Published: May 22, 2009 12:10 am      

Allegany opens Saturday

Trojans take on Kellogg CC in NJCAA D-II World Series

ENID, Okla. — Allegany College of Maryland joins nine other district champions from throughout the country that have descended on David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid for the 17th NJCAA Division II World Series Tournament.

The Trojans, winners of the Northeast District, will begin their trek Saturday, 1 p.m. Eastern time, when they play Kellogg Community College (Mich.), the winner of the North District, on Saturday.

Allegany (47-13) enters the DII World Series for the second time in three years, and is making its ninth trip to an NJCAA championship tournament. Currently ranked No. 8 in the country, the Trojans played seven times in Grand Junction, Colo., including four straight years (1994-97).

Kellogg (48-10) is also making its second appearance in the past three seasons, and is playing in the tournament for just the third time in school history. The Bruins from Battle Creek were underdog during the North District Tournament, but won as the No. 7 seed. They defeated No. 2 Grand Rapids twice in the semifinals, as well as No. 3 Sinclair twice, including 10-4 in the final.

The Trojans cruised into the World Series by winning its district with a 14-3, 16-11 sweep of a Burlington (N.J.) on Saturday. The two wins made ACM 5-0 during the postseason.

Luis Lopez earned the Northeast District MVP after getting six hits and six runs batted in the two games. Ryan MacNamara improved to 9-2 with Brad Kling and Sam Watkins homering during the first game. Kling added three singles and had four RBIs, while Lopez and Jerry Lloyd singled three times. MacNamara allowed eight hits, struck out five and walked five others.

A.J. Czap hit one single that gave him a school-record 85 hits for the season.

Allegany jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, and had 20 hits as a team. Lloyd hit a double and three singles, and Matt Curtis had three basehits and two RBIs. Cody Blickenstaff also had four hits, all singles, with two driven in.

“First of all, we beat a great Burlington team that had a lot of hitters,” said Allegany coach Steve Bazarnic, who is looking for his first World Series title. “We played outstanding defense and we hit the ball. Ryan MacNamara pitched well in the first game and in the second game we always answered the call when they scored.

Andy Lytle also improved to 9-2 coming on in relief of Chris Kechisen.

Czap continues to lead the team with a .406 batting average and 64 RBIs, while Ethan Newton sits right behind him at .401. Lloyd is just short of .400 at .398, and adds 60 RBIs.

The Bruins are led at the plate by Derrick Strzalkowski and his .436 average, and 36 RBIs. He also leads the team with 16 doubles. Aaron Ciesiak steps in with a .395 average and 34 RBIs.

Chris Whitney has a 2.27 earned run average in 39 2/3 innings pitches, but has just 18 strikeouts to 20 walks. Jeff Wojtusik has thrown 55 2/3 innings, has 32 strikeouts to seven walks and a 2.91 ERA.

All first-round games will be played on Saturday following opening ceremonies on Friday evening. The championship game of the double-elimination tournament will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.

If the Trojans advance past Kellogg they will play the winner of Kanakakee vs. Parkland, both of Illinois. Allegany would play the loser of the same match-up should it lose to the Bruins.

This is the first year for the event to be held in Enid. The previous 16 years the World Series was played in Millington, Tenn.

Chris Appel is a sportswriter for the Cumberland Times-News. Contact Chris Appel at cappel@times-news.com.