Navs, NECBL connections aplenty as Trinity stays undefeated

Incoming Navigator Kent Graham starred as Trinity College improved its record to 43-0, defeating Linfield College 6-5 at the D3 College World Series in Appleton, WI. Graham, who played first base and batted cleanup for the Bantams, went 2-for-3, including a 2-run first inning home run.

As of tonight's game, Graham has 9 homers and 57 RBI on the season. His .424 batting average leads a Trinity team that is awash in offensive talent; he was one of 5 Bantams batters named to the NESCAC All-Conference first team.

Graham, a native of Longmeadow, MA, is one of four NECBL players playing for Trinity.

Jeremiah Bayer of the Manchester Silkworms started on the mound for the Bantams and scored the victory, yielding 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits in 8 innings of work. The win improved Bayer's record to 9-0 on the year.

Sean Killeen, a catcher who will play for the Holyoke Sox this summer, went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Michael Hunter, a pitcher bound for the Lowell All-Americans, did not appear in the game.

The Bantams are one of two teams to start the double-elimination tournament with a 2-0 record. They will play fellow 2-0 team Johns Hopkins on Sunday night at 9 PM in the next round of the winner's bracket.

Two other 2008 Navigators helped their teams qualify for the D3 College World Series.

Relief pitcher Brandon Aich's Kean University Cougars were eliminated on Saturday after falling to Adrian, 7-6 in 12 innings. Aich was the hard-luck loser, giving up an unearned run in the 12th. It was a cruel end to an outstanding season for Aich, who finished with a 7-2 record and a 1.50 ERA.

Meanwhile, incoming Navigator Wayde Kitchens of Oceanside, CA, remains alive with the Chapman University Panthers. Kitchens pitched the Panthers to victory over Kean on Friday, keeping his record perfect at 9-0.

Chapman lost to Johns Hopkins 5-4 on Saturday to drop to 1-1 in tournament play. They will face Wisconsin-Whitewater in the losers bracket at 1 PM on Sunday.