(Loch Sheldrake, NY) - After an uneven regular season that featured ups and downs that swung as quickly as the fastest of pendulums, the Westchester Community College Baseball team advanced to the Region XV Championship Tournament with every reason to expect the toughest of roads if the Vikings are going capture the region championship for the sixth consecutive season. 

After all, Westchester was relegated to the #3 seed after dropping five of their final six games, four of which came at the hands of Sullivan Community College ... the same Sullivan team that the Vikings traveled to on Thursday afternoon for their playoff opener ... the same Generals squad that outscored Westchester 49-19 over their four-game series sweep. 

But, this is a Westchester team that has been to the post-season for 15 consecutive seasons, and has won their playoff opener during each one of Head Coach Billy McClure's nine previous post-seasons at the WCC helm. A Vikings squad that has seen and done it all at the Region XV playoffs during their five-year reign. While serving as a major underdog on Thursday, Westchester also entered Thursday's showdown having the battle-tested mettle of a program with a lot to play for, even while opening the post-season with the rare distinction of being the away team.

And, on Thursday, Westchester had one more factor in its favor that Sullivan simply did not possess. His name is Michael Cox (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas HS), and he dominated every facet of the game. Cox, a freshman fire-balling southpaw, pitched a complete-game gem, allowing three runs, only one of which came after the first inning, and went 2 for 5 with three RBI's as Westchester notched a 12-3 win over the second-seeded Generals on Thursday afternoon at Sullivan CC. With the win, Westchester is now 24-14 overall, and advances to Friday's winner's bracket.

Cox allowed two first inning runs before settling in to allow only two earned runs over eight stellar innings, while striking out eight. He did allow 13 Sullivan hits, but the hits were so scattered that the Generals never were able to get any offensive momentum going. 

Sullivan maintained the 2-0 lead through three innings, but the Vikings scored four runs during the top of the fourth inning to take the lead for good, twice more an inning later, two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, and four times in the eighth stanza to force the early conclusion due to run rule.

For Westchester, freshman CJ Spence (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon HS) had a huge day at the plate, going 3 for 5 - including a double - with 3 RBI's, while sophomore Steve Messerschmitt (Carmel, NY/Carmel HS) went 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Aside from Cox's heroics, the game may have been won thanks to the outstanding play of the bottom the Westchester line-up as their 6-9 hitters combined for four hits, eight RBI's and four runs scored. Freshman Tyler Parshley (Carmel, NY/Carmel HS) reached base three times, and had two RBI's and two runs scored, whole sophomore Sean Vanegas (Bronx, NY/Mount Saint Michael) drove in a pair of runs to take over the Westchester season RBI lead with 36.

Westchester will now face top-seeded Rockland Community College, a 10-0 win over Ulster CC, on Friday, May 10 at 4:00 p.m. in the second round of the double-elimination tournament.  All remaining Region XV playoff games will take place at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY.

Should the weather forecast change Friday's schedule, any changes will be announced at GoWCCVikings.com and on all Westchester Community College Athletic Department Social Media vehicles.