March 19, 2007

The Northeastern Junior College baseball team roared back from three runs down to force a tie with Skagit Valley in its final game at the Pima Classic in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday. The Plainsmen won the morning game Saturday, beating El Paso Junior College, 4-2.

The Plainsmen finished a seven-inning deadlock with Skagit Valley with the score tied at three. Pima Classic Tournament rules prohibited extra innings.

NJC scored what appeared to be the winning run when leadoff man Josh Warren beat out Skagit's attempt at a double play. Jose Collazo was on third and crossed the plate. But the field umpire ruled Warren out at first base so the run was negated.

Northeastern fell behind, 3-0, after three innings. But starting pitcher Jesus Colon settled in and didn't allow another run through five innings. Freshman Darren Chavez came on to retire Skagit in the sixth and seventh to force the tie.

The Plainsmen got an RBI single from Rhett Welsh to cut Skajet's lead to 3-1. Sophomore Langston Frison's RBI-groundout tied the game at three in the sixth before Warren came to the plate for the controversial end to the inning.

In the morning game, NJC defeated El Paso Junior College, 4-2. Freshman Arvin Perez stifled El Paso's offense through four and a third. Reno native Justin Sortino came on in relief of Perez and picked up the save with two and a third innings of work.

The Plainsmen jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against El Paso. Welsh and freshman Jose Collazo had RBI singles while Gus Velazquez knocked in two in the inning with a double down the right field line.

Northeastern moved to 14-7-1 on the season with the 3-2-1 road trip to Arizona. The Plainsmen return to Region IX play to take on McCook at home on Mar. 24.