Cumberland Baseball advances to Region XIX Final Four

VINELAND- This past weekend the RCSJ-Cumberland Dukes baseball team advanced to the Region XIX Final Four tournament after defeating the Camden County Cougars. The Dukes were able to sweep the Cougars in just 2 games and now look forward to hosting the Brookdale Community College Jersey Blues. 

The Camden County College Cougars entered the Region XIX tournament as the 7th seed and would have the travel to the Dukes Baseball Complex to take on Cumberland (#2 seed) in a best of 3 series. Game 1 would be a game that Cumberland would dominate early and hold onto the lead throughout the contest. Kevin Merrone and Matt Shepherd would both collect 3 hits each. Merrone and Shepherd would also add an RBI to the scoring. The Dukes ace, Andrew Simone got the ball in game 1 of the tournament. Simone would throw 4.1 innings while giving up 4 earned runs. He would turn the game over to Nick Chiodo and John Liberio to finish off the Cougars. The two left handed pitchers combined for 4.2 innings pitched, giving up 0 earned runs while striking out 6 opposing batters. The final score for game 1 would be 9-4.

Game 2 was dominated by Jacob Shapley on the mound. Shapley threw 4-innings of shutout baseball before the game was halted in the 4th inning due to rain. When Cumberland returned the next day to finish game 2, Mikal Goods took the mound. Goods continued to fool opposing Cougars batters over 4 innings. Goods only allowed 1 earned run and struck out 4 batters en route to a 6-3 victory. 

The Region XIX Final Four tournament will begin next Friday, May 20th. The Cumberland/Brookdale game will begin at 11AM at the Dukes Baseball Complex in Vineland, NJ. For more information on the Dukes and/or Region tournament, follow @RCDukes on all social media platforms.