Eight is great! Baseball climbs in national rankings

FREDERICK, Md. – The Frederick Community College baseball team sits at No. 8 as the National Office released the latest edition of the NJCAA D2 Baseball Top 20 Poll.

The Cougars are off to one of the best starts in school history. Winners of 17 straight, FCC is sporting an overall record of 18-1 (9-0 MD JUCO). The Cougars are dominating in all three phases of the game. They are getting major contributions offensively, defensively, and on the mound.

As a team, the Cougars are seeing the baseball really well at the plate. They are hitting .322 with a slugging percentage of .528. On the hill, the pitching staff continues to pound the strike zone and are holding opponents to just a .237 batting average. The pitching staff has recorded four shutouts, which is good for fourth place in NJCAA D2 baseball. The pitching staff ERA is 2.96! WOW! Defensively, the Cougars are making most of their opportunities as they continue to throw the leather on the diamond committing just 21 errors in 19 contests.

QUOTE FROM THE COACH - SKIPPER RODNEY BENNETT

"Our physical preparation, mindset, and unselfishness as a team have been integral to our early season success and hope to continue into the rest of our season."

APPROACHING A COACHING MAJOR MILESTONE

FCC Baseball Head Coach Rodney Bennett is closing in on a major coaching milestone. Coach Bennett is just five wins away from #700. His current overall coaching record is 695-280! That is rare company, my man!

ON DECK

As this crazy weather continues to throw us all a curveball this week, the Cougars are slated to return to the diamond on Wednesday on the road at Stevenson University for a doubleheader. The first pitch is slated for 1 PM.

BATTING LEADERS
Brendan Long: 12 hits, .522 BA, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI
Justin Acal: 27 Hits, .458 BA, 17 RBI, 8 2B, 11 BB, 7 SB, .542 OBP
Aidan Masters: 19 Hits, .373 BA, 16 RBI
Brodey Neveker: 17 Hits, .327 BA, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 12 BB
David Antone: 15 hits, .341 BA, 2 HR, 10 RBI
Wyatt Miles: 16 Hits, .314 BA, 7 2B, 15 RBI

PITCHING LEADERS
John Cummings: 3-0, 21 IP, 1.71 ERA, 20 K
Ezekiel Gongola: 3-0, 22 IP, 1.19 ERA, 30 K
Adam Watkins: 3-0, 9 IP, 2.00 ERA
Jared Hurlburt: 2-0, 12.1 IP, 3 Saves, 2.92 ERA

FCC BY THE NUMBERS
NATIONAL RANKING: #8 NJCAA D2
PBR JUCO TOP 25: #7
OVERALL: 18-1
MD JUCO CONFERENCE: 9-0 - 1st place
REGION 20 D2: 7-0 - 1st place
STREAK: Won 17
HOME: 7-0
AWAY: 4-0
NEUTRAL: 7-1

NJCAA D2 National Ranking: https://www.njcaa.org/sports/bsb/rankings/DII/index
FCC Baseball Roster: https://www.fccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/roster
FCC Baseball Schedule: https://www.fccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/schedule 
FCC Baseball Season Stats: https://www.njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2021-22/div2/teams/frederickcommunitycollege?view=lineup