Rams Defeat St. Joe's to Capture Skyline Championship
Farmingdale State - 11, St. Joseph's - 2 BOXSCORE
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State
baseball team captured the Skyline Conference Championship by
defeating St. Joseph's College, 11-2, this afternoon in
Farmingdale, N.Y. The Rams won all three playoff games to earn
their second consecutive Skyline Conference title.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Frank Yera (New York, N.Y./Grand Street Campus) scored on a Brian Benvenuto (Dix Hills, N.Y./Hills West) groundout in the bottom of the first, giving Farmingdale an early 1-0 advantage. St. Joseph's would tie the game in the 7th on a Mike Gerdes (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) single to right field. Dennis Nover (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./St. Francis Prep.) scored an unearned run on a throwing error by the Rams, giving the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead. The Rams would respond by scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the 7th on eight hits to put the game out of reach. Junior Billy Garofalo (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) pitched a scoreless 9th inning to seal the win for Farmingdale State.
Yera led the Rams going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs batted
in and two runs scored. Yera finished the tournament with 10 hits
in 13 at bats, seven RBI and seven runs scored to earn MVP honors.
Benvenuto and junior designated hitter Mike Labrozzi (Sag Harbor,
N.Y./Pierson) each had two hits, one RBI and one run scored. Senior
third baseman Steve King (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) went 2-for-4,
scoring two runs, while senior second baseman Rich Gili
(Manorville, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) had a hit, two RBI and two
runs scored for Farmingdale. Senior pitcher Tom Heeman (Vally
Stream, N.Y./Hewlett) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing only 4 hits and
no earned runs for the Rams. Freshman Chris Phelan (Patchogue,
N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) earned the win, pitching 1.2 scoreless
innings in relief.
St. Joseph's was led by junior outfielder Ryan Carroll (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) and sophomore outfielder Mike Lanza (Northport, N.Y./Northport) who each had two hits in the game.
Farmingdale will host the NCAA Division III Regionals beginning on Wednesday, May 13th. The bracket will be announced Monday morning on the NCAA website (www.ncaa.com).
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