Delgado Defeats MCC to Claim Region 23 Crown

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles saw its 2014 season come to a sudden end Sunday night as Delgado claimed the Region 23 Division I Championship with a 6-1 victory over the Eagles in extra innings.

MCC closed out the 2014 campaign with a 26-26 overall record. Delgado (39-10) will now advance to the South Central District Tournament that will be played next weekend with the winner advancing to the NJCAA Division I World Series in Grand Junction, CO.

Delgado struck for the opening run of the game in the top of the third inning to grab an early 1-0 lead.

Josh Watkins drove in the first run for the Dolphins on an RBI single to left field, that scored Cole Freeman who reached on a two-out walk.

MCC came up with some magic in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the game at 1-1. Grant Hill drove in the run for the Eagles on a bunt that allowed Paul Angel to score from third base who led the inning off with a walk. 

The Dolphins scored the eventual game winning runs in top of the 13th inning to secure the Region 23 Championship over Meridian by a final score of 6-1.

Chris Eades delivered a one-out infield single that drove in a run to give Delgado a 2-1 lead. The next run of the inning scored when a sharp ground ball was hit to shortstop Brooks Balisterri that was throw away at home plate to allow the run to score.

Jordan Caillouet put the game away for good with a triple to center field after a diving effort by Paul Angel that made the score 6-1. MCC went down in the bottom of the 13th inning to finish the season by dropping a heartbreaking five-run decision to the Dolphins.

Kellon Hibbard suffered the pitching loss on the mound in relief and Scott Stonestreet picked up the win in relief for Delgado. 

Former Clarkdale star Jonathan Porter turned in a solid performance on the mound for Eagles in the starting role. Porter worked 6 2/3 innings, allowed one earned run, two walks, and collected six strikeouts.

MCC finished the season with five total hits in the game. Paul Angel had a double in the game, while Michael Druhan had a single. Grant Hill, Brooks Balisterri, and Goose Yates each had singles in the loss.