Box Score Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Senior first baseman Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) lined a run-scoring walk-off single to left with one out in the ninth inning as second-seeded Western New England College defeated seventh-seeded Anna Maria 4-3 Friday afternoon (Apr. 30) in an elimination game of The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Baseball Tournament at Trelease Park.

The Golden Bears, who are 2-1 in the tournament, will host third-seeded Endicott at 10:00 a.m. Saturday (May 1). If WNEC wins, the two teams will square off in an elimination contest at 2:00 p.m. later in the afternoon. The Gulls (27-13) have a 2-0 mark in the tournament.

Western New England College raised its record to 30-9, but it wasn't easy.

The upstart AMCATS took a 1-0 lead in the second on RBI double by junior catcher Jeff Kodys (Holden, MA) and went ahead 2-0 with another run in the third following a run-scoring single by senior left fielder Jeff Lander (Gloucester, MA).

The Golden Bears tied the game in the bottom of the third when Griglun delivered a clutch, two-out single that drove in two runs. WNEC went ahead 3-2 in the fifth when Griglun grounded into a hard-hit double play with the bases loaded.

Anna Maria tied the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by freshman center fielder Mike Guarnieri (Wallingford, CT). 

Western New England College freshman Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, CT) pitched a gutty 7 2/3 innings allowing 11 hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. 

Junior Mike Lawlor (Windsor, CT) came on with two runners on base in the eighth and retired the side. He gave up a lead-off hit in the ninth, which was promptly erased when Guarnieri bunted into a double play. Lawlor then struck out the final batter and wound up winning his fourth game in five decisions.

Freshman second baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) had the other two hits for the Golden Bears while senior center fielder Steve Kearney (Glastonbury, CT) scored two runs.

Sophomore Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, MA) went 5 2/3 innings for the AMCATS and did a nice job allowing only three hits with five strikeouts. He walked five and hit Kearney twice. Freshman Ed Maldonado (Worcester, MA) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and gave up a hit with a strikeout and two walks. He also hit two Golden Bears.

Junior shortstop Mike Galvin (Rutland, MA) had three hits for AMC while Guarnieri and senior first baseman JK Vaughn (Simsbury, CT) each had two.

The AMCATS were one of the most improved teams in the the region and ended their season with a respectable 20-19 record.