Vergne signs with Texas A&M Corpus Christi
6/3/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- Southeastern sophomore first baseman / outfielder Chris Vergne signed his official National Letter of Intent today, committing to study and play baseball at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, an NCAA Division-I institution that competes in the Southland Conference.
Corpus Christi finished their 2009 season with a disappointing 18-38 record, but is in the final stages of a rebuilding process. Head Coach Scott Malone just finished his second season at TA&MCC, but the 2009 campaign featured only his first recruiting class. Chris Ramirez, Corpus Christi's recruiting coordinator, is known among his colleagues as an up-an-comer in Division-I, and has been widely praised for putting together an extremely talented 2009 recruiting class with Vergne among those highly-touted recruits.
Vergne, who in two seasons and 98 games hit .394 with 25 doubles, seven homeruns, 76 RBI, 95 runs and 16 stolen bases, ranks among the all-time leaders at SCC in numerous offensive categories.
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Blackhawks announce 2010 schedule
Dates set in Mississippi, southern Illinois and South Carolina
6/3/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- Head Coach Justin Schulte's squad will again feature a loaded schedule for the 2009-2010 school year, both in the fall and in the spring.
Two of Schulte's trademarks as a scheduler are to play as many games as rules allow, and to travel as much as the weather, and budget, dictate. Both will hold true again in 2009-10. The 'Hawks will play 30+ games in the fall, featuring nearly all Junior Colleges in an attempt to create good competition for his players.
His 2010 spring schedule will feature a full 56-game schedule that will begin with a third annual six-game trip to Jackson, Mississippi, beginning February 19. SCC will then travel to southern Illinois on the last weekend of February for four games, then to Marion, IL, for three 9-inning games March 5-7. The 'Hawks will then head back to Myrtle Beach, SC, for their 9-game, 10-day, spring break trip before embarking on their Iowa schedule.
After extensive travel early, Coach Schulte will again load up on home dates after returning to Iowa as the team will play 14 home dates (28 games) on its home field between March 27 and May 9 -- the final day of the regular season.
As for their conference schedule, the Blackhawks will begin the season with home dates again Ellsworth and NIACC on consecutive weekends. They will then have to play three four-game series on the road, facing Iowa Lakes, Iowa Central and then DMACC. SCC will then close out their conference schedule with Kirkwood at home.
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Blackhawks bow out of Regional Tourney
5/10/09
CARROLL, IA -- Southeastern went as far as their pitching would take them. Unfortunately for the 'Hawks, they ran out of arms on the final day of the ICCAC Regional Tournament, finishing third overall in the tournament after suffering a 13-3 loss at the hands of Kirkwood Community College.
Starting pitcher Reinaldo Rodriguez was unable to get out of the second inning for the 'Hawks, putting SCC at a 7-0 defecit after only two frames. The final blow came on a controversial homerun down the left field line that barely stayed inside the left field foul pole.
Sophomore catcher Angel Rosa was one of the few highlights for Southeastern's offense in the game as he hit a two-run homerun to straight away center field, his 19th of the season. SCC finished the year 41-15, setting a school record for victories.
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SCC still alive in ICCAC Regional Tournament
5/9/09
CARROLL, IA -- The Southeastern Community College Blackhawks have made it to Sunday of the Regional Tournament thanks to a late night, 12-inning walk-off victory Saturday night. After battling NIACC for 12 innings and more than three hours, SCC's center fielder Stephen Englund came to the plate with one out and the bases loaded. And the freshman came through. Englund lined a ball into right field, scoring Christian Wise, who doubled deep down the left field line with one out. Ryan Kaczmarski followed with a walk before Christian Soto singled to load the bases in front of Englund.
Starting pitcher Rick Rayna was outstanding on the mound for the Blackhawks as he pitched eight innings allowing only one run on six hits while striking out a career-high 12 batters. Luis Castrodad got the win for the 'Hawks as he threw the final four innings allowing only one run on three hits while collecting four strikeouts.
SCC has gotten to this point by beating Iowa Central in their opening round match-up by a final score of 14-6. SCC then lost their second game to Kirkwood 9-4. The 'Hawks then had to come back and play immediately after, facing NIACC in an elimination game that did not end until 11:37 p.m.
The Blackhawks are back in action Sunday at 2:00 versus the loser of the DMACC / Kirkwood match-up at 11:00. At this point, only Southeastern, DMACC and Kirkwood remain.
For more information, please go to www.iccac.org where all games are webcast. More details to come.
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Blackhawks set wins record, split with NIACC
5/2/09
MASON CITY, IA -- The Southeastern Community College baseball team set the school record for wins in a season by taking Game 2 from NIACC Saturday evening. NIACC won Game 1 in dramatic fashion, hitting a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 7th. But Southeastern showed its resiliency in Game 2, winning 8-3 to move to 39-11 on the season.
Game 1 was a back and forth bout, ending when freshman reliever Gabe Long gave up a solo homerun to the first NIACC hitter in the bottom of the 7th for a final score of 8-7. Starter Jake Kent threw the previous 5 1/3 innings, allowing 10 run on 10 hits, including four homeruns. SCC's left fielder Chris Vergne was 3-4 with a homerun and three runs scored before rolling his ankle on first base in the top of the 6th. Luis Castrodad collected two hits and two RBI, Max Wheeler his a bases-clearing double and Angel Rosa hit his league leading 17th homerun for the 'Hawks.
Sophomore Andres Castro pitched six strong innings for the Blackhawks in Game 2 to improve to 6-0 on the season. Castro will go down as the pitcher of record when the 2009 Blackhawks set the school record with their 39th victory of the season. In six innings of work, Castro allowed three run on six hits while striking out six. Castrodad pitched a scoreless 7th to seal the victory.
At the plate for Southeastern, freshman Christian Soto went 2-3 with two runs scored, freshman Rafael Del Rio was 4-5, scoring two runs and driving in three, and Rosa reached base safely four times.
Southeastern and NIACC face off again Sunday at noon in each team's final games of the regular season.
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Southeastern ties school record for wins at 38
Two come-from-behind victories ties win mark set in 1998
4/30/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- The Southeastern Community College baseball team tied the school record for wins in a season by coming from behind twice versus state rival Indian Hills Community College, taking Game 1 6-4 and then winning Game 2 on a walk-off single for a 10-9 victory.
The opening game of the doubleheader saw the 'Hawks fall behind early. Starting pitcher Ricardo Perez allowed two runs in the first via a single and a bases-loaded walk. An Indian Hills solo homerun in the 3rd made it 3-0, and then an RBI single in the 4th made it 4-0. The turning point in this game, however, came soon after. Perez was pulled after hitting back-to-back batters with one out in the 3rd, giving way to Gabe Long. Long needed only one pitch to induce an inning ending double play to end that threat. He put up another zero in the top of the 5th, giving all the momentum to Southeastern.
First baseman Angel Rosa lead off the home half of the 5th with a single. Chris Vergne followed with a double. Freshman Adam Gendall then hit a chopper to the right side but the throw home was too late to get Rosa, making the score 4-1. Vergne then quickly scored on a passed ball, and later in the inning, Gendall would also score on a Daniel Rodriguez scrifice fly to make cut Indian Hills' lead to 4-3.
It was Rosa coming through for the 'Hawks again the bottom of the 6th. Following walks to Ryan Kaczmarski and Christian Soto and a sacrifice bunt, Rosa hit a 2-2 pitch down the left field line for a two-run double, giving SCC its first lead of the game. Rosa later scored on a Gendall single to make it 6-4 SCC.
Meanwhile, Long held the Falcons in check through the 6th, allowing only one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up his first career collegiate victory. Luis Castrodad came on the 7th and, after a leadoff single, set Indian Hills down in order to pick up his 10th save of the season.
Though Gendall had a hand in Game 1, he would be the eventual hero in Game 2.
Indian Hills came out firing again in Game 2, scoring two runs in the 1st and three more in the 3rd off of SCC starting pitcher Scott Murray, so, after two and a half innings, the 'Hawks found themselves in a 5-2 hole. The offense would battle back, however, and eventually take the lead in the 5th.
Joey Bergles and Christian Wise each knocked in a run in a three-run SCC 4th inning. Castrodad then gave SCC its first lead of the game with a two-run single in the 5th, plating Rosa, who reached on an RBI fielder's choice, and Vergne, who had doubled.
But the bullpen was unable to hold the 9-7 lead as Marcus Ledbetter gave up two runs in the 6th to knot the score at 9-9.
Then, with one out in the bottom of the 8th, Rodriguez hit his second double of the game down the right field line. Gendall then stepped to the plate. After swinging at a pitch in the dirt and fouling another pitch off, the pinch hitter found himself in a 1-2 hole. But the freshman kept his composure in the box and deposited the next pitch, a fastball, deep over the right fielder's head, scoring Rodriguez from second base and giving the 'Hawks a dramatic 10-9 win in extra innings.
The 'Hawks improved to 38-10 overall with four games ramaining in their regular season, a weekend series at NIACC.
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SCC sweeps Ellsworth in rare away game on home turf
4/28/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- Finally back on the field for the first time in a week, the Southeastern Community College Blackhawks won two games versus conference opponent Ellsworth Community College. The games were originally scheduled to be home games for Ellsworth, but because of continued rain, the games were moved to West Burlington. So although the scoreboard had the visiting team taking two victories, it was SCC, not Ellsworth, coming out on top.
Southeastern got on the board in the top of the first inning as Christian Soto walked with one out and then scored on a Stephen Englund double. Englund later scored on a Rafael Del Rio sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 SCC. Right fielder Max Wheeler, a freshman from Willeton, Western Australia, scored in the second on another sacrifice fly, this one by Soto, to make it 3-0 SCC. Englund doubled for the second time in the 5th inning and scored when sophomore Chris Vergne his a third sac. fly in the 5th to set the the score at the eventual final of 4-0. On the mound for Southeastern, freshman Reinaldo Rodriguez pitched a strong 6 2/3 innings of five hit ball to earn his team-leading seventh win of the season. Sophomore Luis Castrodad picked up his ninth save of the season by getting a ground ball to short to end a bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the 7th.
The Blackhawk offense got it going a little more in Game 2, winning by a final score of 15-6. SCC took its first lead of the game with a five-run third inning. Soto, Vergne and Wheeler all had RBI singles in the frame for SCC. Through four innings, the score remained 6-4 Southeastern before the 'Hawks tacked on four more in the 6th, highlighted by Angel Rosa's 16th homerun of the season, a three run shot to left center. Ellsworth (8-37, 1-17) would score two in the bottom of the 6th to move within four runs, but SCC (36-10, 11-7) put the game out of reach by plating five more run in the top of the 6th. Vergne, who was 3-4 in Game 2, hit a two-run double and later scored on a Wheeler single. Wheeler finished the day 2-4 while Soto and Englund each had three hits and scored three times. Rick Reyna collected his fourth win of the season allowing one earned run in four innings of work.
Southeastern will host its final home game of the regular season Thursday as Indian Hills Community College visits West Burlington. The Blackhawks will then travel to Mason City, Iowa, to take on NIACC in their final weekend of the regular season.
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Conference series versus Ellsworth delayed by rain
Moved to Monday, Tuesday and moved from Iowa Falls to West Burlington
4/26/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- April showers continue to hamper Southeastern Community College's schedule. Rain has caused Southeastern and Ellsworth Community College to postpone their four-game conference series. Instead of Saturday and Sunday, the series will be pushed back to Monday and Tuesday and will now be played in West Burlington rather than Iowa Falls due to excessive inclement weather in Iowa Falls.
Southeastern will now be forced to cancel its games scheduled for Tuesday with Muscatine Community College. The Blackhawks will resume their regularly scheduled games on Thursday as the 'Hawks host Indian Hills Communty College.
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Tritons rebound, take two on Tuesday
4/21/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- In an equally blustery day, it was Iowa Central Community College that was able to overcome the elements on Tuesday, sweeping day two of the conference series against Southeastern Community College. The Tritons took both games by final scores of 4-2. The 11 runs that Southeastern scored in the four-game series is the lowest total in any four-game series that the 'Hawks have played in this season. Redshirt freshman Rick Rayna (3-1) suffered the loss in the first game while freshman Gabe Long (0-1), making his first start of the season, took the loss in Game 2. The losses were the first of the season for both starters.
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Kent, Castro lead SCC past Iowa Central on a windy Monday
4/20/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- After having a scheduled Saturday-Sunday four-game series with Iowa Central Community College pushed back because of rain, the Southeastern Community College Blackhawks battled through 25-30 mph winds to win two games against their conference foes, 3-1 and 4-0 respectively.
Freshman Jake Kent (6-1) threw his sixth complete game of the season in the Game 1 victory for the 'Hawks, surrendering only one run in the first inning. Sophomore Andres Castro (5-0) threw a complete game three-hitter to earn the victory in Game 2.
The Blackhawks (34-8, 9-5) and Iowa Central (19-21, 8-10) will finish their four-game conference series Tuesday in West Burlington beginning at 1:00.
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Southeastern falls twice in Cedar Rapids
4/15/09
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- Heading into the bottom of the 7th on the road, Southeastern Community College had a three run advantage over host Kirkwood Community College, but in a rare occurance, SCC's bullpen could not hold the lead, thanks in part to a couple defensive miscues. Kirkwood came back to tie the game at 9 with two outs in the bottom of the 7th before eventually winning the game 10-9 in 9 innings. Luis Castrodad (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season in Game 1.
After a disheartening loss to start the day, the Blackhawks (32-8, 7-5) were unable to recover, losing Game 2 by a final score of 11-2. Sophomore Angel Rosa hit his 15th homerun of the season late in Game 2 giving him 28 in his two-year career at SCC, placing second on SCC's all-time list.
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Blackhawks take two on day two vs. DMACC
4/12/09
WEST BURLINGTON, IA -- Southeastern Community College made a statement on Sunday, that this team is one of the top teams not only within the conference, but on the national level as well.
After two tough losses Saturday versus DMACC, ranked No. 2 (NJCAA D-II) in the country entering the weekend, SCC, ranked No. 9 (NJCAA D-II), had a choice to either roll over, or to prove themselves. And they chose the latter, winning Game 1 by a final of 12-5 and then winning Game 2 by a score of 2-0 behind a combined no-hitter and some late-inning offensive heroics.
DMACC put up three quick runs in the top of the 1st against SCC starter Andres Castro (4-0), but the 'Hawks answered when Angel Rosa hit his 13th homerun of the season, a three-run blast, in the bottom of the first. Rosa would add another homerun later in the contest while teammate Stephen Englund had a three-hit, two-RBI day in front of Rosa.
Game 2 saw some great starting pitching again, but in the end, it was the Blackhawks who came out on top. SCC starter Rick Reyna started the game by throwing four scoreless, no hit innings before giving way to his bullpen. Freshmen Nick Quintero (Miami, FL) and Gabe Long (Des Moines, IA) left three DMACC runners on base when Long got a big strikeout to close out the frame. Closer Luis Castrodad then entered the game for a rare two-inning appearance. Castrodad (4-0) did not allow a hit in those final two innings while also setting up the offense in the bottom of the 6th.
Representing the go-ahead run with two outs in the home half of the 6th, Castrodad scored the first SCC run when Max Wheeler doubled into the right center field gap. Wheeler then scored the second 'Hawks run two batters later when shortstop Christian Soto singled through the right side. Castrodad then closed out the game in the bottom of the 7th to give SCC (32-6) its second victory of the afternoon.
SCC returns to conference action Wednesday as the team travels north to Kirkwood Community College for Games 3 and 4 of a split mid-week match-up.