(Wappingers Falls, NY) - In Baseball, sometimes success is based on small-ball kind of hustle plays, and at other times a team is victorious because of one mighty swing of the bat. And, then there are times when you just have to be patient and persistent, the latter of which proved to be the case during Westchester Community College's 7-3 win over Dutchess Community College on Monday night at Dutchess Stadium. While there were several highlights for the Vikings, few were as important as the base on balls. Not only did Westchester collect 11 of them on Monday night, leading to several important runs, but sophomore Steve Guzman (Bronx, NY/John F. Kennedy HS) drew four of them, and is now the all-time Westchester CC career walks leader with 84. Guzman reached base five times, and scored twice, as Westchester earned a 3-1 series win over a strong Dutchess team for the 2019 season, and remained in the hunt for a home playoff game later this week.

Westchester (23-12, 10-8 Region XV,/Mid Hudson Conference) led 2-0 at the end of the first inning, 5-1 an inning later, and 7-1 after three innings, and never looked back as timely hitting, and an outstanding effort on the mound gave the Vikings all they needed as they played for the first time in four days thanks to multiple weather postponements.

While drawing for 11 total walks, the Vikings also combined for seven hits, with sophomore Steve Messerschmitt (Carmel, NY/Carmel HS) going 2 for 5 with a walk, and RBI, and a run scored. Six other Vikings recorded a single hit, and sophomores Chris Cipriano (Irvington, NY/Dobbs Ferry HS) and Sean Vanegas (Bronx, NY/Mount Saint Michael) reached base three times apiece, and combined for three runs scored.

While Dutchess struggled to find a rhythm on the mound, Westchester was able to get into a pitching groove from the start. Freshman Hector Camacho (Harrison, NY/Harrison HS) turned in another fine performance allowing only five hits and three runs over four innings of work. From there, the Viking bullpen sizzled as sophomore Luis Gomez (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond's) earned his fifth win of the 2019 season with more than four innings of near-perfect pitching. Freshman Michael Cox (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas HS) earned his first career save, retiring the final two batters of the game.

Westchester CC returns to action on Tuesday, May 7 when the Vikings close the regular season with a home doubleheader against Sullivan CC, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Westchester needs one win to clinch the #2 seed for the upcoming Region XV playoffs that beginning on Thursday, May 9. A Sullivan sweep will push the Generals up to the #2 seed, and force Westchester to open the post-season on the road.