By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
March 30, 2019
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Delaware County Community College (2-10 Overall, 1-5 Region XIX Division III, 1-0 EPAC) sophomore shortstop Takuya Ikeda went two-for-five with three RBI and a run scored as the Phantoms defeated Manor College (2-9, 0-2, 0-1) in game one of a doubleheader, 15-5, in the Blue Jays' home opener at Lighthouse Field.
This was also the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) opener for both schools.
The Phantoms opened up its scoring with a pair of two-out runs in the first inning on a bases loaded walk by freshman third baseman Mark Bianchi and a RBI single by sophomore first baseman Kevin Finn.
The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on two two-out runs.
Manor loaded the bases on a sophomore first baseman Hector Morales (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) singled to left (and went to second on a throwing error by Delaware County freshman starting pitcher Michael Conran on a pickoff attempt), sophomore right fielder Cristian Diaz (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Towne Charter) walk, and sophomore second baseman Sauriel Baez (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) single to center. Sophomore Jorge Reyes' (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) single to right scored Morales and Diaz.
Delaware County took the lead again in the second when freshman shortstop Zachery Cariola scored with one out. However, Manor's defense kept the Phantoms from scoring more runs in the inning. Sophomore Brian O'Neil hit a fly ball to freshman center fielder Shawn Vega (Philadelphia, PA/Olney Charter) with Ikeda on third and one out. Vega threw home to sophomore catcher Abimael Mercado (Philadelphia, PA/Juan Ponce De Leon [PR]), who tagged Ikeda out at the plate for the inning-ending double play.
Manor tied the game again in the bottom half of the second with two out. Sophomore shortstop Abdur Mujahid (Philadelphia, PA/Boys Latin) walked and stole second. Vega's single to right scored Mujahid.
The Phantoms took the lead for good in the third, batting around and scored five runs on two hits. Finn's none-out, bases loaded walk gave Delaware County the lead. Ikeda added a one-out, RBI single and freshman right fielder David Moskowitz contributed a two-run double. Bianchi's two-out sacrifice fly scored Conran in the fourth. Moskowitz' two-out single scored freshman Solomon Bayuk in the fifth. Delaware County scored four in the sixth which included Bayuk's one-out, two-run triple and Ikeda RBI single.
The Blue Jays scored twice with two out in the sixth. Freshman left fielder Alex Bautista (Philadelphia, PA/Swenson Arts & Technology) led off the inning with a single to center and moved to second on a Conran balk and to third with two out on a Mujahid fly out to left. Vega's single to center scored Bautista. Vega stole second and scored on a Morales pop up single to sophomore catcher Gabriel Frigiola.
Frigola scored Delaware County's final run in the seventh.
Batting Leaders: Morales went three-for-four with a RBI and run scored. Vega went two-for-three with two RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Baez went two-for-three with a walk. Reyes went one-for-three with two RBI and a walk for Manor.
Frigola walked twice and scored three runs. Conran scored four times. Finn also walked twice. Bayuk and Bianchi scored two runs each for Delaware County.
Pitching Leaders: Freshman Yadier Cedeno (Philadelphia, PA/Olney Charter) (0-3) started the game. Mujahid finished the game for the Blue Jays.
Conran (2-3) pitched a complete game, striking out six for the Phantoms.