Box Score
WEST LAWN, Pa. – Charlie Kelly went 4-for-4 with two runs batted in and three runs scored to earn tournament MVP honors and lead seventh-ranked West Chester University to a 14-0 victory in the championship game of the 2009 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Sunday at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park.
West Chester (46-10) advances to the Division II College World Series, which will be held May 23-30 in Cary, N.C., at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, for the first time since 2006. The Golden Rams will open its World Series slate against the South Region champion on Sunday, May 24 at 5:00 p.m. The South Region will crown its champion on Monday. Mercyhurst ended its season at 38-17 with its second loss to West Chester in a title game in a little over one week.
The Golden Rams plated four runs in each of the second and third innings to open up an 8-0 lead and take all the pressure off of freshman left-hander Conor Kerins (8-2), who scattered four hits, walked two and struck out five, to register his second win over the Lakers this year. Kerins was also the pitcher of record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game on May 7.
“This is something these guys have wanted since being there in 2006,” West Chester head coach Greg Mamula said. “They’ve really worked hard to get to this point, and they are a pretty good baseball team.”
West Chester slapped around four Mercyhurst pitchers for 14 runs on 19 hits to increase its winning streak to 10 straight. The Lakers committed three errors as well. Sophomore left-hander Nick Gillung (6-1) suffered the first loss of his career, allowing four runs on five hits in two innings. Matthew Jimenez came on in the third and didn’t fare any better. He yielded four runs of his own on seven hits in just two innings. Jeremy Cressley gave up five runs on six hits in four innings before Thurman Schaetzle finished up in the ninth.
Kelly sparked three separate four-run rallies in the championship game. He led off the second inning with a 400-foot triple to dead center that ignited the Rams’ initial four-run rally. After West Chester batted around that inning, he then led off the third with a single and came around to score the first run of another four-run frame. In the eighth, Kelly blasted his seventh home run of the season over the 415-foot sign in center field for a two-run shot that set off the third four-run inning of the game.
Joe Wendle went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. He hit a two-run homer in the eighth two batters after Kelly’s shot.
Blair Dameron hit his 13th home run of the season in the ninth inning, setting a new single-season school record. He finished 2-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI.
“Down the line, I’ll appreciate some of the records. Right now, I am proud for everybody on this team,” first baseman Dameron said. “You appreciate these moments so much more when you’ve been there and then watched somebody else go the last two years.
“The last time we were there, we were just happy to make it. This time, we are going with a whole new attitude. We want to win some baseball games.”
West Chester put five players on the all-tournament team. Catcher Bob Stumpo, shortstop Nick Spisak, outfielders Matt Cotellese and Charlie Kelly and starting pitcher David Slusser were all named to the team Sunday.
2009 Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team:
C - Bob Stumpo, West Chester
1B - Jeff Stoll, Mercyhurst
2B - Mike Kacelowicz, Kutztown
3B - Brian Collins, Shepherd
SS - Nick Spisak, West Chester
OF - Brooks Cullen, Concord
OF - Matt Cotellese, West Chester
OF - Charlie Kelly, West Chester
DH - Chad Chambers, West Virginia State
SP - Eric Workman, West Virginia State,
SP - David Slusser, West Chester
MVP - Charlie Kelly, West Chester
