By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
May 8, 2018
LAWNTON, PA— Central Pennsylvania College (16-13) junior center fielder-first baseman Gabe Arrelano went two-for-three (including two doubles), with two RBI, a walk, and a run scored as the Knights defeated the Manor College Blue Jays (2-21), 8-5, at Lawnton Field in the season finale for both schools.
The Knights are members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
Manor opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with three runs off of sophomore starting pitcher Luis Padilla Jr. Freshman third baseman Abdur-Rauf Mujahid (Philadelphia, PA/Boys Latin) led off the game with a walk and advanced to third on freshman starting pitcher Sauriel Baez' (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) one-out single to right. Freshman second baseman Hector Morales' (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) followed with a single to left which scored Mujahid. Freshman catcher Abimael Mercado (Philadelphia, PA/ Juan Ponce De Leon [PR]) loaded the bases on third baseman Jared Rivera's fielding error. Freshman Trevor Schmanek's (Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph's Prep) two-out fielder's choice to short scored Baez. Freshman left fielder Samuel Pena's (Philadelphia, PA/Liceo Vespertino Pedro MIR [DR]) single to right scored Morales.
Central Pennsylvania scored a run in the bottom of the first. They also took the lead for good, batting around in the bottom of the second, and scored three times. The Knights added a run in the bottom of the third on an Arrelano two-out double to center. Arrelano's second two-out double of the game in the bottom of the sixth gave Central Pennsylvania a 6-3 lead.
The Blue Jays closed the gap to 6-5 in the top of the seventh. Freshman right fielder Francis Beras (Philadelphia, PA/Mariana Bracetti) came off the bench and led off with a single to center. Freshman first baseman Yorkis German (Philadelphia, PA/Kensington Health and Science) followed with a single left and moved Beras to second. Baez' two-out walk loaded the bases. Morales reached on shortstop Quinton Heckard's fielding error which scored Beras. Mercado followed with getting hit by a Padilla Jr. pitch which scored Pena.
The Knights answered in the bottom of the eighth, scoring runs on a sophomore third baseman-first baseman-relief pitcher Aaron Gress one-out, sacrifice fly to left and sophomore left fielder-center fielder Christian Fulp two-out, double to center.
Batting Leaders: Baez, Morales, and Mujahid each reached base twice with a hit and a walk for the Blue Jays.
Heckard came off the bench and went two-for-two with a run scored and a stolen base for the Knights.
Pitching Leaders: Baez threw a complete game, striking out five for Manor.
Padilla Jr. threw seven innings for the victory. Gress threw two scoreless innings, striking out three, allowing one hit, and got credit for the save for Central Pennsylvania.