Strongsville Grad Helps Tri-C Baseball Team to Regional Win

 The Cuyahoga Community College baseball team won three straight games to claim the Division II Sub Regional tournament championship and earn a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Region XII tournament May 13-16 in Battle Creek, MI. 

Tri-C stands 25-12 overall heading into its scheduled first round game against Grand Rapids Community College this Friday.  The Region XII champion advances to the Division II World Series May 28 - June 4 in Enid, OK.

 Tri-C won its Sub Regional by defeating Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) rivals Owens Community College, 7-4; and Lakeland Community College, 5-4 and 3-2 in the championship game.

 Ryan Bores (Strongsville) allowed just two earned runs on eight hits over seven innings to earn the win in the first game against Lakeland.  Chet Lauer (St. Ignatius) delivered two hits, scored two runs, including the game winner, and batted in a pair. Justin Edwards (Mount Vernon) added a double and a run batted in, while Paul Birk (Garfield Heights) drove home Lauer with the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

 Corey Johnston (Medina Highland) started against Owens and pitched three innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out five.  Tyler Chapin (Warren Harding) earned the win in relief with four scoreless innings.  Anthony Manco (Brunswick) and Jake Kucek (Canfield) paced the offense with three hits each.  Alex Walke (Cuyahoga Falls) contributed with a hit and two runs batted in.