Baseball Falls Short in Region III Final Four

The Erie Community College baseball team traveled to Little Falls, NY on Thursday for the Region III Final Four.  

In game one, the Kats faced Niagara County Community College. Erie watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in the 3-0.The pitching was strong on both sides. NCCC pitchers struck out 18, while Erie sat down six.  Sam Calcaterra took the loss, going seven and a third innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking one.  Adam Rankie, Andrew Nantau, and Carter Whitehead managed one hit each for the Kats. 

The Kats would take on Herkimer on Friday, losing to the Generals 2-1.   Erie stayed in it until the end, but Herkimer pulled away late to get the victory. After the Generals took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Erie would tie things up in the top of the fifth inning when Rankie doubled on a 1-2 count, scoring the tying run.

Connor Desiderio took the loss for Erie. Desiderio went seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking zero. The Kats racked up eight hits in the game.  Tyson Kovats, Isaiah Salas, and Hare each managed collected two hits to lead the team. 

Region III Division III awards were announced during the tournament.  Congratulations to Joe Bauth who was named Coach of the Year and Isaiah Salas who was named Defensive Player of the Year. Named to the First Team All-Region was Adam Rankie and Greg Hare.  Second team accolades went to Salas and AJ Karosas.  Sam Calcaterra, Salas and Rankie earned All-Glove team honors while Connor Desiderio, Karosas, Salas, Rankie and Hare were named to the All-West Division team.