Contributed Story
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — March 21, 2008 — The Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) Generals baseball team began its trip to the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. with two victories on Monday, March 17.
In Game 1, SCCC defeated Northern Essex (Mass.) Community College, 12-4.
The Generals trailed 4-1 after four innings before scoring 11 unanswered runs for the victory.
Leading the Generals’ attack were Melvin Simmons, who scored four runs, Ali Ferraires (3-for-4, three runs scored), John DeGroodt (3-for-4, three RBIs), Jess Kelly (three RBIs) and Albert Bevacqua (2-for-4, one RBI).
Wellington Vargas (1-0) picked up the victory for the Generals. He pitched five innings, struck out three and gave up just two earned runs.
SCCC’s Angel Betances pitched two innings of scoreless relief and struck out three.
Generals rally to win Game 2
In the second game of the day, SCCC defeated the Community College of Morris, N.J., 8-5.
The Generals’ Jess Kelly pitched five strong innings, striking out seven and allowing only one run.
But Kelly could not pick up the win as Billy Horan hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning off William Elberth to tie the game at 5-5.
SCCC stormed ahead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and John DeGroodt pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up his second save of the year.
Eddie Pagan (1-0) earned his first win of the season, while DeGroodt paced the Generals’ offense by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Mike Donohue went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and Ray Valdez went 2-for-3 and scored a run to help the Generals’ offense.
SCCC loses first game of season
On Tuesday, March 18, the Garrett (Md.) Community College Lakers, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I team, defeated SCCC, 3-1, at Griffith Field at The Ripken Experience.
The loss was the Generals’ first of the 2008 season.
Mike Prunka (1-1) took the loss on the mound for SCCC (3-1).
Prunka pitched five innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He issued five walks and hit three batters.
“Mike did not have his best stuff, but he pitched a gritty game and kept us in it,” SCCC Coach Mike Marra said. “Our offense failed to execute and we missed some opportunities to score.”
The Generals only managed three hits off the Lakers’ pitching staff. Two of those hits were doubles by Fred Moore and Albert Bevacqua.
A.J. Ventry and Justin Quinn each went 2-for-3 with an RBI double to pace Garrett CC.