Ceglarek Powers Baseball Past Anna Maria
PAXTON, Mass. - Junior Jim Ceglarek (Chicago, Ill.) hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth as the Becker College baseball team overcame a 4-1 eight-inning deficit to defeat Anna Maria College 5-4 in a non-conference Division III contest at Alumni Field on Tuesday afternoon. With the win, the Hawks improve to 11-7-1 on the season, while the AMCATS drop to 10-19-1.
In addition to Ceglarek's clutch home run, sophomore Jairo Valdez (Lynn, Mass.) had a team-high three hits in five at-bats for the Hawks, including a game tying RBI double in the eighth. Senior Frank Vaccaro (Shrewsbury, Mass.) also had a fine day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. On the mound, sophomore Errick Maddern (West Haven, Conn.) tossed three strong innings of relief, allowing just one run while striking out five to earn his fifth victory of the season.
Sophomore JK Vaughn (Simsbury, Conn.) led the way for AMCATS, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Sophomore Jim McNamara (Worcester, Mass.) also played well, going 2-for-5 with one run batted in. Starting pitcher Zach Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.) took a no decision after hurling five innings, surrendering just one run on four hits.
The two teams held each other scoreless into the fifth, when the Hawks finally broke through against Rafferty with a bases loaded walk by Vaccaro.
The AMCATS responded by rallying for three runs in the bottom half of the inning, getting a two-run double by Vaughn and an RBI single from Scafidi to grab a 3-1 lead.
AMC added another run in the seventh when McNamara delivered an RBI single scoring Vaughn.
With time running out, the Hawks battled back to tie the score with three runs on three hits in the top of the eighth. Vaccaro and Geoff Sinnott, Jr. (Coventry, R.I.) each drove in runs before Valdez came through with a clutch two-out RBI double to tie the score at 4-4.
he Hawks wasted no time in the ninth, as Ceglarek led off the inning with a go-ahead home run to left center, putting Becker ahead for good 5-4.
