MCC rolls through Region 21 Tournament; Next stop: Tyler, TX for NJCAA World Series
BROCKTON, MA – Mother’s Day is becoming Dan Nelson Day at MCC. A year ago, the lefty from Glastonbury pitched a complete game against Massasoit CC in the Region 21 Championship game to send the Cougars to the 2008 NJCAA World Series.
A year later to the day, MCC Coach Chris Strahowski handed the ball to Nelson with a Region 21 Championship on the line. And once again he delivered. Nelson threw 112 pitches over 7 1/3 innings as MCC beat Bunker Hill CC 11-3 Sunday afternoon in Brockton, MA. Nelson and his teammates will represent New England at the NJCAA Division III World Series in Tyler, TX for the second consecutive year and will play Saturday (May 16) at 7pm at Mike Carter Field against the District D (West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina) champion.
Nelson was staked to a 3-0 lead before he threw a pitch when catcher A.J. Lowers (Newington) homered with two aboard in the top of the first.
“I love big games,” Nelson said after the game. “I’d rather pitch in a big game when I know something is going to come of it. I was just praying I could get this game.” Nelson struck out seven and walked just one batter while scattering five hits.
Mike Quagliaroli (Windsor Locks) recorded the final five outs for the Cougars, who defended their NJCAA Region 21 title with three straight tournament victories.
“Last year I was more nervous and it kind of showed in my performance,” Nelson said. “This year, coming out with the big lead right off the bat, I settled down and tried to pitch my game and not worry. I knew the defense would hold up and if I did my job, we would be going to Texas.”
Nelson’s Mom, Diana, witnessed her son’s second consecutive Mother’s Day win, along with his father, Jeff, who grew up in Brockton.
“It’s what he does,” Strahowski of Nelson, who improved to 4-2 on the season.
The circumstances were a little different this time around. A year ago, the Cougars faced elimination when Nelson worked nine grueling innings in the final game against Massasoit CC. The 2008 tournament, which was hosted by MCC, had many tense moments, including the final inning of a 7-6 victory over Holyoke in the second game. Playing on the road in 2009, the Cougars never trailed in a game and outscored its opponents 36-5. The most tension the team felt was when their bus driver couldn’t find the gme-site on Saturday morning and pulled over for directions at an awkward intersection.
Torrington natives Alan Fredriksson and Dave Alexander hit solo homers in the fourth and fifth innings respectively to add to the lead. Alexander’s was his team leading eighth of the season. Juan Bisono (New Britain), who was hit by the first pitch of the game then scored on the Lowers blast, scored two runs, stole three bases and hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to drive in MCC’s 11th run. Lowers also singled, walked twice, scored three runs and caught Bunker Hill leadoff batter Rubin Sosa attempting to steal second base in the third inning.
Heading into the series, Strahowski likes his pitching depth and the offense, which came alive after the season hit its halfway point.
“We don’t have to be concerned about getting guys deep into games,” Strahowski said. “If someone maybe doesn’t have his best stuff, we can have a little quicker hook and have guys piece together games easier than last year.”
MCC hit five home runs in the three-game tournament and hit .408 as a team. “The hitting is substantially better than last year’s team,” Strahowski said. “It took a while for everyone to settle into their roles, where everyone is in the lineup and what they have to do every at-bat.”
Manchester Community College 11 Bunker Hill CC 3
at Massasoit CC, Brockton, MA
Manchester CC 302 410 001 —– 11 11 1
Bunker Hill CC 100 002 000 —– 2 5 2
M: Dan Nelson, Mike Quagliaroli (8) and A.J. Lowers B: Brandon Easton, Ariel Ramos (4) Jonathan McDonald (5) and Chris Dowd WP: Nelson (4-2) LP: Easton; HR: M – Lowers, Fredriksson, Alexander, Records: M: 27-17-1, B: 22-11.
