By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
March 31, 2019
ROSELLE, NJ—Every Union County College (7-14 Overall, 2-4 Region XIX Division III) member of the starting lineup reached base and scored a season-high in runs as the Owls defeated the Manor College Blue Jays (3-10, 1-3) in game one of a doubleheader, 23-8, in five innings, at Warinanco Park.
The Owls scored in every inning they batted during the game. They scored three runs in the first on a freshman Patrick Connolly one-out, three run home run. Union County scored eight runs on four hits in the second. They also sent 11 hitters to bat in the inning.
Manor scored three times in the third. Sophomore second baseman Abdur Mujahid (Philadelphia, PA/Boys Latin) led off the inning with a walk off of sophomore starting pitcher Jovon Portuondo. Sophomore center fielder Jose Romero (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) double to center scored Mujahid. On the play, Romero advanced to third on freshman second baseman Quincy Bryant's error. Sophomore shortstop Sauriel Baez' (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) ground out to short scored Romero. Sophomore right field Cristian Diaz' (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Towne Charter) inside-the-park home run to left scored Baez for the first Blue Jays' round tripper of the season.
Union County scored thrice in the third on three hits while sending eight hitters to appear in the inning. The Owls scored on consecutive one-out RBI singles by Bryant, Connolly, and sophomore third baseman Calvin Colon.
The Blue Jays scored once in the fourth. Romero reached on an infield single to short and advanced to second Colon's throwing error. Romero stole third. Baez walked. Romero then stole home during an attempted double-steal.
The Owls finished its scoring in the fourth, scoring nine times while sending 14 hitters to bat in the inning.
Manor scored four times in the fifth. Sophomore catcher Abimael Mercado (Philadelphia, PA/Juan Ponce De Leon [PR]) led off with a single to center. Freshman left fielder Alex Bautista (Philadelphia, PA/Swenson Arts & Technology) singled to left. On the play Bautista and Mercado moved to second and third, respectively, on sophomore left fielder Raymond Orta's fielding error. Sophomore third baseman Jorge Reyes (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore left fielder Courtney Maddox' (Philadelphia, PA/Edison) sacrifice fly to center scored Mercado with one out. Freshman first baseman Yadier Cedeno's (Philadelphia, PA/Olney Charter) double to center scored Bautista and Reyes. Mujahid singled to right, advancing Cedeno to third. Romero reached on Colon's fieldling error which allowed Cedeno to score on the play with two out.
Batting Leaders: Romero went three-for-four (including a double) with three steals, two runs, and a RBI. Reyes went three-for-three with a run scored. Mujahid contributed a hit and a walk. Baez walked twice and had a RBI. Diaz had three RBI. Mercado walked twice, had a hit, and scored a run. Cedeno contributed two RBI. Every Blue Jay that played reached base.
Every member of the Union County's starting lineup reached base at least once, scored a run, and contributed a RBI.
Pitching Leaders: Maddox (0-2) started the game. Bautista and Baez pitched in relief for the Blue Jays.
Portuondo (1-3) pitched a complete game for the Owls, striking out four.