Mitchell caps a dominating run with its ninth NECC baseball tourney title
May 7—NEW LONDON — Pardon Mitchell College for making winning the baseball program's third straight and ninth overall New England Collegiate Conference championship look easy.
After dominating the regular season, losing only one league game, the high-powered Mariners capped off an impressive tournament run by rolling past second-seeded Eastern Nazarene, 15-2, on Sunday at Alumni Field.
The outcome was never in doubt once they seized a 9-0 lead in the fifth inning.
"Expected," senior Lelo Martinez said. "We're not done. It was a really good season. The boys worked hard all year. ... We already knew we were the better team. We just had to fight really hard, and that's what we did."
The Mariners (31-8) entered the conference tournament as the top seed and heavy favorite and won all three games, outscoring the opposition, 46-6, on the way to earning the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for eighth time.
They accomplished the feat in the NECC's last season. They're moving to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference this fall.
"It's real tough to do," Beausoleil said of the program's securing eight NCAA bids. "I just told the guys that we won the last NECC championship. There will never be another NECC champion. It's nice the trophy will stay here for its existence.
"You can have the most talented team, it doesn't always mean you're going to win. It's consistency and toughness that defines this program."
Even Beausoleil had to feel at ease when his team scored six runs in the seventh inning to push the lead to 15-0, right?
"I don't feel like it was easy," Beausoleil said. "At 15-2, three walks in a row and I'm churning."
Ok, so Beausoleil couldn't fully relax until reliever Kenny Heon of Montville recorded the final out and set off a joyous celebration. Starter Chris Gibbs earned the win, allowing five hits in seven shutout innings. He escaped his biggest jam in the fourth, striking out two batters with runners on second and third with one out.
"He was able to battle back and compete," Beausoleil said. "He was great for us."
Mitchell's potent bats and deep lineup stole the headlines once again a day after scoring 28 runs against New England College to reach the title round.
The Mariners banged out 13 hits, with Owen Robbins (two hits, one RBI), Matthew Blackwell (two hits, three RBI) and Angel Galindez (two hits, four RBI) enjoying productive days at the plate.
New London's Martinez reached base five times on two singles, a double, and being hit by a pitch twice. He also scored four runs and drove in one. He also dodged a tag by jumping over the shortstop while safely scrambling back to second base.
What's noteworthy is Mitchell's offensive outburst came with the team's top three run producers — Matt Falk, Dougie DelaCruz of Montville and Bo Yaworski with a combined 167 RBI — having a relatively quiet game against the second-seeded Lions (26-14).
The game was essentially over after Mitchell built a 9-0 edge by scoring four in the second, three in the third and two in the fifth. Blackwell contributed an RBI single during each rally. Galindez had a two run triple in the fourth and a two run single during a six-run seventh.
DelaCruz, whose walk-off home run allowed his team to escape with a 3-2 win over Lesley on Friday in first round action, made the all-tournament team as did Gibbs and Robbins, who was named the most valuable player.
"It feels awesome," said Robbins, an East Lyme graduate.
Mitchell has to wait until the NCAA Division III tournament selection show on May 22 to find out its first round opponent. The Mariners have applied to be a host site for the first time in school history.
"I'm hopeful," Beausoleil said. "It would be nice."
