Three NJCAA Division III Region XXI Baseball Tournament Games Scheduled For Sunday PPD

MANCHESTER, Conn. (May 14) – The three National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Region XXI Baseball Tournament games scheduled for Sunday have been postponed due to unplayable field conditions at McCormick Field on the campus of Manchester Community College.

The four-team, double-elimination tournament continues on Monday with two games at times and locations to-be determined. Once a determination is made on Monday morning, the times and locations will be announced online at /athletics and on the NJCAA Division III Baseball Tournament Hotline at 860- 512-3354.

Second-seeded Northern Essex Community College (18-8, 0-1) will play top-seeded Holyoke Community College (22-20, 0-1) in the losers’ bracket game and fourth-seeded Manchester Community College (19-11, 1-0) will meet third-seeded Massasoit Community College (24-20, 1-0) in the winners’ bracket.

According to NJCAA rules, the region baseball champion must be determined by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. If the tournament is unable to be completed, the highest remaining seed at that time is named the 2006 NJCAA Division III Region XXI baseball champion.

The NJCAA Division III Region XXI champion advances to the eight-team 2006 NJCAA Division III Baseball Championship May 20-26 in Glens Falls, N.Y.

In opening-round action on Saturday, Manchester Community College defeated Holyoke Community College 2-1 and Massasoit Community College beat Northern Essex Community College 7-1.

Freshman utility player Jason Banks (STAFFORD SPRINGS) scored the game-tying run in the seventh inning and drove in the go-ahead in the eighth in MCC’s come-from-behind win.

Freshman second baseman/right-hander Steve Kelley (GLASTONBURY) relieved sophomore left-hander Marcus Wilcox (CANTON) with runners on first and second with no outs. Kelley induced a fielder’s choice forcing out a runner at third for the first out. A pinch-hitter was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kelley struck out the leadoff hitter and retired the next batter on a fly out for his first career save.

Wilcox (4-3) went eight-plus innings, allowing one run, five hits and five walks. He struck out four, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches.

2006 NJCAA Division III Region XXI Baseball Tournament

Hosted by Manchester Community College
at Manchester, Conn.

Saturday, May 13
Game 1: Manchester Community College 2, Holyoke Community College 1
Game 2: Massasoit Community College 7, Northern Essex Community College 1

Sunday, May 14
Game 3: Holyoke Community College (22-20, 0-1) vs. Northern Essex Community College (18-8, 0-1), postponed to Monday, time and location TBD
Game 4: Manchester Community College (19-11, 1-0) vs. Massasoit Community College (24-20, 1-0), postponed to Monday, time and location TBD
Game 5: Holyoke Community College-Northern Essex Community College winner vs. Manchester Community College-Massasoit Community College loser, postponed