GOOD, GOOD TIMING

CU DROPS WJU TO REACH WVIAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

• Share:

It has been widely noted by many people that life is all about timing.

Also widely noted, at least in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, is that the Concord Baseball team has picked the perfect time to move over .500.

The Mountain Lions secured an unexpected appearance in the WVIAC Tournament Championship Game with a 10-8 victory over Wheeling Jesuit in the final day of pool play Saturday in Beckley, WV.

It was the third win in as many days for the Mountain Lions and lifted their record to 25-24. It continued CU's late-season surge – Concord has won 11 of its last 14 games – and raised the team over the break-even mark for the first time in 2011.

Concord has won Pool #1, and will meet either Pitt-Johnstown or West Virginia State in the title game Sunday at 1:00 pm at Linda K. Epling Stadium.

Just like Thursday's win over defending champion Seton Hill, and Friday's win over Davis & Elkins, Concord spotted Wheeling Jesuit an early 3-0 lead. The Cardinals reached CU starting pitcher Jacob Mays for two runs on three straight two out hits in the top of the 1st, and tacked on another run in the 2nd.

Concord got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Bret Blevins drew a leadoff walk, and Kyle Webb singled to right. WJU starter Parker Lang walked Raphael Sanchez to load the bases.
One out later, Randy Beard (right) rolled into a fielder's choice that scored Blevins, and Lang uncorked a wild pitch that plated Webb to draw CU within 3-2.

The Cardinals struck back with Jordan Medley's RBI infield single in the top of the 3rd to lead 4-2. But Concord came right back against reliever Tony Acierno in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back doubles by Josh Wenger and Nick Sydnor to make the score 4-3.

The Mountain Lions would move in front with a three-run rally in the bottom of the 5th. Keith Morrisroe led off with a single to right and moved to second on Jacob Mays' sacrifice. Wenger rocketed an infield single off second baseman Ricky Szeligo, and Morrisroe hustled around to score the tying run.
One out later, Blevins stroked a hit-and-run single to put runners on the corners, but they didn't stay there long. Kyle Webb lined a triple into the right field corner, scoring Wenger and Blevins and giving CU a 6-4 lead.

The Mountain Lions extended their advantage by batting around and scoring four runs in the 7th. With one out, Sydnor singled, and Blevins singled behind him. Webb guided a single to right (upper left) to score Sydnor, and Szeligo – moved from 2B to pitcher – walked Sanchez to load the bases.
Ian Humphrey drilled a 1-2 pitch for an RBI single to give Concord an 8-4 lead. With the bases still loaded, Beard shot a single up the middle to drive in Webb and Sanchez and push the Mountain Lions' lead to 10-4.

But, just like Thursday and Friday, Concord would need the cushion.

Mays (left) was CU's starting pitcher, a day after throwing 2 2/3 innings in getting the save against D&E. He recovered from Wheeling Jesuit's early outbursts to find his rhythm, but ran out of steam in the top of the 8th. He allowed a single to Jordan Kraus and walked Jordan Medley on four pitches to start the inning; Concord head coach Andrew Wright removed Mays, replacing him with Webb.
Webb struck out Jason Troy, but got himself into trouble by Ryan Venderlic with a pitch to load the bases. Szeligo brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Webb let loose a wild pitch that brought in Medley and got WJU within 10-6.

Webb flirted with disaster again in the 9th. Pinch-hitter Malachi Murphy and Dominic Sanfelippo singled to start the inning, and Robbie Davia flied out to deep right, moving Murphy to third.
Kraus singled up the middle to score Murphy and advance Sanfelipo to third, and Medley hit a sacrifice fly to deep left to pull the Cardinals within 10-8.
That brought up Troy, representing WJU's tying run. Webb got ahead of him 1-2, and Troy fouled off three straight fastballs to keep his at-bat alive. Webb missed with a breaking ball to even the count, and Troy lofted the next delivery to deep right field.
But Sydnor settled underneath it and made the catch just in front of the wall to secure the Concord victory and touch off a victory celebration on the pitcher's mound.

Concord banged out 14 hits, with Webb and Beard each posting three hits and three RBIs to pace the attack. Wenger, Sydnor and Blevins added two hits apiece. On the mound, Mays worked seven innings to get the win and improve his record to 4-5.

BOXSCORE

Saturday's victory puts Concord in the WVIAC Championship Game for the first time since 2006. The Mountain Lions are seeking their third conference championship and their first since 2001.

Sunday's title game can be heard on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket, as part of the WVIAC Tournament Network, starting at 12:50 pm. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm. Free, streaming audio will be available at www.theticket102.com or www.smallcollegesportsweb.com/page.cfm?story=31113.



^{(photos by Jennifer Logan)}

Print Friendly Version