Roosen leads Blue Devils two sweep as RCC advances to Regionals
Published 8:45 am Monday, May 16, 2016
Alex Roosen pitches for the Blue Devils in game one of a playoff series against Minnesota West in Seltz Field Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Alex Roosen continued his hot streak for the Riverland Community College baseball team as the Blue Devils fought off the cold and wind and swept Minnesota West by scores of 12-0 and 18-5 in a playoff opener Seltz Field Saturday.
Luis Rodriguez and Carlos Torres celebrate a run for the Blue Devils against Minnesota West in Seltz Field Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The Blue Devils (29-6 overall) will now play in the Region 13 tournament, which begins in St. Cloud Thursday.
Roosen, who was named NJCAA national player of the week last week, pitched his fourth shutout in five starts in the opener and he went five-for-six with a two doubles, a triple and seven RBIs on the day for RCC.
“He’s dominated the last part of the year,” RCC head coach Scott Koenigs said of Roosen, a Kenyon-Wanamingo grad. “He pitched pretty well on a tough day to throw.”
The games were played in 40 degree temperatures with strong winds, but it didn’t cool off the Blue Devil bats. Brendan Dye homered in the first game and Omar Colon homered in the nightcap.
Koenigs said RCC is now focused on getting back to the NJCAA World Series.
Riverland’s Ian Lopez connects on a pitch against Minnesota West in Seltz Field Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherlad.com
“You’ve got to play well. We’ve been here before and it comes down to the team that’s playing the best baseball. I think there’s three or four teams that could win it,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get back to the World Series. It’s been awhile.”
RCC 12, West 0
RCC pitching: Alex Roosen (W) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 4 K, 1 HBP
RCC hitting: Mairion Brunken, 0-for-2, R, BB; Zach Schwieters, 2-for-3, double, BB, R; Luis Rodriguez, 1-for-3, R, SB; Omar Colon, 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, R, BB; Roosen, 2-for-3, double, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Brendan Dye, 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R, SB; Carlos Torres, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, R; Kelvin Llanos, 2-for-3, RBI; Ian Lopez, 1-for-3, double, R
RCC 18, West 5
RCC pitching: Mitch Kelly (W) 6 2/3 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 R, 3 ER, 14 K; Sam Bozyk, 1/3 IP, 0 R
Riverland’s Mairion Brunken makes the throw from second base against Minnesota West in Seltz Field Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
RCC hitting: Brunken, 0-for-4, 3 R, SB, BB; Schwieters, 2-for-4, triple, 3 R, 4 RBIs; Rodriguez, 2-for-5, RBI, SB, 2 R; Colon, 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Roosen, 3-for-3, double, triple, 4 RBIs, 3 R, BB; Dye, 0-for-3, RBI; Torres, triple, RBI, 2 R; Llanos, 0-for-2, , R, RBI, HBP; Lopez, 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, SB, HBP; Gedeon Engelhardt, BB
