By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
March 9, 2024
JENKINTOWN, PA—The Manor College Blue Jays (1-0) sent 13 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as they defeated the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Division III Delaware County Community College Phantoms (0-1), 12-11, in game one of a doubleheader, in its United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) debut at Alverthorpe Park.
This was Manor's first game since May 4, 2019 when they lost to the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Bergen Community College Bulldogs in a second game of a doubleheader at Lighthouse Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The ceremonial first pitches were thrown by Pennsylvania State Representative Ben Sanchez and Dwight Evans, Chief of Staff for Pennsylvania State Senator Art Haywood.
Delaware County sophomore catcher Cidrik Navas scored the Phantoms' first run in the first inning on freshman first baseman Eric Engesser's two-out single to center off of freshman starting pitcher Narsizo Rivera (Philadelphia, PA/Samuel Fels).
Manor answered, batting around, scoring five runs. Freshman second baseman Almaine Reyes Torres (Philadelphia, PA/Abraham Lincoln) led off with a walk and stole second. Freshman center fielder Jimmy Garcia (Philadelphia, PA/Community Academy of Philadelphia) also walked. Garcia and Reyes Torres advanced to second and third, respectively, on a freshman Hunter Witten wild pitch. Two batters later Rivera walked to load the bases. Freshman left fielder Yerlad Duran's (Philadelphia, PA/Abraham Lincoln) two-out single to center scored Reyes Torres and Garcia and gave the Blue Jays its first lead, 2-1. Freshman catcher Anthony Ortiz' (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Towne Charter) single to left and sophomore left fielder Cole DeRosa's error, scored Rivera and Duran, and extended the lead to 4-1. Freshman first baseman Christopher Colletta's (Philadelphia, PA/Bishop McDevitt) single to right scored Oritz and gave Manor a 5-1 lead.
The Phantoms sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs in the second and took a 6-5 lead. They added two runs in the third and a run in fourth. Delaware County scored in the fifth when freshman second baseman Izaah Perocier's two-out walk scored DeRosa and gave the Phantoms a 10-5 lead.
Manor began the sixth inning with four consecutive walks (Reyes Torres, Garcia, Moronta, and freshman center fielder Juan Regalado [Philadelphia, PA]) off of freshman relief pitcher Michael Casson and got within 10-6. Rivera's single to left scored Garcia and Moronta and Manor closed the deficit to 10-8. Duran's walk loaded the bases and knocked Casson out of the game. Ortiz' bases-loaded walk off of Navas got Manor within 10-9. Colletta's fielder's choice ground out scored Rivera to tie the game at 10 with one out. Sophomore right fielder Jacob Torres' (Mays Landing, NJ/Cedar Creek) ground out, Navas to Engesser, scored Duran which gave the Blue Jays the lead, 11-10. Reyes and Garcia walked consecutively to load the bases for the third time in the inning. Moronta's walk scored Colletta and extended the lead to 12-10. Manor scored seven runs on one hit and eight walks in the inning.
DeRosa stole home to get Delaware County within 12-11. However, with a 3-0 count on freshman Daniel Guinen, pinch-hitting for freshman right fielder Aaron Gumminger, Perocier was caught stealing third, Ortiz to Rivera, to end the game.
This was Manor's first overall win since April 14, 2019 when they defeated the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Bucks County Community College Centurions, 19-8, in game one of a doubleheader, in Newtown, Pennsylvania. This was the Blue Jays' first home win since they defeated the Phantoms, in a walk-off, 11-10, in eight innings, in game two of a doubleheader at Lighthouse Field on March 30, 2019 in Philadelphia.
The second game of the doubleheader was postponed due to rain.
Manor College USCAA Pitching Firsts
Plate Appearance: Benjamin Beasley.
Pitcher: Rivera.
First Pitch: Strike.
Plate Appearance: Ground out, Reyes Torres (second base) to Colletta (first base).
Strike Out: Maximilian Curley (Swinging) (second inning).
Strike Out (Called): Curley (third inning) (by Regalado).
Manor College USCAA Batting Firsts
Plate Appearance: Reyes Torres.
Opposing Pitcher: Whitten.
First Pitch: Strike.
Plate Appearance Result: Walk.
Run: Reyes Torres (first inning)
Hit: Duran (first inning single)
Run Batted In: Duran (first inning).
Hit by Pitch: Duran (fifth inning).
Stolen Base: Reyes Torres (first inning).
Manor USCAA Fielding Firsts:
Put Out: Colletta (first inning).
Assist: Reyes Torres (first inning).
Ground Out: Reyes Torres (second base) to Colletta (first base) (first inning).
Fly Out: Duran (left field) (first inning).
Line Out: Moronta (third base) (first inning).
Foul Out: Ortiz (catcher) (second inning).
Caught Stealing: Ortiz (catcher) to Moronta (third base) (second inning).
Grounded into Double Play: Regalado (pitcher) to Ortiz (catcher) to Colletta (first) (fifth inning).
Batting Leaders: Garcia, Moronta, Regalado, and Reyes Torres walked three times each. Duran and Rivera walked twice each. Duran, Garcia, Reyes Torres, and Rivera scored two runs each. Colletta, Duran, Ortiz, and Rivera knocked in two runs each for the Blue Jays.
DeRosa contributed three hits (including a double), scored three runs, and stole four bases. Navas added a double and triple, scored twice, and knocked in four runs. Freshman center fielder Greg Palandro contributed two hits (including a double) and scored two runs. Engesser singled twice and walked twice. Freshman right fielder Sean Duffy had two singles. Perocier walked three times. Beasley walked twice and scored twice.
Pitching Leaders: Rivera started the game. Colletta pitched ⅓ of an inning. Regalado struck out three in 1 ⅔ innings. Garcia (1-0) got credit for the win in relief. He struck out six in three innings for Manor.
Witten started the game and struck out nine in five innings. Casson (0-1) got credit for the loss in relief. Navas finished the game for the Phantoms.
Season Series: Manor is 2-3 overall versus Delaware County (2-2 at home).
Manor at Home: The Blue Jays won their second game at home in 11 contests.
Next Game: Manor travels to play the USCAA seventh-ranked Centurions (1-4) in its USCAA road and Eastern States Athletic Conference (ESAC) debuts on Tuesday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m. in Newtown, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays previously played the Centurions on April 14, 2019 in Newtown. Bucks County won game two of the doubleheader, 15-9. The season series is tied at one.
Next Home Game: The Blue Jays host the Patrick Henry College Sentinels for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. at Alverthorpe Park in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Manor Athletics on Social Media:
Instagram: manor_athletics.
Twitter: @manorbluejays.
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