Baseball Faces Niagara CCC in the Region 3 Final Four
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Following last weekend's thrilling sweep of Mohawk Valley Community College in the NJCAA Region 3 sub-regional, the Finger Lakes Community College baseball team has advanced into this weekend's NJCAA Region 3 Final Four.
The Lakers (23-15), who earned the No. 2 seed out of the West for the sub-regional, is the No. 3 seed for the Final Four and will take on Niagara County Community College (27-8), the No. 2 seed, at 5 p.m. Friday evening at Veteran's Memorial Park in Little Falls, N.Y.
The competition features a double-elimination format. If the Lakers win, they would advance into the winner's side of the bracket and would play on Saturday. A loss, and the Lakers would play an elimination game on Saturday.
As many as 500 fans will be allowed at the Final Four. Before they are allowed into Veteran's Memorial Park, spectators must sign in and complete a screening questionnaire. No proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination card is needed.
In Friday's first matchup, No. 1 overall seed Herkimer College (29-2) will play No. 4 seed Erie Community College (20-16) at 2 p.m.
FLCC went 1-3 against Niagara CCC this year, was 0-2 against Herkimer, and 2-2 against Erie CC.
The Lakers enter the Final Four winners of 10 of their last 12 games. Offensively, the Lakers batted .288 with a .384 on base percentage.
They are led by freshmen Tim McClare (Macedon, NY/Gananda), who is batting .429 with three home runs, 14 RBI and 23 runs scored; Drew Bailey (Pittsford, NY/McQuaid Jesuit), who is batting .414 with four HRs, 20 RBI and 28 runs scored; and Grant Rodriguez (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta), who is batting .368 with one HR, 27 RBI and 27 runs scored.
From a pitching perspective, the Lakers are led by sophomore Quin Ignaszak (Brockport, NY/Brockport), who went 4-2 with a 3.73 ERA and 30 strikeouts with four complete games; freshman Tanner Frank (Brighton, NY/Brighton), who has gone 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 30 strikeouts; and sophomore Maxx Countryman (Fairport, NY/Avon), who is 4-1 with a 3.70 ERA, 30 strikeouts and two complete games.