Displaying the qualities found in a true champion, Lee used a combination of solid pitching, outstanding defense and timely hitting in capturing their second straight NCCAA Mid-East Region title on Thursday afternoon at Olympic Field.
The Flames defeated Bluefield College for the second straight evening and marched through the regional tournament by outscoring their opponents 28-4 over the three game span. Thursday's 8-1 victory was highlighted by a six run rally in the fifth inning.
The fifth inning proved to be magic for the Lee club. On Wednesday it put five runs on the board in the fifth and claimed a 7-3 win.
The Flames, much to the delight of coach Mark Brew, captured a region championship for the eighth straight year. "I certainly didn't want to see our seniors break that streak," said Brew after his club improved to 34-18-1. "It's exciting for our seniors to have a chance to win a World Series. We are all looking forward to the competition and the opportunity that lies ahead."
The Lee lineup produced from top to bottom in Thursday's win. All totaled, the Brew crew pounded out 16 hits, including a pair of doubles and a home run. MJ Brown continued his superb tournament hitting with a double and two singles. He drove in two runs and scored once. Catcher Nate Weirzgac followed with three hits, while Siosi Poti, Andres Nelo, Ben Holland and Luke Toms banged out two hits apiece. Toms had a two-run homer in the eighth inning and Poti turned a single into a double with his gifted speed in the third inning.
Bluefield scored its only run and broke open a scoreless battle in the fourth inning. Garrett Schilling was hit by a pitch and later scored on a single by Nic Ratliff. The Rams would only have two more hits the remainder of the game.
Lee's big fifth inning rally saw 10 batters step up to the plate. Poti got his team fired up with a single and by stealing second and third bases. He tied the game on a single by Chris Adams. Nelo followed with a one-base knock and Adams scored on Toms' single. The rally continued on a double by Brown that plated two runs. Weirzgac chipped in with a single and Cameron Scott climaxed the six-run rally with a single down the left-field line that scored two runs.
"I thought we swung the bats extremely well throughout the lineup," pointed out Brew. "We played with a lot of aggressiveness and energy and that was led by Poti. He had several big hustle plays throughout the tournament."
Jacob Potts worked the first seven innings for the Flames and picked up his fourth pitching win of the year. He allowed six hits, one earned run, struck out eight and walked two. "Potts set the tone for the day," remarked Brew. "He has pitched extremely well late into the season." Ridge Ackerman might have set record time in retiring six straight Rams over the next two innings. He registered a strikeout.
The Rams used five pitchers in an effort to cool off the Lee bats. Luke Harris was solid for four innings before having to retire with some type of injury. He allowed four hits and no earned runs. Dyland Cole was charged with the pitching defeat. In 2/3 of an inning he surrendered three hits and three earned runs. Ryan Lawson was the only Ram with two hits, while Ratliff collected a RBI.
"I'm really proud of how this team played this week," noted Brew. "All teams have played with some type of adversity but this team has found a way to battle through any and all that we have had to face this year.
"We will take a couple of days off and then get in a couple of short practices before departing sometime on Monday for Macon, Ohio and the World Series."