Box Score WEST LAWN, Pa.- Senior
V.J. Collins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) tossed eight dominant innings on Sunday afternoon in the championship round against Misericordia, but the Valiants were unable to answer in extra innings as the Cougars force a second game after winning 4-3 in the Freedom Conference Championships.
Collins entered in relief for Manhattanville (24-14), tossing eight strong innings, allowing one run on four total hits before being pulled in the 13th inning against Misericordia (28-13-1). The Cougars All-Conference first team pitcher Ryan Dorosh entered the ninth inning in relief on only one day of rest, obtaining his second win of the tournament.
Misericordia jumped out early on Manhattanville starting pitcher junior
Zack Eklund (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) in the first inning, scoring two runs on an RBI single from Max German and an RBI double from Mike Comerford, making it 2-0. The Valiants eventually chipped away at the early deficit with a run in both the first and second inning on RBIs from freshman
Robbie Lynch (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) and sophomore
Kurt Hommen (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood).
Both sides were silenced until the fifth inning when it was Misericordia retaking the lead on a German sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead. The Valiants were unable to score for majority of the game, but finally answered in the ninth in what could have been their final at-bat.
As Manhattanville loaded the bases with only one out in the ninth, freshman
Joe Anselmi (North Rockland, N.Y./North Rockland) was hit by a pitch which ended up tying the game at three. Junior
Nick Euvino (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) had a chance to win the game on a walk-off hit toward left field, but an outstanding diving play by Kyle Seawards at shortstop extended the game into extra innings.
Manhattanville had issues getting anything going offensively against Dorosh in extra innings as the Cougars held the Valiants scoreless. Misericordia got on the board in the 13th inning when Comerford pulled off the suicide squeeze, scoring German from third. The Cougars held onto their 4-3 lead despite a two-out double from sophomore
Jordanis Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond), beating the Valiants and forcing a second game in the double-elimination tournament.
The Valiants are taking on Misericordia again at Owls Field for a shot at their first conference crown since 2010. Live stats are available via GoValiants.com.
