May 17, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

Johns Hopkins Wins South Regional Championship

(DANVILLE, VA) - The Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back in defeating the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University, 9-4, to capture the NCAA South Regional Baseball Championship.

Salisbury (40-4) crossed the first run of the contest in the top of the first when Andrew Miller reached on a single and later scored on a Mike Celenza single. Johns Hopkins (39-6) answered immediately however, with its six runs in the bottom of the frame.

The big inning for the Blue Jays started when Dan Merzel reached on an error, then Brian Youchak ripped a triple down the left field line to score Merzel. There were five more hits in the inning, including another triple, this time from Nate Adelman which gave JHU the early 6-1 lead. 

The Sea Gulls crossed two runs in the second inning and another run in the third to close the gap but the Blue Jays scored three more runs themselves, to open the lead to 9-4.

The pitching for both teams settled down beginning in the fifth inning and the remainder of the game passed without another score. JHU pitcher Chez Angeloni, who entered in the second inning, picked up the win going 7.1 innings allowing only one run. Eric Willey took the loss for SU with 4.0 innings pitched and nine runs, while Ryan Bennick pitched 4.0 without giving up a hit in relief. 

For Johns Hopkins, Jonas Fester and Jon Solomon each had a pair of hits in the contest, each with two runs scored and Solomon with a run batted in. Todd Emr had one hit with a run batted in with one run scored. For Salisbury, Will Evans led the way with three hits, one run and one run batted in. 

The victory propels the Blue Jays into the NCAA Championship Tournament which begins on May 23, at the Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin.

An All-Tournament team was selected, as follows:

Rob Pietrofrte – OF – Johns Hopkins
Ryan Litz – C – Lynchburg
Will Evans – SS – Salisbury
Andrew Miller – C – Salisbury
John Duke – DH – Piedmont
Matt Benchner – 1B – Johns Hopkins
Brian Youchak – RF – Johns Hopkins
Todd Emr – 3B – Johns Hopkins
Jon Crews – 1B – Lynchburg
Jonathan Nichols – P – Lynchburg
Ryan Bennick – P - Salisbury