HCC WINS

Hawks stay alive in World Series

May 27, 2008

Hagerstown Community College will enjoy another day in Colorado.

The Hawks rallied from a 5-3 deficit with a seven-run fourth inning and then held on to defeat Chipola (Fla.) College in a NJCAA Division I World Series elimination game 10-7 on Tuesday in Grand Junction, Co.

Two days after an 18-2 loss to Grayson (Tex.) CC in the opening-round, HCC bounced back with three home runs, a gutty pitching performance by Spencer Cromer and closing effort by Kyle Briggs to eliminate the defending champions.

"I think this is one of the great turnarounds," said HCC coach Scot Jennings. "After losing to Grayson we came back and beat the defending champions and they were a strong hitting team."

In its first two World Series games, Chipola had scored 30 runs.

HCC will play another elimination game on Wednesday at 5 p.m. against the loser of tonight's game between Grayson and Alvin (Tex.) CC.

Down 5-3, HCC supplied some unusual power in the fourth inning with three home runs in its uprising.

With one out Zach Smith was hit by a pitch, Matt Greene singled and Matt Byers followed with a home run to give the Hawks a 6-5 lead.

Two batters later, Roland Thiele launched a 430-foot home run that knocked out reliever Jason Bailey.

Jason Townsend came on for Chipola and promptly walked Michael Knight and Alex Stover before Charles Johnson hit a three-run homer for a 10-5 lead.

Cromer gutted his way through the midle innings, retiring 13 of 15 batters through the seventh inning. He allowed two walks in the eighth and allowed a pinch two-run hit to Ryan Chaffee.

Kyle Briggs was summoned from the bullpen and retired the Indians and then finished up with the save in the ninth inning.

"We fought all nine innings," said Cromer, who threw 153 pitches. "I started getting my fastball over and that set up my curve ball. We just couldn't let this one slip away."

Check back for more updated information online and read Wednesday's Herald-Mail

Tim Koelble

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