By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
April 27, 2019
BLUE BELL, PA—Region XIX Division III Montgomery County Community College (10-14 Overall, 4-8 Region XIX Division III, 3-4 EPAC) scored a season-high in runs scored as the Mustangs defeated the Manor College Blue Jays (5-18, 3-8, 2-5), 27-11, in game one of a doubleheader.
Manor opened up the scoring in the first inning. Freshman center fielder Shawn Vega (Philadelphia, PA/Olney Charter) led off with a walk versus freshman starting pitcher Nick Rusin. Rusin's balk advanced Vega to second. Sophomore shortstop Jose Romero's (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) single to center scored Vega.
Montgomery County responded by scoring three runs in the first and four in the second and opened up a 7-1 lead after two innings.
The Blue Jays closed the deficit in the third, batting around in the inning. Sophomore second baseman Abdur Mujahid (Philadelphia, PA/Boys Latin) led off with a walk and moved to second on a Vega single to left. Romero's single to left scored Mujahid and advanced Vega to second. Sophomore right fielder Cristian Diaz' (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Towne Charter) triple to right scored Romero. Freshman starting pitcher Briant Loya (Philadelphia, PA/Parkway Center City) (3-3) walked. The Blue Jays pulled off a double steal with Loya stealing second and Diaz stealing home. Sophomore first baseman Jorge Reyes' (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) single to center scored Loya and Manor got within 7-6. Reyes moved to second on freshman center fielder Mike Kelly's fielding error. Rusin was replaced by freshman Eric Boyer.
The Mustangs pulled away from the Blue Jays scoring 11 runs in the third. They sent 15 batters to hit in the inning, including first seven to reach base. They added two in in the fourth. Montgomery County batted around in the fifth, scoring four times.
Manor scored five runs in the sixth and batted around for the second time in the game. Freshman left fielder Alex Bautista (Philadelphia, PA/Swenson Arts & Technology) led off the inning with a walk versus freshman Frankie Ramirez. Mujahid's second walk off the game advanced Bautista to second with one out. Ramirez was replaced by sophomore Logan Curley. Vega's single to left scored Bautista and moved Mujahid to second. Romero's single to right scored Mujahid and stole second. Sophomore catcher Hector Morales' (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) single to center scored Romero. Morales moved to second on Curley's wild pitch. Diaz' double to left scored Morales and closed out the Blue Jays' scoring for the game.
Montgomery County finished off its scoring with four runs in the sixth.
Batting Leaders: Vega and Romero each went three-for-four. Vega scored three runs, knocked in a run, and walked. Romero scored twice, stole two bases, and contributed three RBI. Diaz went two-for-four (including a double and triple) with three RBI and a stolen base. Bautista singled, walked, scored a run, and stole a base. Mujahid walked twice and scored two runs for the Blue Jays.
Every member of the Mustang starting lineup reached base and scored a run. Eight of the nine members of Montgomery County starting lineup walked and knocked in a run.
Pitching Leaders: Loya started the game. Romero and freshman Janai Vaughan (Philadelphia, PA/W. B. Saul) pitched in relief for the Blue Jays.
Rusin started the game. Boyer, freshman George Jacobs, Ramirez, and Curley pitched in relief for the Mustangs.