Pre-Championship Release

Seeds:
#1 Trinity College (37-0)
#2 Wheaton College (32-8)
#3 Keene State College (33-9)
#4 University of Southern Maine (32-12)
#5 Western New England College (31-11)
#6 Saint Joseph's College of Maine (28-16)
#7 Worcester State College (23-16)
#8 Castleton State College (22-18)

Regional Championship Bracket

Below is the game schedule for the 2008 NCAA Division III New England Regional Baseball Championship:

Day 1 - Wednesday, May 14
Game 1 - Western New England 8, Southern Maine 6 (12 innings)
Box Score
Game 2 - Trinity 9, Castleton 5
Box Score
Game 3 - Keene State 6, Saint Joseph's 1
Box Score
Game 4 - Wheaton 4, Worcester State 3 (12 innings)
Box Score

Day 2 - Thursday, May 15
Game 5 -  Southern Maine 16,   Castleton 7 (Castleton eliminated)
Box Score
Game 6 -  Worcester State 14,  Saint Joseph's 4 (Saint Joseph's eliminated)
Box Score
Game 7 -  Trinity 7,  Western New England 2
Box Score
Game 8 - Wheaton 12, Keene State 2
Box Score

Day 3 - Friday, May 16
Game 9 -  Western New England 8, Worcester State 3 (Worcester State eliminated)
Box Score
Game 10 -  Southern Maine 8, Keene State 0 (Keene State eliminated)
Box Score

Game 11 -  Trinity 6, Wheaton 2
Box Score
Game 12 - Western New England vs. Southern Maine, POSTPONED

Day 4 - Saturday, May 17
Game 12 - Southern Maine 11, Western New England 0 (Western New England eliminated)
Box Score
Game 13 - Southern Maine 9, Wheaton 3 (Wheaton eliminated)
Box Score

Day 5 - Sunday, May 18
Game 14 - Trinity 10, Southern Maine 3 (Southern Maine eliminated)
Box Score

*Trinity College (41-0) wins 2008 NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional*

Tournament Statistics

Day 1 Game Recaps

Western New England 8, Southern Maine 6 (12 innings)

Western New England struck first in the top of the third, getting a pair of runs on an RBI single by Steve Kearney and a Southern Maine error.  The teams exchanged runs over the next two innings, and WNEC led 3-1 after batting in the fifth.

Down by two entering the bottom of the fifth, the Huskies connected for six hits in the inning and sent all nine batters to the plate.  Eddie Skeffington led off the inning with a home run over the right-center fence.  After two quick outs, USM tagged Western New England pitching for five consecutive singles and scored three more runs to take a 5-3 lead.

The Golden Bears trailed 6-3 entering the top of the ninth, but with five hits through the left side, were able to score three times to tie things up, 6-6.

The teams played two scoreless innings in the 10^th and 11^th, before WNEC tallied two runs in the top of the 12^th.  The Golden Bears capitalized on two singles and two walks to score their runs.  Chris Anderson came in to pick up the save, recording two strikeouts in the bottom of the 12^th.

Chris Newall led Western New England with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, while Justin Walz and Joe Griglun each added three hits.

Skeffington hit two home runs and went 4-for-6 on the day.  Josh Mackey also batted 4-for-6 at the plate.

Trinity 9, Castleton 5

Castleton scored first on the undefeated Bantams, beginning with a single and stolen base by Brad Polcare.  Two batters later, Polcare scored on a double by Dan Conley, and the Spartans led, 1-0.  Trinity responded with a run in the third and a run in the fourth, and after four, led 2-1.

The Spartans scored two in the top of the fifth to take the lead back at 3-2.  A walk followed by two singles got runners on base, and an error scored both Castleton runs.

With two out in the bottom of the fifth, the Bantams took advantage of two hits and two errors to regain a lead they would not relinquish, 5-3.

Trinity added some insurance runs in the eighth with a lead-off triple followed by a double, a single, and some errors.  The Bantams would total three in the inning, and finish with a 9-5 victory.

For the game, Trinity designated hitter Chandler Barnard went 3-for-5 at the plate and had three RBI.  Starting pitcher Michael Regan went seven innings of work, allowing just one earned run, eight hits, and one, walk, while striking out four.

Castleton was led at the plate by Kevin McPeek who had two hits in three at bats, and scored a pair of runs.

Keene State 6, Saint Joseph's 1

Scoreless through four and a half innings, Keene State was first to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth.  With two out and a runner on second, Jeff Perkins and Joe Rousseau hit back-to-back singles as the Owls got two runs in the inning.

Keene State added a run in the sixth, and scored three more in the eighth.  The three runs in the eighth were courtesy of a Greg Ford three-run homer.  After a walk and an intentional walk, Ford stepped to the plate and sent one over the fence in right field.

Saint Joe's did manage to get one run in the top of the ninth to prevent the shutout, as Ian Lee cracked a double that scored a runner from first base.

The Monks were dominated by Keene State pitcher Jamie Morin, who threw a complete game four-hitter and struck out 13 batters.

Perkins registered three hits for the game, and teammate Anthony Cipolia went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Wheaton 4, Worcester State 3 (12 innings)

Jeff Lieneck's single up the middle in the top of the 12^th inning drove in Scott Guillerault from second as Wheaton College came back to defeat Worcester State, 4-3. The Lyons had trailed, 3-1, in the bottom of the ninth before Guillerault homered to left to send the game to extra innings.

Wheaton grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on Robert Foote's RBI single in the first inning. Worcester State answered with a run in the top of the fifth when Ryan LaPrade singled, stole second, and then scored on Matt Hart's single. The Lancers added two runs in the top of the eighth when pinch hitter Nick Fluegge singled up the middle.

Worcester State received a strong pitching performance from Joey Lucier, who went nine innings and allowed just four hits while striking out 11 batters. Wheaton starter Chris McDonough pitched 7.2 innings and scattered seven hits, allowing just one earned run and striking out six batters. The Lyons' bullpen was extremely effective as three pitchers combined for 4.1 innings of work and allowed just one hit while striking out six. Keith Pescosolido and Jared Barnes worked two innings apiece. Pescosolido struck out four, while Barnes didn't allow a hit and picked up the win.

Day 2 Game Recaps

Southern Maine 16, Castleton 7

Southern Maine got all the runs it would need in the top of the second.  Eddie Skeffington led off with a single, which would be the first of six hits by the Huskies in the inning.  Chris Burleson followed shortly thereafter with a two RBI single, and after a double and a triple, Skeffington drove in a pair of runs with his second single of the inning.  After all the damage was done, USM led, 8-0.

The Huskies would add another in the third and keep Castleton off the board until the bottom of the sixth.  The Spartans made things interesting in the home half of the sixth, as they plated seven runs to draw within two at 9-7.  Castleton began the inning with five consecutive base hits and where able get a bases-clearing double Brad Polcare, who had led off the inning with a single.

Skeffington started the top half of the eighth with a double, and soon after scored as the Huskies regained control of the game.  USM loaded the bases with one out, and scored runs after two walks and a hit batter.  They were still loaded for Josh Mackey, who knocked a bases-clearing double to left field, and the Huskies taken back their nine run lead at 16-7.

Anthony D'Alfonso went 3-for-6 on the day, with three RBI and two runs scored for USM.  D'Alfonso shared the team lead in hits with Skeffington, and in RBI with Mackey.

Polcare led the offense for the Spartans, going 2-for-5 with three RBI.

Worcester State 14, Saint Joseph's 4

Worcester State jumped all over Saint Joseph's in the top of the first inning, hitting the ball hard right from the start.  Matt Hart led off with a double to right center field.  After an out and an error, Nate Nelson blasted a home run over the left field fence to put the Lancers up, 3-0.  Later in the inning Worcester State loaded the bases for Ryan LaPrade, who drilled a grand slam over the left field fence.  Hart, batting for the second time in the inning, hit the Lancers' third homer of the inning down the left field line.  Saint Joe's starting pitching only lasted 2/3 of an inning and the damage had already been done, with Worcester State ahead, 8-0.

The teams exchanged runs over the next four innings, before LaPrade came up leading off for the Lancers in the sixth.  He hit his second round-tripper of the day, again to left field.  Following a Hart double and two outs, Nelson stepped in and crushed his second home run of the game to the deepest part of the field - a knock of over 400 feet.  Worcester State led, 12-1.

What little offense the Monks were able to put together came mostly in the bottom of the eighth.  Saint Joseph's squeezed four hits out of Worcester State relievers, and coupled with an error and a fielders choice, were able to get three runs across the plate.

Worcester State's Hart went 3-for-6 in the game, and scored four times.  Nelson and LaPrade combined to hit 5-for-10, while accounting for 12 of the team's 14 RBI.  Starter Craig McBride pitched seven strong innings of work, giving up six hits and two free passes as he struck out six.

Dustin Spiller and Aaron Wood each picked up a pair of hits on the day to lead St. Joe's.

Trinity 7, Western New England 2

Tim Kiely struck out a season-high 12 batters and Trinity improved to 39-0 with a 7-2 victory over Western New England. The Bantams opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Thomas DiBendetto. The shortstop went 3-5 with two RBI. Trinity added two more runs in the fifth on RBI singles from DiBendetto and designated hitter Matt Stafford.

The Golden Bears responded in the bottom of the inning. After Steve Kearney reached on an error, centerfielder Chris Newell doubled and both scored on Travis Schwamb's RBI single. Schwamb was 3-4 on the night with two RBI.

Trinity regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning on catcher's Sean Killeen RBI single. Killeen went 2-4 with three runs scored. The Bantams tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the ninth, highlighted by Kent Graham's home run blast over the left field fence. Graham finished 3-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

For Western New England, starter Chris Anderson went eight innings and allowed seven runs, five of them earned, while striking out seven. In addition to Schwamb's three hits, designated hitter Joe Griglun also went 3-4.

Wheaton 12, Keene State 2

Wheaton put one on the board in the top of the first, following a lead-off double by Paul Malaguti.  He advanced to third on a ground out, and later scored on a wild pitch.  The Lyons loaded the bases with two outs, but could not get any more runs across in the inning.

After the Lyons added one in the third inning, Keene State knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth with one swing of the bat.  With two out and a runner on first, Ryan Jones hit a deep home run over the right field fence to tie things up at 2-all.

Wheaton took back the lead in the top of the seventh by plating four runs.  The Lyons had already scored one run after three singles and an error when first baseman Eric Labiberte stepped up with two down and the bases loaded.  Labiberte cracked a single past the third baseman into left field, and all three runners came around to score, giving the Lyons a 6-2 advantage.

The Lyons bats did not cool off late as they added one run in the eighth and five in the ninth to win, 12-2.

Adam Gingras went seven innings on the mound, surrendering a pair of earned runs, four hits, and a walk, while striking out five.  Offensively, Malaguti finished the game going 3-for-5 at the plate, to go along three RBI and three runs scored.

Jones was the lone Owl to pick up two hits, and drove in both of Keene State's runs.

Day 3 Game Recaps

Western New England 8, Worcester State 3

Western New England struck first in the top of the first, after an RBI double by Travis Schwamb.  Schwamb later scored on an RBI single by Ryan Kravontka - a hit that tied the shortstop for the career lead at Western New England with 210 hits.

The Golden Bears scored two more in the fourth, when Steve Kearney slapped a single up the middle to get two across the plate, and WNEC led, 4-0.

Worcester State broke through against Bryan Calzone in the bottom of the fourth, with two singles to start things off.  Both scored in the inning on a wild pitch and then a sacrifice fly.

The Lancers drew within one (4-3), WNEC plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth to regain a comfortable advantage.  Following a lead-off walk, catcher Jon Dominik homered to left field.  The next two batters reached with singles, and after an out and a hit batsman, Joe Griglun stroked a single to left field, scoring two more runs and giving the Golden Bears an 8-3 lead.

Bryan Calzone went the distance for WNEC, surrendering eight hits and a walk while striking out six.  Dominik went 3-for-3 at the plate, and four players had two hits apiece.

Chris Gusha, Corey Abbascia, and Ryan LaPrade each picked up two hits for Worcester State.

Southern Maine 8, Keene State 0

Tim Therrian kept Southern Maine alive in the tournament, throwing an 11-hit, complete game shutout to defeat conference foe Keene State, 8-0.

The Huskies were the only team to score a run in the first five innings, doing so in the bottom of the first.  In the fifth, USM padded its lead, plating four runs to go up by five runs.  Two of the runs came when Collin Henry led off with a single and took second on a failed pick-off attempt.  Anthony D'Alfonso followed with a blast over the right field scoreboard for his 14 home run of the season.  The Huskies would add two more to take the 5-0 advantage.

Therrian threw 146 pitches in the game, walking one and striking out seven.  He allowed a hit in every inning, but no Keene State players managed to cross the plate.

Henry and D'Alfonso each went 3-for-5 at the plate, and both scored a pair of runs.  Josh Mackey was one of four Huskies to record two hits, and drove in a team-high three runs.

Joe Rousseau and Bobby Doyon had three hits apiece for the Owls.

Trinity 6, Wheaton 2

Trinity College tied the NCAA Division III record for consecutive wins in a season with 40, following a 6-2 victory over Wheaton College in the winner's bracket final of the 2008 NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional Championship.

Leading 1-0 with one out in the bottom of the second, Bantams designated hitter Matt Stafford singled to left.  After advancing two bases on wild pitches and a second out, Stafford scored on a double by Jack Abbott.  Trinity stranded two runners and the inning ended with the Bantams ahead, 2-0.

Wheaton scored one run in the fourth and another in the sixth to tie things up.  In the sixth, Ken Depasse led off with a single to right.  The next batter, Paul Malaguti, doubled down the left field line, moving Depasse to third.  After a ground out, Depasse crossed the plate, and the score was tied, 2-2.

The Bantams worked three runs across in the bottom of the inning, all with two outs.  Thomas DiBenedetto singled, and took second on an error.  Chandler Barnard singled and Trinity took a lead they would not relinquish.   After another wild pitch, Stafford singled through the left side to drive in Barnard.  A couple batters later Abbott singled in the third Trinity run of the inning, and the Bantams led, 5-2.

Jeremiah Bayer went the distance for Trinity, allowing seven hits and a walk.  Four Bantams recorded two hits in the game, while Abbott lead the team in RBI with three.

Depasse and Malaguti each had a pair of hits and scored the only runs for Wheaton, who await the winner of the Southern Maine/Western New England game Saturday afternoon.

Day 4 Game Recaps

Southern Maine 11, Western New England 0

Southern Maine got on the board in the top of the second, with two home runs to left.  Ryan Pike knocked the first one out, and was followed two batters later by Eddie Skeffington who hit his third home run of the tournament.  The Huskies would add one more in the inning and led, 3-0.

Skeffington crushed his second homer of the game to deep center field in the fifth, traveling well over 425 feet, and increased the Huskies' lead to 6-0.

In the seventh, Skeffington again hit a home run to left center, this time a two-run blast, giving Southern Maine a 9-0 advantage.

On the mound for the Huskies, Adam Ross shutdown the Western New England offense, scattering eight hits and two walks in a complete game effort.

Skeffington finished the game 4-for-5 at the plate, with six RBI and three runs scored.  Pike chipped in going 3-for-5, and scored three times.

Ryan Kravontka was the lone Golden Bear to register two hits in the game.

Southern Maine advances to play Wheaton for the right to play unbeaten Trinity in the finals.  Western New England is eliminated from the tournament with the loss.

Southern Maine 9, Wheaton 3

Following a lead-off double by Paul Malaguti, Wheaton scored first on a Sean Munley single in the final game coming out of the loser's bracket, and the home team led, 1-0.

Southern Maine responded with a pair of runs in the top of the third.  Andrew Stacy started things off with a single up the middle, and advanced to third on a single by Jordan Berthiaume.  A single by Ryan Jones down the line in left scored Stacy to even the score at 1-1.  After an out, Collin Henry drove in Berthiaume and USM went ahead, 2-1.

The Huskies would plate six runs in the fifth inning, the first two coming off a home run by Henry.  Anthony D'Alfonso hit next, driving a triple into left center field, and scored on a sacrifice fly.  After three singles and a double, Southern Maine held an 8-1 advantage.

Mark Schmidt gave USM another quality start, going the distance and giving up 11 hits.  He struck out eight Lyons batters in the process.

Henry and Josh Mackey each recorded three hits in the game for the Huskies.

Malaguti, Munley, and Sean Buckley each picked up a pair of hits for Wheaton.  The Lyons had their opportunities, but stranded a total of 14 runners on base.

Southern Maine has now won four games in a row after dropping its opening contest of the tournament and advances to undefeated Trinity in the championship round.  The Bantams are currently 40-0 on the season, and must lose twice on Sunday to be eliminated.  Game 14 is slated to begin at 12:00 p.m.

Day 5 Game Recap

Trinity 10, Southern Maine 3

Trinity College was undefeated and rested after a day off on Saturday.  The University of Southern Maine had played two games Saturday afternoon, and its pitching was stretched thin.  A good combination for the Bantams, who advanced to the 2008 NCAA Division III Baseball World Series on Sunday by topping Southern Maine in the New England Regional Final, 10-3.

With the win, Trinity set the record for consecutive wins in a season with 41, previously held by Marietta College which won 40 in a row during the 1999 season.

Pitcher Chandler Barnard got things started with a two RBI double in the bottom of the second.  Barnard later scored on a single by Tim Bourdon, and the Bantams led, 3-0.

Ryan Piacentini led off the next inning with a home run to left field - the first of four runs Trinity would score in the inning.  The Bantams would take advantage of three more hits and two hit batsmen to score three more in the inning.

Southern Maine outscored Trinity, 3-1, over the middle innings (fourth through sixth) to pull within five runs after six innings (8-3).  Anthony D'Alfonso hit a solo shot to left in the fourth, and Ryan Pike drove in the other two USM runs during the stretch on a home run in the sixth.

A Bourdon double in the seventh plated two more runs for the Bantams, and ended the scoring in the game.

Barnard (10-0) pitched a complete game, four-hitter, allowing one walk while striking out seven.  At the plate, he went 3-for-3 on the day, scoring three times and driving in three runs.  Bourdon also had three RBI, and was one of three players to register two hits in the game.

Ryan Gaffney was the lone Southern Maine (36-14) player to pick up two hits.

Trinity will now play SUNY Cortland (43-2), winner of the New York Regional, in the Division III World Series out in Wisconsin on Friday.

2008 NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional Championship
All-Tournament Team

C - Sean Killeen, Trinity
INF - Thomas DiBenedetto, Trinity
INF - Joe Griglun, WNEC
INF - Josh Mackey, Southern Maine
INF - Ryan LaPrade, Worcester State
OF - Eddie Skeffington, Southern Maine
OF - Paul Malaguti, Wheaton
OF - Anthony D'Alfonso, Southern Maine
P - Jamie Morin, Keene State
P - Tim Kiely, Trinity
Utl - Chandler Barnard, Trinity