ANNVILLE, PA – The York College baseball team had their hopes for a second consecutive MAC Commonwealth title dashed on Saturday as Lebanon Valley captured the decisive game three to win the 2022 league crown.
The Spartans forced a game three as they posted a 6-0 win in game two only to have the Dutchmen bounce back and score 11 first inning runs to earn the title with a 12-1 win in game three. The Dutchmen earn the bid to the NCAA Tournament and that's just the second bid in school history. The first came in 2002 when they won their other MAC Commonwealth title.
 
2022 MAC Commonwealth Championship Series
Records: York 24-19, Lebanon Valley (30-14)
Series Game #2
Runs: York 6, Lebanon Valley 0
Hits: York 8, Lebanon Valley 3
Errors: York 0, Lebanon Valley 1
WP: AJ Vincenzi (6-5); LP: Tanner Rock (4-5)
 
How It Happened
• After scoring just one run on Friday, the Spartans jumped on the Dutchmen for a pair of runs in the second. York loaded the bases and got on the board thanks to a Robby Elzinga RBI fielder's choice. Austin Denlinger then scored Michael Tinneny with an RBI double down the right field line for the 2-0 lead.
• York added a pair of runs in the sixth thanks to a LVC error and a Garrett Kile sacrifice fly a the lead grew to 4-0.
• While the Spartan offense provided starter AJ Vincenzi with a lead the senior righthander did the rest. He was perfect until Ryan Murphy singled to left with one out in the bottom of the sixth. The Dutchmen got a second hit in the inning but Vincenzi got a ground out to first to end the inning.
• York tacked on two more runs in the top of the eighth thanks to a RBI bunt from Kile and an Elzinga RBI single to center.
• Vincenzi closed out his second complete game of the year with this one being his first career shutout. He struck out six, scattered three hits and did not walk a batter in his final, and best, career outing.
 
Spartan Leaders
Robby Elzinga: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
Brendan Martin: 2-for-5, 3 runs, 2B
Garrett Kile: 1-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, SF
Austin Denlinger: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 2B, HBP
 
Spartan Pitching
AJ Vincenzi: 9.0 IP, 0 runs, 3 hits, 6 K, 0 BB, 1 WP
 
Series Game #3
Runs: York 1, Lebanon Valley 12
Hits: York 5, Lebanon Valley 13
Errors: York 1, Lebanon Valley 0
WP: Shane Stossel (5-0), LP: Brandon Purdy (4-5)
 
How It Happened
• The Dutchmen took all doubt about the result away early as they exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The inning began with Nico Santoro hitting the first pitch of the frame out for a solo homer to left for the 1-0 lead. It went downhill from there for the Spartans as the Dutchmen sent 15 men to the plate, scored 11 times on eight hits with one error and three walks.
• York avoided the shutout with a run in the sixth on a Brendan Martin RBI single to right.
• The Dutchmen got the final run of the game in the eighth when Pete Botbyl singled to lead off the inning. Despite being up by ten runs in the eighth, he stole second and scored on a Mike Bulgia triple to right center for the final 12-1 margin of victory.
 
Spartan Leaders
Brendan Martin: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 2B
Robby Elzinga: 1-for-4, 3B
Jack Barry: 1-for-4, 1 run
Austin Denlinger: 1-for-4
 
Spartan Pitching
Brandon Purdy: 0.1 IP, 4 hits, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Bryce Shaffer: 0.1 IP, 4 hits, 6 runs, 1 ER, 2 BB
Steven Hendrix: 6.1 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 3 K
Ethan Kennedy: 1.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans complete their 2022 season with 24 wins and that's the seventh time under head coach Mike Scappa that the Spartans have reached the 20 win plateau … York finished the year 1-4 against LVC but still lead the all-time series 25-11 … the game three loss closes out the careers of Jack Barry, Austin Denlinger, Joe Capobianco, AJ Vincenzi, Craig Wiley, Josh Mann, Steven Hendrix, Joey Ricciardi, Davaughn Reid, George Mendoza and Nick Cavallo … the senior class accumulated a four year record of 81-50 with a 2021 MAC Commonwealth title and an NCAA berth.
 
Up Next
The Spartans will kick off their 2023 season in February. The 2023 schedule will be released by late October.