Lakers Reach Region III Championship with Back-to-Back Elimination Wins

AUBURN, N.Y. - The Finger Lakes baseball team is headed to the NJCAA Region III Championship game after knocking off two top-10 nationally ranked programs in back-to-back elimination games at Falcon Park.

The Lakers opened the Region III Final Four with a tough 10-0 loss to #2 nationally ranked and undefeated SUNY Niagara (46-0) on Thursday. The Thunderwolves capitalized on early defensive miscues to build a 4-0 first-inning lead and never looked back. Caleb Wilson (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas) and Dom Morsch (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) combined on the mound, while Markus Brehm (Wayland, N.Y./Wayland-Cohocton), Trey Buchholz (Shinglehouse, P.A./Bolivar Richburg), and Christian Morrison (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) each recorded a hit in the loss.

With their season on the line Friday morning, the Lakers bounced back in a thriller, outlasting Hudson Valley 8-7. Tied at 5-5 heading into the eighth, Brennen Russo (East Irondequoit, N.Y./Eastridge) delivered a clutch 2-RBI double to right center to take the lead, then Christian Morrison and Justin Angora (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush Henrietta) helped tack on insurance. Russo finished with 3 RBIs and a home run, while Jeffrey Broadnax (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) added a key double and 2 RBIs. On the mound, Ian Goodness (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) gave the Lakers a solid 5-inning start, and Mason McClurg (Warsaw, N.Y./Warsaw) earned the win in relief; holding off a late comeback effort from the Vikings.

In Friday's afternoon semifinal, the Lakers rode a masterclass from freshman Nathan Power (Victor, N.Y./Victor) to eliminate Herkimer, 4-1. Power went the distance, tossing a complete game while allowing just 3 hits, striking out 6, and giving up no earned runs. Herkimer didn't record a hit after the second inning until a 2-out double in the ninth.

Offensively, Jeffrey Broadnax once again sparked the lineup with a 2-RBI single to put Finger Lakes ahead in the fifth after Herkimer took an early 1-0 lead. Markus Brehm and Brennen Russo each drove in a run in the seventh to extend the lead.

The Lakers (38-17) will now face #1 SUNY Niagara once again today Saturday, May 17 at 12 PM in the NJCAA Region III Championship game at Falcon Park. The game will mark the Lakers first appearance since 2019 in the Regional title game. Today's game can be viewed live here.