FINAL STATS

The #1 seed Queensborough Community College Tigers topped the #2 seed Borough of Manhattan Community College Panthers, making their first-ever appearance in the City University of New York Athletic Conference / Municipal Credit Union Community College Championship Game, 9-5 on Monday night at MCU Park in Coney, Island, Brooklyn. The Tigers (13-14) used two four-run innings to pounce on the Panthers en route to the school's 14th title in the 25-year history of the event.

QCC pitcher James Scagnelli came into the game with two men on and one out in the third inning and held BMCC scoreless over the final 6.2 innings to earn Game Most Valuable Player honors.

“It feels pretty good,” said an elated Scagnelli. “It’s the first championship in my life, at any level - first of I hope many more.”

The Panthers took the lead immediately, as Jason Javier doubled down the left field line in the top of the first and scored on a Luis Hiraldo single to put BMCC up 1-0.

But the Tigers, appearing in the CUNYAC final for the 22nd time in 25 seasons, wasted no time getting even, as leadoff hitter Bobby McDowell singled through the box. He stole second during the next at bat and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After the cleanup hitter Lebro Burnette walked he also took off for second and the errant throw allowed McDowell to come home and tie up the score at one apiece.

An inning later, QCC benefited from two walks, a throwing error and a wild pitch to score another run, when McDowell stood at the plate for his second at bat. The sophomore left fielder hit a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Tigers a comfortable 5-2 lead .

“McDowell's bomb over the left field fence had to be the offensive highlight of the game,” said Queensborough head coach Roger Mischel, who pitched for the Tigers in this championship game almost a decade ago. 

But in the next frame, BMCC pounded the Tigers starter, Anthony Graziano, scoring four runs of their own and bouncing Graziano out of the game. Harrry Santiago singled to start the inning. He was followed by a Kevin Hernandez walk and a Jason Javier single to load the bases. Shortstop Stanley DeLaCruz, the #5 hitter was next; he popped a double to left center to drive in two runs. Then an Ariel Torres single up the middle brought home another pair and the game was tied once again, 5-5. Bring in Scagnelli.

“I felt I had a big opportunity and I had to come through. They had two men on base. I had to shut them out in that inning,“ said the sophomore righty from East Rockaway, NY. “I had a lot of self talk in the dugout the whole game.”

Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Genry Valera on the mound, replacing starter Shane Cafaro, the Tigers struck for four more runs to finally put the game out of reach. He allowed three walks ad both Rodney Rosario and Scott Recinos walked and would score on a Jenison Espinosa two-RBI single. Valera was then replaced by Yineton Ramirez, who gave up a single to Burnette and allowed Michael Nardozzi and Espinoza to score insurance runs.

Scagnelli was strong the rest of the game, facing 25 batters, striking out 10 and only allowing four hits and two walks in six plus innings and was the single reason that the Panthers never mounted a big inning.

“He was great shutting down their lineup,“ added Mischel “He was pitched in last year's game (0.2 innings in the ninth) and we were unable capture the win, so I am very glad tonight. I told him he wasn't coming out. It was his game to win.”

Meanwhile, it was a coming out event for BMCC, as it has never finished the regular season as high as second place to earn a berth into the final.  The contest was postponed twice last week due to rainy conditions at MCU Park.

For Links and the live stats and the latest results from the event, click here for CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL.