Lakers Conclude Third Straight Trip to NJCAA Region III Final Four

Lakers Conclude Third Straight Trip to NJCAA Region III Final Four
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May 24, 2022

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – The Finger Lakes Community College baseball team traveled to Veterans Memorial Park in Little Falls, N.Y. to compete in the NJCAA Region III Final Four. The Lakers drew a matchup against the nationally ranked #6 Herkimer Generals on the first day of the tournament.

 

GAME 1

Having played the Generals earlier in the season, and falling on their home field 4-3 in 8 innings, the Lakers felt as though they had a fighting chance against the nationally ranked squad. The Lakers came away with a win and shut out the nationally ranked Generals for the first time in a game, since the 2016 season.

Devin Georgetti (Rochester, N.Y./ Gates-Chili) earned the start for the Lakers, pitching a full game against the nationally ranked Generals. Georgetti would put together a monster performance, shutting out Herkimer County, walking 2 batters, and striking out 12. Tyler Cerame (Hilton, N.Y./ Hilton) would drive in a 1 RBI single to bring home one of the Lakers' two runs. Tim McClare (Macedon, N.Y./ Gananda) and Lukas Haefner (Rochester, N.Y./ Rochester) would each score in the game, with McClare picking up a stolen base in the game.

Devin Kelly (Clifton Springs, N.Y./ Midlakes) would hit what looked to be a sure 2-run home run over the centerfield wall that would have extended the Laker's lead to 4-0. However, Generals' centerfield Jordan Lewis would make a heroic leap over the wall to rob the Lakers of the opportunity. Lewis' play would earn the #1 spot on the SportsCenter top-10 plays of the day: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=33949265

Ultimately, the Lakers would pick up the exhilarating upset over the Generals to advance on.

 

GAME 2 

The following day, the Lakers would find themselves matched up with a taller task. The Lakers found themselves paired up with the #5 nationally ranked Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves. The Lakers struggled to find a rhythm early on in the game, finding themselves behind heading into the bottom of the 3rd inning, 3-0. However, the team would come to life, scoring 1 run in the inning to narrow the lead, 3-1. Following a scoreless 4th inning, the Lakers would narrow the Thunderwolves' advantage to 3-2 in the bottom of the 5th. The final four innings would see neither teams score, with the Thunderwolves ultimately prevailing by a narrow score of 3-2.

Alfredo Hurtado (Davie, F.L./ Chaminade Madonna College Prep) would double and add 1 RBI in the game, while teammate Lukas Haefner would contribute 1 RBI as well. Tyler Curtis (Greece, N.Y./ Greece Athena) would hit a double into the right field corner, while teammate Tyler Cerame would grab a stolen base in the matchup as well. The Lakers struggled to bring home runs, leaving 12 runners on base in the game.

 

Game 3

In game 3, the Lakers would find themselves in a rematch with the Generals of Herkimer County in a win-or-go home scenario.

The Generals would tack on 6 runs in the first three innings versus the Lakers 1, as the Generals jumped out to a 6-1 advantage. The Lakers would find life in the bottom of the 6th inning, narrowing the lead to a manageable 6-2 deficit. However, the Generals' offensive attack continued, tacking on 1 run in the 7th and 2 in the 8th before a scoreless 9th inning for both teams. Justin Marshall (Bath, N.Y./ Haverling) would pick up a run in the game, going 1-for-1 in at-bats with a double. Tyler Cerame would add the Lakers' only other score of the matchup, stealing a base in the process.

Lakers head coach Sean Marren would extend the all-time win record to 258, as the Lakers concluded another NJCAA Region III Final Four matchup for the third season in a row, picking up the 4th most wins in program history with 37. The Lakers' defense and pitching proved to be one of their strong suits on the season, posting the lowest ERA in a season at 3.17, surpassing the 1989 and 1997 records of 3.29.

Lakers pitchers picked up 12 saves on the season, 2 more than the previous record of 10 in the 2014 season. Reliever Sean Peck (Dryden, N.Y./ Dryden) would surpass Kane Shaw (2014) for the most saves in a season with 6. Peck would also tie Alex Savory (2019-2021) for the most saves in a career with 6. Michael Protz (Fairport, N.Y./ Fairport) would pick up a new single season record for the lowest ERA (min. 26 IP) with a 1.29 on the year.

The Lakers will return several key student-athletes as Sophomores for the following season, along with several commits for the 2023 Spring Season where the Lakers will look to return to the Final Four for a chance at the NJCAA Region III Championship.