CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 210-4161
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, May 10, 2002
http://www.hvcc.edu
Marchese (Seven Ks) And Martin (Three Hits) Strong In Loss
Utica, N.Y., May 10, 2002 - Hudson Valley Community College's baseball team stumbled in its National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Region III "Final Four" game today, dropping a pitcher's duel to Erie Community College, 3-2.
Second Team All-Region III performer Aaron Marchese (Dennis-Yarmouth H.S., MA) got the nod on the mound for Hudson Valley, and he pitched well. The righthander (6-1) went the distance, scattering five hits and allowing just one earned run. He also struck out seven batters.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Hudson Valley's Silvestre Castro (Norman Thomas H.S.) and Jason Martin (Pine Bush H.S.) each rapped a single. Castro then came around to score on a balk and Chris Cooper (Shenendehowa H.S.), running for Martin, a First Team All-Region III catcher who went 3-for-4 at the plate, scored on a wild pitch, tying the game.
Erie got one more run in the bottom of the seventh, though, to steal the contest.
The Region III tourney is a double-elimination event that runs through Sunday. The winner advances to the Division III World Series, which Hudson Valley did in 2001.
At noon on Saturday, the Vikings (31-14-3 overall) will play the loser of a Friday evening game between Schenectady County Community College and Jefferson Community College. Should they win that game, the Vikings will play again at 6 p.m. on Saturday for the right to advance to Sunday's noon championship game. All Region III tourney games are being played at Utica's Murnane Field.