BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Massasoit Community College is set to host the NJCAA Region XXI Division III Baseball Tournament, beginning this Friday. The tournament will run from May 8-10, with games slated to be played at Colombo Field on Massasoit's Brockton campus and at Edgar's Field.
Massasoit (11-22, 4-8) earned the No. 4 seed and will face off with top-seed and nationally ranked Northern Essex (25-2, 12-0) on Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Colombo Field.
TOURNAMENT SEEDS
1. Northern Essex (25-2, 12-0)
2. Holyoke (9-11, 6-6)
3. Bunker Hill (9-11, 5-7)
4. Massasoit (11-22, 4-8)
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Game 1: Friday, 3:30 p.m. Colombo Field (Massasoit)
(1) Northern Essex vs. (4) Massasoit
Game 2: Friday, 3:30 p.m. Edgar's Field (Brockton)
(2) Holyoke vs. (3) Bunker Hill
Game 3: Saturday, 11 a.m. Edgar's Field
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 4: Saturday, 11 a.m. Colombo Field
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 5: Saturday, 3 p.m. Colombo Field
Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
Game 6: Sunday, 11 a.m. Colombo Field -- Championship
Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Game 7: If Necessary, would start 40 minutes after the end of Game 6
1. NORTHERN ESSEX
Ranked No. 8 in the most recent NJCAA national poll, Northern Essex has been one of the most dominant teams in New England this spring. The Knights boast a perfect 12-0 record in league games and are currently riding a 20-game winning streak. The last loss for NECC came back on March 18.
Player to Watch: Harrison Smoske (C/OF) .441, 9 XBH, 16 RBI, 13 SB
Pitcher to Watch: Ryan McAulife (RHP) 6-0, 1.64 ERA, 44 IP, 46 K
2. HOLYOKE
The Cougars enter tournament play coming off a split with Massasoit. On the season, HCC has played in its fair share of close games as seven of its 20 contests have been decided by one run.
Player to Watch: Mike Lavall (INF) .277, 14 XBH, 11 RBI
Pitcher to Watch: Mike Hagelstein (RHP) 5-0, 3.69 ERA, 39 IP, 26 K
3. BUNKER HILL
Bunker Hill swept Quinsigamond in a doubleheader on Tuesday to earn a spot in this season's tournament pool and is currently on a three-game win streak.
Player to Watch: Ryan Sullivan (1B) .403, 5 XBH, 9 RBI
Pitcher to Watch: Shohei Miyashita (RHP) 3-1, 2.67 ERA, 27 IP, 22 K
4. MASSASOIT
Despite an up and down season for the Warriors, head coach Tom Frizzell's club made the Region XXI Tournament for the 25th consecutive season. Doubleheader splits with Holyoke and Bunker Hill last weekend kept Massasoit's tournament streak alive.
Player to Watch: Dave Murphy, SS (Plymouth) .388, 13 XBH, 27 RBI
Pitcher to Watch: Tom Protentis, RHP (Lakeville) 4-1, 2.76 ERA, 29.1 IP, 35K
