Lackawanna College beat CCBC Catonsville twice on Friday afternoon in Moscow to advance to the Junior College World Series in Oklahoma next week. This is the first time in school history that the Falcons have advanced to the World Series.
The Falcons came back from a 7-1 deficit in game one to win 10-9 in 9 innings. Then they won game two 12-2 for the North East District Championship, They improve their overall record to 46-10.
Lackawanna almost got on the board in the top of the second inning if it wasn't for the arm of CCBC Catonsville center fielder Christian Laidley. His throw home nailed a Falcon runner at the plate to end the top of the second. No further scoring.
But in the third the bats came alive for Lackawanna College. Matt Frei drove in the first two runs of the game with his ground rule double to center field. A one hopper over the fence in straight away center field.
Kris Moules from Wyoming Valley West high school then knocked in the next two runs with a bloop single to left. It fell in between the infielders and the outfielders. It was 4-0 Falcons.
Josh White from nearby Valley View high school did a fabulous job directing the pitching staff from behind the plated all afternoon and he also carried a big stick by driving in run number five in the third inning with his own double.
Cameron Johnson finished off the scoring in the third with another hit and it was 6-0 Falcons.
Starting pitcher Chris Kirsch who cruised thru the first two innings had to wait 45 minutes in between the second the third to get back on the mound. A combination of Falcon hitting and bad breaks for CCBC Catonsville. Their starting pitcher left the game in the top of the third with an injury and the relief pitcher who came in from the bench needed extra time to warm up adding to the length of the inning.
It showed on Kirsch in the bottom of the third where he allowed his first hit and run of the game. CCBC Catonsville got on the board and back in the game at 6-2. But that's where it stopped. The big hard throwing lefty from Philadelphia's Newtown Square punched out two consecutive batters with the bases loaded with his nasty stuff to end the inning.
Josh Savakinus added some insurance with an rbi single in the 4th.
Lackawanna won the game 12-2 and celebrated in style with a final ground out to the shortstop. The bench emptied and the team jumped onto the pile near first base with the school's first trip to the Junior College World Series.