BROOKLYN - The Monroe College – Bronx baseball team concluded the 2024 season with a loss in the Region 15 Championship Round to Kingsborough Community College, 12-1, at Kingsborough Athletic Field on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Wave (19-20) captured its second straight Region 15 Championship, with both times occurring against the Express (23-22).
 
It was a successful season for Monroe as they made it all the way to the Region 15 Championship Round for the third year in a row, won three games against a nationally ranked opponent, had nine players make the All-Region team, and boasted two Region 15 Gold Glove team honorees.
 
Sophomore catcher Hecxiel Perez, second-year pitcher Adrian Quezada, and freshman shortstop Yan Ortiz Torres made the All-Region Tournament team which was announced after the conclusion of the game.
 
The Wave struck first in the contest by scoring a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Express countered in the bottom frame as sophomore left fielder Gregory Espinal scored from third on an RBI groundout by Perez to even the game at a run apiece.
 
The next three innings were dominated by pitching as sophomore Orel Castellar of Monroe - Bronx and freshman Robert Pacifici of Kingsborough tossed zeroes all the way until the top of the fifth. In that inning, sophomore third baseman Thomas Laino stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second, nobody out. He drilled the ball over the right-field fence for a three-run home run to give Kingsborough a 4-1 lead. Later in the inning, the Wave took advantage of a crucial throwing error by Monroe which allowed five more runs to score in the frame to extend Kingsborough's benefit to 9-1.
 
The Express were held to zero hits for the first five innings. Perez led off the sixth and ended the team's hitless start by lining a single to center. However, Monroe's leadoff base runner was erased by a groundball double play and the Express could not generate anything else in the stanza. 
 
Kingsborough scored twice in the seventh to inflate its cushion to 11-1. 
 
The Express loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, as they were looking to get back into the game. However, the Wave escaped the jam unharmed. 
 
Kingsborough added one more run in the ninth and then shutdown the Express' bats in the bottom frame to secure their second straight regional championship.
 
For the Express at the plate, Perez went 2-for-4 with a double. Ortiz Torres singled and walked. Espinal earned a base on balls and stole a bag. Sophomore first baseman Camilo Rodriguez and rookie designated hitter Jesus Guerrero each singled with the latter also working a walk. Quezada and freshman third baseman Giovanny Flores each got on base via taking four balls.
 
On the mound for Kingsborough, Pacifici struck out five batters and gave up one run, which was unearned, and surrendered just two hits in 6.2 innings pitched to earn the win.
 
For Monroe – Bronx, freshman pitcher José Capellán pitched two shutout innings out of the bullpen. Castellar took the hard-fought loss. 
 
The Express baseball team will return to the field in 2025. 
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter/X (@MonroeExpress), Instagram (@MonroeExpress), and Threads (@MonroeExpress).