Dukes baseball falls short in Region XIX championship game

VINELAND- Over the past weekend, the RCSJ-Cumberland Dukes competed in the Region XIX Final Four tournament after defeating Camden County the weekend prior. Entering the Final Four, Cumberland was seeded #2 with a first round matchup verse the Brookdale Community College Jersey Blues.

Game 1 vs. Brookdale Community College

The Cumberland offense got off to a slow start in the Region XIX semi-finals as the Dukes were only able to muster 2 hits through 9 innings. Mike Guzzardo accounted for 1 of the hits, while Will Gamble had the other hit and only RBI for Cumberland. On the mound, Jake Shapely threw 7 innings; giving up 7 earned runs and striking out 12 batters. Jake Kennealy and Andrew Slade finished the game with 0 earned runs and 2 strikeouts. The Dukes would lose game 1 by a score of 7-1 and would face Northampton Community College in the elimination game.

Game 2 vs. Northampton Community College

The Spartans of Northamption Community College would travel to Vineland,NJ in their second game of the Region XIX tournament after dropping game 1 to RCSJ-Gloucester. This contest would again see the Cumberland offense struggle to stack hits together. Offensively they were lead by a 2-hit performance from Kevin Merrone and Ben Maiers with the additions of RBI's from Casey Vaughan and John Lockhart. Though the offense could only manage to get 2 runs accross the plate, the Dukes received just the performance they needed from sophomore Andrew Simone. Simone dominated the day from start to finish. The right handed pitcher threw a complete game giving up 1 earned run and scattering 8 hits. Simone only struck out 3 batters, but he kept the walks to a minimum (1) and rarely gave up back to back hits to the opposing offense. Cumberland would squeeze by the Spartans with a 2-1 victory.

Game 3 vs. Brookdale Community College (Semi-final Round)

With a championship berth on the line, the Dukes offense would show up in a major way on day 2 of the Region XIX Final Four. Cumberland got to the Jersey Blues pitching early. The offense put up 7 runs in the 1st inning highlighted by a Casey Vaughan 2-RBI triple. Vaughan would tally another hit in the game and would be joined in a 2-hit peromcance by John Lockhart and Mike Guzzardo. Guzzardo and Lockhart would also hit 2 crucial homeruns that led to a victory via mercy rule in the 7th inning. Kevin Merrone, Jack Peacock, and Will Gamble also contributed RBI's in the 9-1 win. Jack Liberio was brilliant on the mound. The left handed starting pitcher went all 7 innings, giving up 1 earned run and striking out 9 Jersey Blues. After defeating Brookdale in the semi-finals, Cumberland would have a matchup with RCSJ-Gloucester in the title game with the Roadrunners having to be defeated twice. 

Game 4 vs. RCSJ-Gloucester (Championship Round)

Despite losing the first game of the Final Four, the Dukes managed to find their way back into the championship game. Cumberland was able to get 9 hits on the Gloucester pitching but failed to convert those hits into runs. In all, the Dukes would be outlasted by RCSJ-Gloucester 9-1. Guzzardo, Gamble, and James Hallman all got 2-hits a piece. On the mound, Freshman Mikal Goods gave a great effort. Though the stats will not reflect his performance, the left handed pitcher from Egg Harbor Township did a honorable job keeping the Gloucester offense off balance throughout the game.

Since Cumberland was unable to secure the Region XIX championship, the Dukes will now wait to see if they have been selected for the NJCAA World Series at large bid. All updates will be provided via social media pages (@GORCDUKES)