By Dylan Butler
“It's a relief. It really was a stressful week,” Everett said. “You can count the hours I slept on Friday and Saturday night on one hand.”Queensborough, which last week won its third straight CUNY crown, went undefeated in the double-elimination Region XV tournament and captured the title Sunday by beating Nassau Community College, 6-5 at Suffolk West Community College.”I told them it wasn't about me, it's about them,” Everett said about winning the regional. “I wanted them to win it for them, to experience it for themselves. A lot of kids don't get this opportunity, it doesn't come around that often.”Queensborough opened the tournament by beating Nassau, 8-7 in a inning thriller. The Tigers trailed 5-0 heading into the sixth inning and 7-4 with two out in the ninth when Tommy Reo belted a game-tying 3-run home run. In the 10th inning, Dave Mercado and Dan Rosenbluth drew back to back walks and Kendal Ortiz then grounded to short. Nassau got the force out at second base but Jeff Tamarez's throw was wild at first, allowing Mercado to score the winning run.Alveris Rodriguez got the win for Queensborough in 3.1 innings of relief. He gave up three hits and one unearned run while striking out two.On Saturday QCC held off Suffolk-Selden, 10-9. Doubles by Reo and Anthony Gonzalez keyed a six-run second inning and Gonzalez added a 3-run homer in the fourth inning. A Rosenbluth double scored another run in the eighth inning but Suffolk stormed back, scoring six runs in the ninth off closer Felipe Martinez, who earned the save.Danny Dioguardi got the win for Queensborough, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out five in eight innings. Gonzalez was 4-for-5 with 5 RBI and two runs scored. With the cushion of going into the championship round undefeated, while Nassau carried one loss, Queensborough was able to play loser Sunday. Nassau jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning but once again Queensborough rallied, scoring all six of their runs in the fifth inning. Rosenbluth lead off the inning with a double, Reo and Mercado both added two-run doubles. Junior Ramirez pitched 8.0 innings and picked up the win while Martinez got the save, striking out all three batters in the ninth inning.Reo, who was named CUNY MVP a week ago, picked up Region XV MVP honors while Gonzalez, Martinez, DioGuardi and Ramirez were named to the All-Tournament team.”He's been playing unconscious,” Everett said of Reo. “He's been hot all season. It seems like he got us the big hit whenever we needed it.”Queensborough takes on Ridgewater College of Minnesota Saturday at 7 p.m. in Glens Falls in the opener of the double-elimination tournament.”I told them they can enjoy this on Sunday and Monday but we're right back to practice Tuesday,” Everett said. “I hate losing more than I like winning.”St. John's 11, Fairleigh Dickinson 0. Jim Wladyka, Greg Brown, Justin Muir, Dan Stanley and Anthony Smith combined to toss a 3-hit shutout Saturday as the Red Storm swept visiting FDU.Sam DeLuca went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI and two runs scored and Jarod Hickle belted a 3-run home run to lead No. 25 St. John's (35-14). St. John's 3, Fairleigh Dickinson 0. Anthony Sullivan picked up his fifth straight win, scattering four hits in 5 innings while James Lally and Craig Hansen combined to pitch two perfect innings of relief in the opener of the doubleheader.The Red Storm scratched across a run in the third, fourth and fifth inning off former Archbishop Molloy standout Brian Bunyan, who dropped to 4-5.Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
