Avery Point confident of earning a trip to NJCAA World Series
May 17—GROTON — UConn Avery Point has all the ingredients necessary to win this weekend's East District Division II baseball tournament and earn a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.
The Pointers (27-9) are an experienced team and highly motivated after falling short last season, finishing as the district runner-up.
They're blessed with a talented and deep pitching staff.
Speed helps fuel a productive batting order.
And they have a healthy dose of competitive grit.
"We've got it all," sophomore Tiernan Powers said. "The hitting is all coming along right now. We've got a deep pitching staff. Everything is going right right now."
Avery Point begins the four-team, double elimination tournament on Friday in Scranton, Pa., against a familiar opponent — Lackawanna College — at 11 a.m.
The teams met four times during the regular season, splitting two doubleheaders.
Delaware Tech Community College and SUNY Sullivan will face off in Friday's other first round game.
Coach Ian Ratchford, who's in his fourth season, feels good about his team's chances.
"I trust this team," he said. "Our guys are going to be ready for the moment."
Avery Point advanced by sweeping host Monroe Community College, 13-10 and 11-7, last weekend in the Sub-District tournament in Rochester, N.Y.
"Pitching, for the most part, has been our strong suit this year," Ratchford said. "But it was definitely nice to see the bats come alive."
Ratchford isn't worried about his pitching staff. The Pointers posted a 3.45 earned run average — the fifth lowest in the country — during the regular season, with Keegan Daigle (4-1, 2.30) and Alex Mach (3-1, 3.32) leading the way. Daigle will pitch in Friday's opener.
Mach, Avery Point's ace the last two years, committed to UConn on Tuesday.
"We have 12 guys that can all go out there and compete," said Powers, who's split time as a starter and reliever. "The mindset is a lot of it, too, because I feel like talent will only take you so far. Every one of our guys has the mindset that no one is going to beat you."
Offensively, the first three batters in the lineup spark the Pointers. Malcolm Mention (22 stolen bases), Vance Ward (22) and Zach Mascaro (15) create havoc with their speed.
Tyler Rice (.356, four home runs, 29 RBI), Mascaro (.306, four HRs, 36 RBI), Andrew Lozier (.271, six HRs, 25 RBI) and Jaden Echevarria (.282, three HRs, 22 RBI) are the team's top offensive threats.
Experience is on Avery Point's side.
The Pointers have 18 players back from last year.
"This sophomore class is pretty experienced in these kinds of moments," Ratchford said. "Even going back to high school, Vance and Jaden played for Norwalk and won a state title. Alex Mach played for Coginchaug and won a state title. Bobby Lasbury is from Southington and they're always top-notch.
"We have a lot of kids that really love the big moment and don't shy away from it."
The sophomore class is determined to earn a spot in the World Series before moving on. Powers, who'll play at Eastern Connecticut State University next season, remembers what it felt like to lose in the East District tourney last spring.
"I was on the mound for that championship game in the districts," he said. "It was a terrible feeling. We don't want that to happen again. ... This is what we all play for. This is why we do this. We just want to keep going and take the next step further to the World Series."