Scottie Giordano (Croton, NY/Croton-Harmon HS) named the Mid-Hudson Conference Baseball Player of the Week as he enjoyed one of the finest series of his outstanding career at Westchester CC. The centerfielder was stellar at the plate, going an incredible 10 for 17 (.588) with seven runs, scored and 12 RBI’s over the four-game stand.

Giordano’s monster week began on Wednesday afternoon when he went 3 for 3 with two RBI’s and three runs scored as the Vikings downed Dutchess 12-0 at home. On Saturday, as WCC defeated Dutchess 20-8, Giordano had one of the finest games of his career, going 4 for 5 with eight RBI’s and two runs scored. Incredibly, three of his triples, two of which came with the bases loaded, leading to six of his RBI’s.

For the season, Giordano is among the Viking leaders in all statistical categories. He is batting .433 with 2 home runs and 26 RBI’s. He also has 27 walks and 12 stolen bases. Giordano leads the Vikings in extra base hits with 13 doubles, 5 triples, and 2 home runs. His 42 runs scored lead the team.

Games This Week:

  • April 30 – Golf at Orange Tournament, 1:00pm, Wallkill Golf Club
  • May 3 – Golf at Rockland Tournament, 1:00pm, Spook Rock Golf Course
  • May 3&4 – Baseball vs. Rockland, 3:30pm
  • May 5 – Baseball at Rockland (DH), 12:00pm
  • May 5 – Track & Field at 5th Annual Tom Farrell Classic, St. John’s University

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