St. Joseph’s Of Maine Captures 2012 GNAC Baseball Championship With 7-6 Victory Against Suffolk

East Providence, R.I. -- The top seeded St. Joseph’s of Maine baseball team captured the 2012 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship with a come from behind 7-6 victory against fourth seeded Suffolk in the finals.  The tournament was hosted by Johnson & Wales at Pierce Field this weekend.  Freshman Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine) was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after delivering a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Monks to the 7-6 victory.

Suffolk took the early lead with three runs in the third, including a two-run single by junior Jhonneris Mendez (Boston, Mass.).  An RBI double by St. Joseph’s freshman Joe Coyne (Duxbury, Mass.) cut the lead to 3-1.  The Rams regained their three-run lead in the top of the fourth on a run scoring single by sophomore Mike Muse (Milton, Mass.).  The Monks once again responded in the bottom half of the inning when sophomore Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, N.Y.) belted a solo home run to make the score 4-2.  Junior Mike Cunningham (Syosset, N.Y.) had a solo home run of his own in the top of the fifth to extend Suffolk’s lead to 5-2.  The Rams added to their lead in the top of the seventh when an RBI single by junior Mike Monke (Springfield, Ohio) made the score 6-2. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, a two-run single by senior Dan Achorn (Bow, N.H.) cut the lead to 6-4.  Junior Nate Martin (Chebeague Island, Maine) then scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Joe Coyne (Duxbury, Mass.) to make the score 6-5.  With the bases loaded, Lops then deposited a hit into right center field to score a pair of runs and give the Monks the 7-6 victory.

Coyne went 2-for-3 with two RBI for St. Joseph’s of Maine while Achorn was 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI for the Monks.  Mendez was 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI in the setback for Suffolk.  Senior Andrew Devereaux (Hope Valley, R.I.) picked up the win on the mound for St. Joseph’s, allowing one run on two hits in three and two third innings of relief.

St. Joseph’s of Maine is now 35-5 on the year while Suffolk falls to 20-22-1 on the season.  The Monks received the conference’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Championship.


2012 GNAC All-Tournament Team

Nic Lops, St. Joseph’s (ME) – Most Valuable Player
Alex Lorenc, St. Joseph’s (ME)
Tyler Lavarriere, St. Joseph’s (ME)
Alex Valenti, St. Joseph’s (ME) 
Jhonneris Mendez, Suffolk
Devan Jones, Suffolk
Mac Jacobbsen, Suffolk
Shawn Haugh, Johnson & Wales
Sean Radu, Johnson & Wales
Jeff Scafidi, Anna Maria
Justin Hyland, Anna Maria