CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 373-1262
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, May 19, 2001
http://www.hvcc.edu
Vikings Use Four-Run Eighth Inning To Break Game Open
Batavia, May 19 - It came down to composure. Hudson Valley Community College's baseball team, in the NJCAA Division III World Series for the first time in 19 years, stayed calm and focused on the fundamentals late in a tight game at Batavia's Dwyer Field this morning. Quinsigamond Community College of Mass., meanwhile, ranked 10th in the nation among NJCAA Division III teams, fell apart in the top of the eighth.
The Vikings, who earned Honorable Mention in the most recent national poll, took advantage of three Quinsigamond errors in the frame - all by Quinsigamond's infield - and strung together four hits and a sacrifice bunt, scoring four runs to take an 8-4 lead. The game ended with Hudson Valley on top, 8-4.
The Vikings (33-12) advance to the winner's bracket of the double-elimination World Series. Hudson Valley plays the No. 1 team in the nation, Eastfield College of Texas (38-12), at 3 p.m. Sunday.
"You've got to know how to win," said Tom Reinisch, Hudson Valley's head coach. "Baseball's like a roller coaster, with highs and lows. When you get into the lows, you've got to get out of it and know you'll be OK. These guys always think they can win."
With the score tied at four runs apiece, Hudson Valley's Bobby Krogh (Troy) and Justin Meaghar (Colonie) led off the top of the eighth with a pair of sharply hit singles.
"Bobby was swinging the bat well," Reinisch said. "When he got on, I was confident we could score some runs."
Nick Esopi (Stillwater) reached on an error to load the bases. Catcher Ryan McGinniss (Catholic Central) then knocked Krogh home with the game-winning run by reaching on an error by Quinsigamond's shortstop. Hamlet Abreu (Norman Thomas) and Josh Goodbred (Lansingburgh) each singled.
Then, with Hudson Valley ahead by four runs, Nick Borgia (Scotia-Glenville) tossed a couple quick innings - getting a double play in the eighth and ninth - to finish off a complete-game seven hitter. Borgia, a Second Team All-Region III pitcher, struck out five batters en route to his sixth win of the season. The third inning was the only one in which he allowed any runs.
Hudson Valley turned four double plays on the day against Quinsigamond (32-13), who will play Dutchess Community College (29-17) at 9 a.m. Sunday. Dutchess lost to Eastfield College today, 9-1.
"We turned double plays in big spots today," Reinisch said. "I'm thrilled; we did what we had to do to win."
Meaghar had two singles. Krogh also had a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the third.
HUDSON VALLEY 8, QUINSIGAMOND 4
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
| Hudson Valley |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
9 |
1 |
| Quinsigamond |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
Borgia and McGinniss; Gosselin and Quinn.