Lakers Break Top 10 in NJCAA Rankings

The Finger Lakes Community College baseball team was ranked 9th in the NJCAA this week following the completion of their regular season schedule.  The Lakers finished 39-14 overall and 15-3 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference.  The Lakers took first place in the conference during the regular season and set a new program record for most wins in a season, passing the previous record of 38 wins set by the 1997 Lakers. 

Prior to Tuesday's final double header of the regular season, the Lakers held a 37-14 record, only two wins away from making program history.  The Lakers traveled to Dryden, NY to face the Panthers from Tompkins Cortland Community College.  The two teams met the previous week with the Lakers sweeping the Panthers at home by scores of 6-2 and 10-3.

The Lakers took game one of Tuesday's double header by a final score of 7-3 over the Panthers. Cole DuBois pitched a complete game, recording four strikeouts and allowing only two earned runs.  Mike Magnanti finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored.  Isaiah Merced went 2-for-2, including a double, with an RBI and three runs scored.  Danny Goodbread also had a hit and two RBI's for the Lakers.  

The Lakers topped the Panthers in game two by a score of 7-1, ensuring their place in Lakers history.  Richard Hurd got the start on the mound and the win for the Lakers.  Hurd pitched five innings with four strikeouts and no earned runs.  Nick Slobodiak and Austin Teets had two hits apiece.  Teets also added four RBI's for the Lakers.  Issaiah Merced finished 3-for-4 with one run scored.  Cole Tracy hit a double driving in one run.  

The Lakers will be competing in the 2016 NJCAA Region III tournament as the number two seed.  They will play host to the Cannoneers from Jefferson Community College, in a best of three series, for the first round of the regional tournament on Saturday, May 14.  Game one is set to begin at 12p.m. Good Luck Lakers!