The 46-11 Wood Ducks finish as National Runner Up
The 46-11 Wood Ducks finish as National Runner Up
The 46-11 Wood Ducks finish as National Runner Up after losing to RCSJ-Gloucester (NJ) in the DIII NJCAA World Series Championship Game. To get to the title game, the Wood Ducks defeated an undefeated #1 ranked team SUNY-Niagara (NY) in their opening game 4-1, then defeated #4 Dallas College – Richland (TX) 8-1 to reach the semifinals. Century then lost to #2 RCSJ-Gloucester (NJ) 10-0 in semifinals but then defeated Dallas College Richland 3-2 in 11 innings to reach the championship game. Hunter Guenther was named Pitcher of the Tournament, Caden Stern was named Defensive player of Tournament, Adrian Warcken, Joey Koch, and Nathan Bunyard were named to the All-Tournament team. Highlights from each game of the world series and world series links are below:
World Series website
https://www.njcaa.org/championships/sports/bsb/div3/index
World Series Photo Gallery
https://www.njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2024-25/div3/national_championship/Photo_Gallery_Headlines
#8 Wood Ducks (44-9) 4
#1 SUNY Niagara (49-1) 1
The Wood Ducks were victorious against undefeated SUNY Niagara 4-1 behind a dominate Nathan Bunyard performance on the mound.
A solo home run to right field by Connor Larsen put the Wood Ducks on the board in the top of the second 1-0. They extended their lead in the seventh with a Caden Besemer RBI single scoring Jack Huberty. Niagara punched back in the eighth with a solo home run to right.The Wood Ducks added two more in the ninth when Adrian Warcken tripled home Caden Stern and later scored himself on a wild pitch. Shayne Pellin came in the ninth and collected the save.
Warcken went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Century in hits.
Nathan Bunyard earned the win for Century. The starting pitcher allowed five hits and one run over eight innings, striking out four and walking five. Aidan Paul took the loss for SUNY Niagara. The starter went six innings, giving up two runs on three hits, striking out four and walking six.
#8 Wood Ducks (45-9) 8
#4 Dallas College Richland (36-23) 1
Hunter Guenther was dominant on the bump, as the pitcher rang up 11 strikeouts in the Wood Ducks's 8-1 victory over the Richland Thunderducks. Guenther allowed four hits and one run over eight innings while walking two.
Century College opened the scoring in the first after Connor Larsen singled, scoring two runs. An error by the catcher on a Guenther stolen base extended the Wood Ducks lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning when Caden Stern came into score. The Thunder Ducks score an unearned run off a single in the third to make it 3-1. Century added 4 more in the fourth inning from an Adrian Warcken RBI double, a wild pitch scoring Guenther, Warcken on an error and Seth Tierney on a single by Joe Hansen. In the fifth, the Wood Ducks scored the last run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Guenther scoring Caden Besemer.
Aiden Keranen tossed one inning of no-run ball for Century in relief. The reliever allowed zero hits, striking out three and walking none.
Century collected 10 hits in the game. Larsen drove the middle of the lineup with two runs batted in. He went 2-for-4 on the day. Guenther, Tierney, and Larsen each collected two hits for the Wood Ducks. Guenther and Besemer each stole multiple bases.
#2 RCSJ Gloucester (53-6) 10
#8 Wood Ducks (45-10) 0
Century College Wood Ducks couldn't keep up with RCSJ Gloucester and fell 10-0.
RCSJ Gloucester got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after RJ Mustaro doubled down the left field line, Kyle McSorely singled down the left field line, Joe Maier grounded into a fielder's choice, Gabriel Reyes doubled to left field, and Maier scored after tagging up, each scoring one run. A triple by McSorely extended the RCSJ Gloucester lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the second inning. RCSJ Gloucester scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth on a grand slam to left field by Nick Slogik.
Landon Edwards earned the win for RCSJ Gloucester. The lefty allowed two hits and zero runs over six innings, striking out five and walking two. Max Hudlow took the loss for the Wood Ducks. The hurler went five and one-third innings, giving up eight runs on nine hits, striking out one and walking none.
Adrian Warcken and Jack Erickson each collected a hit for the Wood Ducks.
#8 Wood Ducks (46-10) 3
#4 Dallas College Richland (38-24) 2
11 innings
Both teams were strong on the mound but the Century Wood Ducks defeated Richland Thunderducks 3-2 in extras to head to the National Championship game.
Century didn't take the lead until the extra innings. The game was tied at two in the top of the eleventh when Jack Erickson hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Jack Huberty. Huberty reached on a single, stole second base, and advance to third on the overthrow from the catcher.
A single by Jordan Owns put Richland on the board in the bottom of the first. The Thunderducks scored a run in the bottom of the second on a solo home run to left field by Sean Amarante.
Adrian Warcken doubled to center field, which helped the Wood Ducks tie the game at two in the top of the third when Caden Besemer and Caden Stern came in to score.
Seth Luther earned the win for the Wood Ducks. The right-handed pitcher allowed one hit and zero runs over four innings, striking out eight and walking none. Mason Posey took the loss for the Richland Thunderducks. The righty went three innings, giving up zero runs on one hit, striking out five and walking three. Joey Koch began the game for Century. He gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) over seven innings, striking out five and walking two. Nevyn Johnson started the game for Richland. The pitcher gave up two hits and two runs over two and one-third innings, striking out none and walking one.
Warcken led the Wood Ducks with two runs batted in. The outfielder went 1-for-2 on the day with four walks. Caden Besemer added two hits.
#2 RCSJ Gloucester (54-6) 16
#8 Wood Ducks (46-11) 1
RCSJ Gloucester scored nine runs in the first inning, which helped them defeat Century 16-1 for the DIII NJCAA National Championship.
RCSJ Gloucester jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Nick Slogik tripled, scoring three runs, Gabriel Reyes doubled, scoring one run, Gavin West drew a walk, scoring one run, Luca Reyes singled, scoring two runs, an error scored one run, and RJ Mustaro singled, scoring one run. RCSJ Gloucester added one run in the second. Reyes hit a sacrifice fly, making the score 10-0.
Kirby earned the win for RCSJ Gloucester. The pitcher surrendered five hits and one run (zero earned) over six and two-thirds innings, striking out 13 and walking three. Shayne Pellin pitched four innings in relief for the Wood Ducks. The reliever surrendered five hits and three runs (two earned) while, striking out five and walking three. Gavin Goehner took the loss. The righty went one-third of an inning, allowing seven runs on four hits, striking out none and walking two.
Seth Nelson went 2-for-3 at the plate and had one run batted in. Caden Besemer and Nelson each collected two hits. Besemer stole two bases.