Box Score (Valhalla, NY) - Two days, two games, and two walk-off wins over Rockland Community College later, the Westchester Community College Baseball team has clinched the #1 seed for next weekend's NJCAA Region XV Tournament to be held at Rockland CC. Most importantly, the Vikings will hit during the bottom of each inning during the playoffs and, during the last 24 hours, Westchester CC proved exactly why this is so important, regardless of where the games are being played. For two teams that seem to be neck-and-neck in every single way, hitting during the bottom of the final inning could be the difference between ending the season before Mother's Day, and competing for a potential spot in the NJCAA World Series.

Unlike Thursday's 13-12 win over Rockland that saw the Vikings come back from a deficit that seemed at times to be insurmountable, Friday's 8-7 walk-off win came after Westchester seemed to be in complete command for much of the game from the opening minutes of play, literally. After Nicholas Antenucci (Yonkers, NY/Stepinac) retired the side unscathed in the top of the first inning, lead-off hitter Scottie Giordano (Valhalla, NY/Valhalla HS) blasted the third pitch he saw over the right centerfield wall to give the hosts a quick 1-0 lead. 

Two innings later, the lead became 3-0 when three Rockland errors led to two unearned runs, one of which came home on a Paul Franzese (Somers, NY/Somers HS) double.

Rockland got on the board during the top of the third inning and seemed to make it a game, but Antenucci settled in and avoided further damage. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Westchester appeared to put the game away when Franzese blasted a grand slam to right field to give WCC a 7-1 lead.

However, from there, Rockland saw their bats wake up and methodically chipped away at the deficit.

The Hawks scored three times during the sixth inning to make it a 7-4 game, and twice more an inning later to make it 7-6. In the top of the eighth inning, an unearned run allowed Rockland to complete the comeback, and tie the score at seven.  However, that is when Franzese took to the mound for only the second time this season, and in the process became a hero. The sophomore relieved Steve Messerschmitt (Carmel, NY/Carmel HS) and tossed two perfect innings to silence the Rockland bats. He struck out two in the process.

Franzese's efforts on the mound was all the Vikings needed. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Thursday's hero, Sergio Osorio (North White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS), came through in the clutch once again, walking to open the inning. With one out, he stole second base, and advanced to third base when Franzese flew out. That brought Christian Lovecchio (North White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) to the plate, and the rookie singled home Osorio for the win.

With the win, the Vikings improve to 23-10, and 15-3 in both Region XV and Mid Hudson Conference play. While the #1 seed is secure, the Mid Hudson Conference Championship is not as a quirky tie-breaker rule would give Rockland the championship if they win the final two games. However, one Westchester CC victory would clinch the championship for the Vikings.

The day belonged to Franzese, who did just about everything. He went 2 for 5 with five RBI's, including his grand slam, and he earned his first win of the season on the mound, while making several terrific plays at third base before he was called upon to pitch. Also for WCC, Osorio went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

The 2018 home schedule is complete for Westchester as the Vikings will compete at Rockland Community College for the foreseeable future. Their first trip across the bridge is Saturday, May 4 when the Vikings and Hawks meet for a noon doubleheader.