RECORDS: The Apprentice School (29-16) | College of St. Joseph's VT (25-22)
LOCATION: East Field Park in Glens Falls, NY
IN BRIEF: The Apprentice School advances to the USCAA Baseball National Championship game for the second time in three seasons after defeating College of St. Joseph's College 6-3.
HOW THEY SCORED: Defending National Champions, College of St. Joseph's VT, took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. Jared Morello led off the inning with a double to right center. Tyler Kunzmann grounded out right side, advancing Morello to third, before Nick Powers hit a deep fly to center to score the run.
The Builders answered quickly in the top half of the fourth inning, scoring three runs on three hits. Robbie Watkins started the rally with a double over the left fielder. Cody Hendricks walked and Nick Morrisette bunted to move both runners into scoring position. Pitcher Steve Hux singled to center to score Watkins. Then, Mitchell Grawey who courtesy ran for Hux stole second. Darius Harris dropped a single between the shortstop and centerfielder to score Grawey and Williams, who was the courtesy runner for Hendricks.
Down 3-1, College of St. Joseph's closed the gap in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Morello reached first on an error by the second baseman. Kunzmann singled to left field before Nick Powers delivered an RBI single to right.
The Builders built on their lead in the top of the sixth as they started the inning off with a Morrisette double to center, followed by a Hux single into right. Morrisette advanced to third on a wild pitch and Dye knocked a base hit into left to score Morrisette. With two men on, Richardson was walked to load the bases. Countiss fought off pitches and was eventually walked to score Hux.
The Fighting Saints got back a run in the sixth as Brian Quezada scored on a Rodriguez double to right center. Apprentice answered in the top half of the seventh as Morisette walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Hux single to left.
The Builders went into the bottom of the seventh with a 6-3 lead. It appeared as St. Joseph's would make a stand with a Kunzmann single with only one out, but Apprentice closer Steven Conley would shut the next two batters down for the save.
