The NCAA News - News and Features

June 8, 1998

Eastern Connecticut State approaches perfection in 16-1 win

Eastern Connecticut State put together a near-perfect game and pounded Montclair State, 16-1, in the Division III Baseball Championship title game May 27 in Salem, Virginia.

Eight of the nine Eastern Connecticut State starters collected at least one hit, and the Warriors stroked eight doubles in an 18-hit attack. Starting pitcher Scott Czerwinski picked up his second victory in as many starts during the championship series as he allowed only four hits in seven innings of work.

The bottom third of the Warriors lineup was especially productive as Chris D'Amato, Steven Rembisz and Anthony Formato were a collective eight-for-12 with two doubles, five runs scored and eight runs batted in.

The national championship was the third for head coach Bill Holowaty in his 30 years at Eastern Connecticut State. The Warriors also won NCAA championships in 1990 and 1982.

"This year is very special," said Holowaty, whose career record is 856-326-4. "These kids made it a goal to win the national championship. They worked hard and they got what they deserved. It's the best group of kids, parents, fans and coaches. I'm very proud of them."

Leading 1-0 after three innings, Eastern Connecticut State broke the game open with a five-run fourth after two were out. Rembisz doubled in Lance Podlesney, who also had doubled. The next three batters -- Formato, Jonathan Krot and Nick Tempesta -- all reached safely and drove in four more runs.

The Warriors struck again with four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Rembisz drove in his third run of the game in the sixth and finished the game four-for-six with a team-high four runs batted in.

"Eastern Connecticut State is just an outstanding baseball team, and really deserves to win the national championship," said Montclair State coach Norm Schoenig. "They played outstanding all tournament. In both games against us they were exceptional."

D'Amato, who hit .786 in five games (11-for-14) with three doubles and six RBIs, was voted the tournament's most outstanding player.

Joining D'Amato on the all-tournament team were teammates Czerwinski and pitcher Scott Chiasson. Also named to the team were first baseman Shawn McCorkle; outfielder Dan Wydner; and designated hitter Frank Francia from Montclair State. Catcher Billy Bacon and outfielder Scott Wesson made the squad from Cortland State, while shortstop Brian Horn and outfielder Erik Morrell from Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and third baseman Tim Bontrager of Anderson (Indiana) also were named to the team.

Eastern Connecticut State finished its championship season with a 40-11 record, while Montclair State was 35-11-1.

Game 1

Eastern Conn. St. -- 100 -- 600 -- 002--9 -- 12 -- 0

Wis.-Oshkosh -- 010 -- 001 -- 100--3 -- 7 -- 1

Scott Czerwinski, Scott Chiasson (7) and Anthony Formato; Craig Glysch, Josh Zych (5), John Hendrick (9) and Casey Kopitzke. W--Czerwinski. L--Glysch. S-Chiasson.

Game 2

Aurora -- 002 -- 102 -- 002--7 -- 7 -- 1

Cal Lutheran -- 201 -- 030 -- 000--6 -- 7 -- 2

Matt Deegan, Dan Arendt (5), Jeff Ziobro (9) and John Reeves; Adam Springston, Brock Benson (6), Erik Kiszczak (7), Brian Malchow (9) and Bill Finnerty. W--Arendt. L-Kiszczak. S--Ziobro.

Game 3

Anderson (Ind.) -- 110 -- 100 -- 000--3 -- 11 -- 1

Cortland St -- 201 -- 020 -- 31x--9 -- 13 -- 2

Derek Byard, Terry Johnson (6), Ryan Fuller (7), Rod Holterman (8) and Todd Likens; Mike Dempsey and Billy Bacon, Jon Young. W--Dempsey. L--Byard. HR-Tim Bontrager [Anderson (Ind.)].

Game 4

Montclair St. -- 212 -- 200 -- 001--8 -- 9 -- 0

N.C. Wesleyan -- 010 -- 101 -- 000--3 -- 10 -- 2

A. J. Economou, Steve Trongone (7) and Alex Bosch; Jayson Sigley, Buddy Hernandez (3), Curt Sinatro (6) and Jeremy Stewart. W--Economou. L--Sigley. HR--Shawn McCorkle (Montclair St.).

Game 5

Wis.-Oshkosh -- 100 -- 210 -- 001--5 -- 7 -- 0

Cal Lutheran -- 000 -- 001 -- 002--3 -- 7 -- 2

Kevin Grater and Casey Kopitzke; Tom Canale and Eddie Romero, Bill Finnerty. W--Grater. L--Canale. HR-Brian Horn (Wis.-Oshkosh).

Game 6

N.C. Wesleyan -- 003 -- 520 -- 000--10 -- 13 -- 0

Anderson (Ind.) -- 000 -- 101 -- 000-- 2 -- 9 -- 4

Jon Rardin and Brian Woolston, Nick Buonocore; Todd Hollowell, Dallas Bradshaw (5) and Todd Likens. W--Rardin. L--Hollowell.

Game 7

Aurora -- 200 -- 001 -- 000--3 -- 6 -- 1

Eastern Conn. St. -- 000 -- 003 -- 10x--4 -- 8 -- 2

Steve Fike, Chris Pfalzgraf (7) and John Reeves; Adam Murphy, Michael Chadwick (6), Scott Chiasson (9) and Anthony Formato. W--Chadwick. L--Fike. S--Chiasson. HR-Eric Zaleski (Aurora).

Game 8

Cortland St. -- 002 -- 000 -- 000--2 -- 9 -- 0

Montclair St. -- 112 -- 000 -- 00x--4 -- 12 -- 4

Scott Landers, Scott Brown (4) and Billy Bacon; Chris Keelin, Mike Brennan (5) and Alex Bosch. W--Brennan. L--Landers.

Game 9

N.C. Wesleyan -- 001 -- 000 -- 021--4 -- 10 -- 0

Aurora -- 030 -- 100 -- 20x--6 -- 10 -- 1

Sean Fleming, Mike Abbruzzese (6) and Brian Woolston, Nick Buonocore; Jeff Ziobro, Dan Arendt (8) and John Reeves. W--Ziobro. L--Fleming.

Game 10

Wis.-Oshkosh -- 010 -- 010 -- 002--4 -- 12 -- 1

Cortland St. -- 120 -- 000 -- 02x--5 -- 13 -- 1

Ted Golberg, Jack Taschner (2) and Casey Kopitzke; Bob Herrington, Chris Fuller (6), Richard Jarer (9) and Billy Bacon. W--Herrington. L--Golberg. S--Jarer. HR-Scott Weston (Cortland St.).

Game 11

Eastern Conn. St. -- 106 -- 000 -- 004--11 -- 15 -- 2

Montclair St. -- 003 -- 000 -- 100-- 4 -- 8 -- 1

Brian Rivers, Michael Chadwick (4), Scott Chiasson (7) and Anthony Formato; Scott Allan, Chris Greenwood (3), Brad Bava (8), Craig Ellard (9), Brian Bird (9) and Alex Bosch. W--Chadwick. L--Allan. S--Chiasson. HR-Jon Gersz (Eastern Conn. St.).

Game 12

Montclair St. -- 200 -- 010 -- 300--6 -- 8 -- 1

Aurora -- 010 -- 004 -- 000--5 -- 7 -- 4

Chris Keelin, Steve Trongone (6) and Alex Bosch; Chris Pfalzgraf, Matt Deegan (9) and John Reeves. W--Trongone. L--Pfalzgraf.

Game 13

Cortland St. -- 010 -- 111 -- 134--12 -- 15 -- 0

Eastern Conn. St. -- 000 -- 000 -- 000-- 0 -- 2 -- 2

Richard Jarer and Billy Bacon, Jon Young; Bobby McKee, Jason Wolfradt (6), Jay Wetherell (6), Stephen Stonoha (9) and Anthony Formato, David Yaconiello. W--Jarer. L--McKee. HR-Mike LaPointe (Cortland St.), Craig Kerner (Cortland St.), Scott Seabury (Cortland St.).

Game 14

Montclair St. -- 010 -- 300 -- 010--5 -- 11 -- 1

Cortland St. -- 000 -- 000 -- 200--2 -- 5 -- 3

A. J. Economou, Steve Trongone (7) and Alex Bosch; Scott Brown, Chris Fuller (4), Mike Dempsey (8) and Billy Bacon. W--Economou. L--Brown. S--Trongone.

Championship game

Eastern Conn. St. -- AB -- R -- H -- RBI

Jonathan Krot, lf -- 4 -- 1 -- 1 -- 2

Bunty Ray, ph-lf -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Nick Tempesta, ss -- 5 -- 0 -- 2 -- 2

Jon Gersz, rf -- 4 -- 2 -- 0 -- 0

Glenn Lungarini, 1b -- 5 -- 3 -- 2 -- 1

Lance Podlesney, 3b -- 6 -- 3 -- 3 -- 1

George Davis, dh -- 5 -- 1 -- 2 -- 1

Derek Karcich, ph -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 0

Chris D'Amato, 2b -- 2 -- 3 -- 2 -- 1

Steven Rembisz, cf -- 6 -- 1 -- 4 -- 4

Anthony Formato, c -- 4 -- 1 -- 2 -- 3

Scott Czerwinski, p -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Scott Chiasson, p -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Totals -- 43 -- 16 -- 18 -- 15

Montclair St. -- AB -- R -- H -- RBI

E. J. Sebelle, rf -- 4 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Dan Wydner, cf -- 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Ron Guirland, ph-cf -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Craig Conway, 2b -- 4 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Shawn McCorkle, 1b -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Frank Francia, dh -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Bart Lombardi, ph -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Brian Kermizian, lf -- 3 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Mike Hastings, lf -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Alex Bosch, c -- 3 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Jeff Schriber, c -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Lou Finamore, 3b -- 3 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Glenn Barker, pr-3b -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Dave Wurst, ss -- 4 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0

Scott Allan, p -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Mike Brennan, p -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Chris Keelin, p -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Chris Greenwood, p -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Brad Bava, p -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Totals -- 32 -- 1 -- 7 -- 0

Eastern Conn. St. -- 001 -- 542 -- -- 022--16 -- 18 -- 1

Montclair St. -- 000 -- 000 -- -- 001-- 1 -- 7 -- 3

E--Tempesta, Sebelle, Conway, McCorkle. DP--Eastern Conn. St. 3, Montclair St. 1. LOB--Eastern Conn. St. 11, Montclair St. 10. 2B--Tempesta, Lungarini, Podlesney 2, Davis 2, D'Amato, Rembisz, Conway, Wurst. SB--Lungarini. SF--Krot, Formato, Rembisz.

-- IP -- H -- R -- ER -- BB -- SO

Czerwinski (Winner) -- 7.0 -- 4 -- 0 -- 0 -- 4 -- 5

Chiasson -- 2.0 -- 3 -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 1

Allan (Loser) -- 3.2 -- 4 -- 4 -- 4 -- 1 -- 2

Brennan -- 0.1 -- 5 -- 5 -- 3 -- 1 -- 0

Keelin -- 1.0 -- 2 -- 3 -- 2 -- 1 -- 0

Greenwood -- 2.1 -- 5 -- 2 -- 2 -- 1 -- 0

Bava -- 1.2 -- 2 -- 2 -- 0 -- 2 -- 2

WP-Allan, Brennan 2. HBP--Wydner (by Czerwinski), Francia (by Czerwinski), Tempesta (by Allan), D'Amato (by Keelin), D'Amato (by Greenwood). T--2:48. A--484.