SELDEN, N.Y. – The top-seeded Monroe University – Bronx baseball team captured the 2026 Region 15 Championship on Friday night, defeating the #2-seed and 2025 regional champion Suffolk County Community College in the first and only game of the regional championship round, 5-4, at Middle Country Park Field 4.
It marked the second regional championship in program history for the Express, with the first occurring in 2022. Monroe - Bronx earned a berth in the Region 15 Final in each of the last five years.
"Winning the Region 15 Championship for us means a lot, especially since we've been in the championship game for the past five years, so this is a very big accomplishment," Express Head Coach
Bryan Diaz said. "I couldn't do it without my assistant coaches who help me manage the game and help me out with anything that I need. I also want to thank the players for buying into the program and our philosophies in both hitting and pitching, as well as for doing a great job in executing everything that we plan out."
With the championship win, the Express earn a berth in the Northeast District Championship Series. The best-of-three round will be held next weekend, May 15-17, with the opponent and location to be determined. If Monroe wins the series, the Blue and Gold will earn its first-ever appearance in the JUCO College World Series.
The Express (26-13) went undefeated in the regional double-elimination tournament, going 3-0 and not having to play in a winner-take-all game in the championship round which would have taken place on Saturday.
In the title contest against Suffolk County (23-21),
Yevian Delgado started the game on the mound and retired the Sharks' lineup in the top of the first without giving up any hits or runs.
The Express had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom frame, but Patrick Donahue got
Elijah Andino to strike out which allowed Suffolk County to escape the jam.
In the top of the second, it was the Sharks' turn to load the bases with two outs. However, Delgado recovered and forced Niko Moraitis to fly out to center to escape danger and keep the game scoreless.
In the home half of the second, Monroe once again loaded the bases. This time, the Express cashed in as
Robert Herrera slapped a single to left which scored two runs to put Monroe - Bronx in front, 2-0.
In the top of the third, Delgado faced another jam. This time with runners on second and third, one out. Delgado forced Joe Rondinella to fly out to left for the second out. After that, he froze Michael Iovino by getting him to strike out looking to keep the game 2-0 in favor of the Blue and Gold.
The Express extended their lead in the bottom of the third when
David Echavarria singled through the left side to score
Juan Carlos Salcedo to give Monroe a 3-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Monroe had runners on first and second, two outs. Andino drilled a double to left which scored
Adrian Nunez from second to pad Monroe's benefit to 4-0. The next batter was Echavarria who hit the ball to the left side of the infield. Andino was headed to third but was caught in a rundown. However, he was able to hold out long enough for
Joshua Osorio to score before Andino was tagged out. Thanks to Andino's smart baserunning, Monroe inflated the advantage to 5-0.
Delgado faced another bases-loaded jam with one out in the top of the fifth. Rondinella grounded the ball to first. Osorio threw the ball home to
Ramses Gonzalez for the force and the second out. Delgado then struck out Iovino swinging to escape the inning without giving up any runs, keeping the score 5-0 in favor of the Blue and Gold.
Suffolk County was able to break through and score in the top of the sixth to pull to within four. In the top of the eighth, the Sharks added two more runs, highlighted by an RBI double off the bat of Niko Moraitis. Moraitis eventually scored on a throwing error to cut Monroe's lead to 5-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Nunez doubled with two outs but was then stranded. Both teams headed to the top of the ninth with Monroe hanging on to a 5-3 surplus.
Luis Green entered the mound in the top of the ninth for Monroe. Rondinella doubled and then Iovino was hit by a pitch. However, Green bounced back and got the next two hitters to strike out looking and line out to left, respectively, to make it two outs. Ediberto Tavarez Alvarez singled to center to score Rondinella from second and narrow Monroe's edge to 5-4. Alvarez ended up going to second on a fielding error in center, so it became runners on second and third, two outs, and Monroe hanging on to a 5-4 lead.
The Sharks were just a base hit away from tying the game and potentially jumping out in front so Express Head Coach
Bryan Diaz made the call to the bullpen.
Anthony Sanchez entered the game. The first pitch to Moraitis was a called strike. Then, Moraitis hit a fly ball to right. Andino ran in and made the catch to clinch the Region 15 Championship for Monroe – Bronx.
Herrera was named the Region 15 Tournament MVP thanks to his strong performance throughout the regional postseason. "I just want to thank God," Herrera said. "I feels so great to win and lead this team and university to a great victory."
Delgado earned the win for Monroe by going six innings, only giving up one run (none earned), surrendering six hits, allowing three walks, and striking out out three batters. Delgado earned a spot on the All-Region Tournament team.
Andino, Green, and Echavarria landed on the All-Region Tournament team as well.
Isaul Lara pitched two innings in relief for Monroe, giving up two hits and just many runs (one earned). He helped bridge the game to the ninth by producing six outs to help his team keep the lead.
At the plate for the Express, Echavarria went 2-for-3, including a double, a walk, and scored a run. Nunez went 2-for-4 and crossed home plate. Andino also went 2-for-4, while Gonzalez singled.
Devyn Rolle produced a base hit, stole two bases, and scored a run. Osorio and
Pablo Aquino each earned a base on balls.
On the mound, Sanchez picked up his third save of the year to clinch the regional championship for the Express.
For the Sharks, Donahue started the game and took the loss. Rondinella, Max Brewer, Patrick O'Shea, and Evan Hasemann were named to the Region 15 All-Tournament team.
For more information regarding the upcoming Northeast District Championship Series for the Express, check out
www.MonroeExpress.com as well as our social media channels.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University 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 University marching band, 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).
