The future of the East Central baseball team is now in the hands of the NJCAA baseball committee. The Warriors fell short in the Region 23 Super Regional last week, falling to Pearl River. The Wildcats took the first game 22-1 before East Central rebounded to win 6-4. The Warriors then fell 10-0 in game three as the Wildcats earned the automatic NJCAA College World Series berth. East Central ends the season 42-14, finishing second in the Region 23 tournament.
On Tuesday, the Warriors received one of two at-large bids into the 12-team NJCAA College World Series.
Pearl River 10, East Central 0
The Warriors had just four hits as the Wildcats took the series in shutout fashion. Pearl River scored four in the third, three in the fifth, and three in the ninth. Eli Smith went 2-for-3. Ryan Nelson and Brady McAbee had singles. Cade Morrow pitched two innings, giving up three runs on one hit and three walks to take the loss. Also pitching were Hayden Dodson, Kamryn Carlisle, Trae Winn, Andrew Nielson, Creed Fulton, Eli Smith, Barrett Rodgers, and Chris Billingsley.
East Central 6, Pearl River 4
The Warriors used a pair of three-run innings for a two-run win to even the series Friday. Pearl River led 2-0 with runs in the first and third before East Central scored three in the fourth and fifth. Pearl River added two in the sixth to cut it to 6-4, but the Warriors held on. East Central had seven hits, four of them doubles. Brady McAbee went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI; Pablo Roque had a single and three RBIs. Briceton Johnson, Jayden Adcox, and Nic Arender all doubled. Bryson Goff went 5 1/3 innings for the win, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks, striking out three. Martin Lezcano pitched the final 3 2/3 for the save, giving up one hit and two walks while striking out four.
Pearl River 22, East Central 1
A 17-run inning lifted Pearl River to a run-rule win in game 1 on Thursday. Chris Billingsley took the loss for the Warriors.
