Delgado wins two, in driver’s seat for Region XXIII final against Nunez

NEW ORLEANS – Delgado defeated Nunez Community College and Baton Rouge Community College on Saturday in the opening round of the 2019 NJCAA Region XXIII Division I Tournament Satuday at Turchin Stadium.

In the first game, Delgado posted two runs in the fourth on an RBI triple by Hayden Fuentes to plate Ross Scelfo, who led off the inning with a walk. Fuentes scored on a groundout by Cornelius Ford to give the Dolphins the early 2-0 lead.

In the top of the sixth, Nunez’s Dominic Curole singled and advanced before scoring on an infield error to cut the Delgado lead in half.

The Dolphins answered in the bottom frame when Grant Schulz led off with a double, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on a groundout by Jonah Manuel. In the eighth, Grant Schulz reached on a single and scored on Ross Scelfo’s two run homerun over the left field wall to finalize Delgado’s 5-1 victory.

Mason Mayfield pitched 7.2 innings to earn the win, walking three and striking out six. Dwain Varisco picked up the save with his 1.1 innings in relief.

In Delgado’s second game, Baton Rouge took an early 2-0 lead in the first following a triple by William Veillon and a groundout.

Delgado’s Justin Ory singled to open the game, later scoring on a sacrifice fly by Ross Scelfo to cut the lead to a run. The Dolphins added two in the second on an RBI single by Justin Ory and sacrifice fly by Tyler McManus to take a 3-2 lead. Jonah Manuel’s double in the third plated Ross Scelfo for a run.

A six-run sixth inning came following singles by Hayden Fuentes, Justin Ory, Brandon Briuglio, and Grant Schulz and a double by Beau Freeman. Schulz’s single plated the eighth run to secure Delgado’s 10-2 mercy rule (eight runs after seven innings) win to close Baton Rouge’s season.

Daniel Dugas went the distance to earn the win for Delgado on the mound, holding Baton Rouge to four hits and striking out five.

Nunez defeated Baton Rouge 11-1 in the tournament’s first game to hand the Bears’ their first loss.

With the win, Delgado advances to the Championship round to face Nunez at 1 p.m. Sunday at Turchin Stadium. A Nunez win would force the If-Necessary Game 5 to determine the Region XXIII title and a berth in the South Central District Championship in Missouri.