Niagara defeats Gloucester to win NJCAA D3 World Series

JOHNSON CITY —SUNY Niagara had a motto fitting to the school's location prior to the NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series. The Thunder Wolves (55-6) lived up to the motto of "Niagara never falls." They scored 10 runs over the first three innings to defeat RCSJ-Gloucester 12-8 Wednesday night at TVA Credit Union Ballpark and claim their first national title. "Before the tournament we had a saying that Niagara never falls," Thunder Wolves coach Matt Clingersmith said. "We didn't fall this whole tournament." They sure didn't, undefeated in five World Series games despite facing a gauntlet of tough competition. Twice, they defeated the Roadrunners (44-13), who came into the tournament as three-time defending national champions and with a record 10 titles overall dating back to their days as Gloucester Community College. SUNY Niagara won 9-7 over RCSJ earlier in the tournament, and also scored a win over Dallas-Eastfield, the top seed coming into the D3 World Series. "This team has grit. It didn't matter who we were put against," Clingersmith said. "We said we came here to conquer and we did. We didn't come to sightsee. We came on a mission." Cooper Rossado went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and four RBIs to lead the Thunder Wolves to the victory. Cam Gravelle also ended with two hits and four RBIs, along with two runs scored for Niagara. Tournament MVP Dalton Harper went 3-for-4, while Cameron Gruarin and Cooper Prizel each had two hits. SCORING RECAP Jack Mustaro hit a solo home run in the top of the first, but the Thunder Wolves' Rossano responded with a monster two-run blast over left field in the bottom of the inning. "That was huge. It gave us the lead at a time when it was quiet in our dugout," Clingersmith said. "We set the tone, and then it was unbelievable." SUNY Niagara took control with a bases-clearing double by Gravelle in the second inning. Gravelle later scored off a fielder's choice for a 6-1 lead. RCSJ-Gloucester got another solo home run, this one by Joe Maier. But, the Timberwolves responded with four more runs. Gruarin began the scoring with a RBI triple. Alexander Graham and Rossano provided RBI singles with a RBI ground out by Gravelle in between. Down by eight runs, it came as no surprise the Roadrunners kept fighting back. Jayden Rosado had a RBI double in the fourth, followed by Alex Apicella's two-run double in the fifth. Caleb Delaney added a RBI single in the sixth as the deficit was cut in half. But, Niagara's big bats continued to produce with Gruarin's RBI double and Rossano's sacrifice fly giving them a bigger margin. Overall, the Thunder Wolves finished with 14 hits and five walks. Still, RCSJ-Gloucester wasn't done. Carter Cumiskey had a RBI single in the eighth, and Nick Izzo down to the final strike in the ninth inning, had a nine-pitch, at-bat to come up with a solo home run over left center field. HOLDING ON Keegan Bazinet picked up the win after giving up 11 hits and six runs over six innings. Mike Munzert went 2/3 inning before Cooper Polovich closed the game, getting a pop up for the final out. Mustaro went 3-for-5 to lead Gloucester at the plate. Izzo had two hits and scored twice. Maier and Delaney each had two hits. The Thunder Wolves had the utmost respect for Gloucester and their strong tradition. "They're a good-hitting team and that's why they're always here," Clingersmith said. "They have winning in their DNA, but so do we. Bazinet was pitching his tail off on short days' rest, and Polovich did a great job closing it out. Our pitching did enough to hold off their hitting where we could win this game."