For the News-Tribune
KEYSER— With quality teams top to bottom, this year’s Region XX Division 1 Baseball Tournament looks to be as good as ever.
Potomac State College will open the 2009 Tournament on Friday when they travel to Chesapeake Community College in Wye Mills, Maryland to face Anne Arundel Community College at 10:00 a.m. in the opening game of the tourney.
Potomac State has won the Region XX baseball title seven out of the last nine years, but was upended last season by Hagerstown Community College in the championship game by a score of 8-5.
Hagerstown eventually ended their season at the NJCAA College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
The first two games of the tournament will take place Friday.
Hagerstown Community College (37-15), the top seed, faces the number four seed and host Chesapeake Community College (33-13) at 1:00 p.m.
The winner of the double-elimination tournament will then travel to the NJCAA Eastern District Baseball Tournament beginning May 15 against the winner and runner-up of the Region X (North Carolina-South Carolina) tournament and the winner of the Region XV (New York-New Jersey) tournament with the Region XV winner hosting.
The winner of the District finals will advance to the 2009 Alpine Bank Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Potomac State went to three straight JUCO World Series in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and with Hagerstown’s trip last season, the Eastern District has been represented by a Region XX school four of the last five years.
“There is no doubt that Region XX is one of the strongest baseball regions in the country,” said Potomac State head coach Doug Little. “The fact that all four teams in this year’s tournament have 30-plus wins, tells you that there is quality baseball being played here.”
Potomac State, who started the season 2-6, are led by sophomore shortstop Gary Williams who has 73 hits, including sixteen doubles, three triples and three home runs, 47 RBIs and 44 runs.
The Chesapeake, Va. native has been hitting near .470 most of the year and comes into the Region XX Tournament with a .474 average.
“Gary has had a really nice season for us,” said Little. “He started off the season really well and has been able to maintain that pace throughout. We hope he can continue to lead us in the post season.”
Right behind Williams is sophomore second baseman Cody Dalton has 70 hits, including 11 doubles, and four triples, 41 RBIs and 55 runs. “Cody has had a solid year, but I still think he is just starting to play his best baseball,” said Little. “I look for him to have a very good tournament.”
Sophomore outfielder Dominick Hayes has 69 hits, including 15 doubles, 57 RBIs and 46 runs on the season. Hayes, who transferred to Potomac State from New Jersey Tech, has been a solid hitter all season for Little.
“Dom is a really hard worker, and he has made himself a very consistent hitter.”
The Catamounts, who are hitting at a .380 clip, good enough to rank in the top five in the NJCAA, have seven other batters hitting above .400. Along with Williams, Dalton and Hayes, Jason Lombard, and Josh Birthisel are hitting .400 or better.
Lombard, a Winchester, Va. native, has 13 doubles, six home runs and 45 runs batted in. Birthisel, who didn’t become a starter until mid-way through the season, is hitting at a .413 clip.
Sophomore catcher Kevin Griffin is hitting at a .331 clip with six doubles and a team-leading nine home runs.
On the mound, the Catamounts will look to
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sophomore Eric Hinkle to lead the PSC pitching staff.
The left-handed pitcher is 7-1 on the season, striking out 45 batters, walking 13 and allowing 18 earned runs on 57 hits.
“Eric has matured a lot since the start of the season,” added Little. “Early in the year he only relied on his fast ball, but now he can throw three pitches for strikes and can throw them in any count. He really completes and wants the ball and has an energy that the other guys feed off of. I’m proud of what he has accomplished and I think his best games are ahead of him.”
Sophomore Paul Chenoweth is expected to start either game one or game two for Potomac State.
The Martinsburg, WV native is 5-3 on the year, striking out 30 hitters in 48 2/3 innings pitched. Chenoweth defeated Anne Arundel earlier this season when he pitched a complete game effort when he struck out five and allowed just six hits.
Sophomore right-handers Andy Berry (2-1, 4.64 ERA, 28 K, 14 BB 42 2/3 IP) or Jonathan Hash could also get a start in the tournament.
Hash is 3-3 on the season, striking out 38 batters in 45 innings pitched.
Little could also turn to David Higgins, Cole Hardway or Matt Moceri all of which have pitched well down the stretch for the Catamounts.
Little thinks this tourney will come down to execution.
“I really think this will be a great tournament. I know Hagerstown and Chesapeake both have two or three shut down arms, and Anne Arundel really hits the ball and steals a ton of bases. It will really come down to the team that executes the best.”
“I thought last year’s tournament was good but I really think this year is the best the region has ever been. We will certainly have our hands full if we hope to move on.”
Keyser, W.Va. —
