Baseball To Meet Salve Regina in Game One of CCC Baseball Double Elimination Tournament
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 8, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team will play as the five seed this week in the upcoming CCC Baseball Tournament, after closing out the regular season with a 24-13-2 record, which includes an 8-7-1 mark in CCC play. The five seeded Golden Bears will take on the two seeded Seahawks of Salve Regina University to open tournament play.
The Tournament:
After wrapping up the season with an 8-7-1 mark in CCC play, Western New England earned the five seed in the CCC Tournament and will travel to second seeded Salve Regina University on Wednesday, May 10. The CCC Tournament will begin on Monday, May 8 at 3:00 PM when the seventh seeded Fighting Scots of Gordon College travel to sixth seeded Suffolk University in the opening round CCC Play-In Game. The winner of that game will play top seeded Endicott College while the loser of that game is eliminated from playoff contention. Game 3 on Wednesday will be between fourth seeded Roger Williams University and third seeded Nichols College.
The Season:
Western New England secured the fifth seed in the CCC Tournament after going 8-7-1 in CCC play. CJ Willis led the Golden Bears this season with a .387 batting average, which sits fourth overall in the CCC while leading the CCC in home runs (13) and RBIs (51). Willis broke the Western New England Baseball home run career record earlier in this season, while sitting at 27 career home runs through 79 games played. Junior Cody Waterbury hit .341 for the Golden Bears in 138 at-bats, collecting a career high in runs scored (29), hits (47), doubles (14), triples (4), home runs (4), and RBIs (36). Waterbury also stole three bases on the season without being caught.
Senior Paul Villecco and junior Kohtaro Shimada also hit over .300 for the Golden Bears this season, as Villecco collected 45 hits, eight doubles, five triples, and five home runs, while knocking in 33 runs. Shimada contributed with 22 RBIs, while hitting seven doubles on the season for the blue and gold.
On the mound, Western New England was led by graduate student Kevin Hummer, who collected four wins in ten starts while making 11 overall appearances. Hummer threw two complete games for the Golden Bears, tossing 60.2 innings in total. Hummer tossed 43 strikeouts on the year while dotting a 3.12 ERA. Matt Lauria made 11 appearances for WNE, making nine starts, collecting a 5-3 record on the year. Junior Jared Kuryan threw 47 strikeouts on the year for WNE, throwing 50.2 innings, collecting a 3.55 ERA. In the bullpen, sophomore Andrew Melone made 13 appearances, a team high, tossing 16 innings, collecting a 2.25 ERA.
As a team, Western New England was third overall in batting average in the CCC (.298), third overall in runs scored (321), third in hits (396), first in doubles (85), first in triples (26), second in home runs (33), and third in RBIs (285).
CCC Tournament:
To view the full CCC Tournament schedule, click here.
