Bronx, N.Y. – For the first time since 2003, the Lehman College baseball team will compete in the CUNYAC Championship Final as it takes on CCNY, in a best-of-three series, at Brooklyn's Maimonides Park starting on Friday (May 12th) at noon.
Fans can get a FREE ticket to the championship by registering
here. If you can't cheer on the Lightning in person you can follow all the action on-line
live stream.
The Lightning (7-21), under head coach James Cisco, are led by infielder
Ranssel Pinedo with a .441 batting average (second in CUNYAC) and 26 RBI (fourth best in conference). Pinedo, who has started in all 28 games for Lehman this season, is also second in CUNYAC in doubles (14), on base percentage (.505) and third in slugging (.645).
Also swinging a hot bat this season for the Lightning are outfielder
Javaun Smith and designated hitter
Elias Fermin as they are batting, .314 and .306, respectively. Smith has appeared in all 28 encounters and has two home runs with 23 runs scored, 11 RBI, while Fermain also played in all 28 games and has crossed the plate 20 times with 21 RBI and seven round trippers (CUNYAC best).
The #3 seeded Lightning advanced to this year's CUNYAC Final after eliminating the defending champion and #2 seeded Baruch College in the semifinal playoff, 7-4, on Tuesday (May 9th) at Flowers Park in New Rochelle, N.Y. Smith & Fermin both drove in two RBI and each scored a run, while catcher
Jeremmy Santos added solo homer and pitcher
Randy Polanco came in-relief and held Baruch scoreless for the remaining four innings to send Lehman for a chance at its first conference title since 1995.
Meanwhile in the other CUNYAC semifinal on Tuesday, #1 seeded CCNY Beavers (14-18) defeated #4 seeded John Jay Bloodhounds, 15-3.
CCNY holds a slim 19-18 edge in the head-to-head meetings against Lehman since 2009, with the Beavers five of the last six encounters. The last time both sides squared off was earlier this month (May 2nd) as CCNY swept a regular season conference twin-bill at Lehman. After the Beavers won the opener 12-7, the Lightning trailed 8-4 going into the last inning. Lehman attempted a comeback and score three times however CCNY held on for the one-run victory.
