Monroe CC to face Frederick Community College in World Series elimination game
By PAUL GOTHAM
ENID, OK — One team is making a second straight World Series appearance and fifth in the past six seasons. The other has returned to the World Series after a five-season absence. It's win or go home when Monroe Community College faces Frederick Community College in an elimination game on Monday. Here's the breakdown:
No. 10 MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRIBUNES
(38-9/Region 3)
vs.
No. 11 FREDERICK COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUGARS (MD)
(36-14/Region 20)
10 AM (Central), Monday, May 25th at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma.
How they arrived here: Monroe CC opened the postseason with a sweep of Region 19's UConn-Avery Point (5-3/4-0) in the sub-district series. The Tribunes then topped Westchester CC (11-1) before taking two straight from Mercer County CC (13-3/6-3) to claim the East District Division II Championship. The Tribunes opened the World Series with a win over No. 7 Iowa Central CC (16-9) before falling to No. 2 Pearl River CC (7-1).
Frederick opened the Region 20 tournament with a 15-4 win over Garrett College before beating Allegany College of Maryland (8-0) and Garrett College in the regional championship, 9-3. Frederick lost to Jones College, 8-2 in its World Series opener.
Trends: MCC had won seven straight before falling to Pearl River. The Tribunes had held each of its first five postseason opponents to three runs or fewer. MCC has not lost back-to-back since dropping a DH to Glendale CC in early March. Frederick last lost two straight when the Cougars dropped a pair to Division I, Harford.
Frederick ranks fifth in the nation with an on-base percentage of .478 - part of an effort that has seen the Cougars draw 303 walks this season (16th in the country). Frederick's pitchers have held opponents to a .262 batting average (9th).
MCC leads the nation with a .245 batting average against. The Tribunes 11.65 K/9 rate is second in the country while the squad's 38 triples are also second in the nation.
Players to watch for MCC: Zane Barron So. C (.281/.425/ .244 RCS percentage); Cam Bentley Fr. LHP (3.64 ERA, 4 SVs); Tyler Cannon Fr. DH (.398/.468/.546); Aidan Gallagher So. CF (.399/.495/..601); Parker Holden So. RHP (4-2, 4.38 ERA); Tanner Holmes Fr. OF (.329/.427/); Miguel Matos So. 1B (.283/.437); Connor Osier So. RHP (9-1, 14.74 K/9); Aaron Reina Fr. SS (.335/.412/.548); Braedon Reina So. LF (.420/.535/.687); Michael Sardou So. 2B (.453/.554/.799); Jaden Sherwood So. RHP (4-2, 2.83 ERA); Thomas Woodridge Fr. 3B (.374/.523/.450); Cos Zeiser So. RHP (6-0, 2.68 ERA).
Players to watch for Frederick: Vincenzo Cusat Fr. INF/LHP (.430/.568/.776 - 4-2, 34.1 IP); Casey Westerberg So. INF (.424/.503/.626); Luis Perez Alfaro So. INF (.415/.540/.739); Wayne Kullman Fr. 3B (.412/.474/.706); Cole Swinimer So. OF (.407/.563/.717); William Thomas (.389/.500./.944); Evan Hassinger (9-2, 3.18, 10.64 K/9, 56.2 IP); Matthew Calabrese Fr. RHP (2-0, 2Svs, 3.47, 10.80 K/9, 23.1 IP); Ethan Duff (8-1, 1Sv, 3.59 ERA, 9.77 K/9, 62.2 IP); Colin Milligan (4-3, 4.21 ERA, 9.47 K/9, 51.1 IP
Head coaches: Dave Brust (MCC), Rodney Bennett (Frederick)
History 101: The two programs have met five times (all during the regular season) since 2019. Frederick holds a 3-2 advantage in those head-to-head meetings with MCC taking the most recent decision (5-3) on April 2nd, 2023.
The two teams have never met in the World Series.
Frederick is making its second straight WS appearance and fifth in the past six seasons with 11 trips in program history. MCC is also making its 11 World Series appearance and fourth since 2016.
MCC is looking to win two WS games in the same tournament for the second time in program history.
What's Next: The winner will face either No. 7 Iowa Central CC or No. 6 Jones College on Tuesday.