[Baseball] Baseball Celebrates Seniors, Preps for First Tourney Since '13

MONTREAT, N.C. – On a sunny Saturday at picturesque Newell Field, a twinbill loss to the Point Skyhawks was of secondary importance as the Cavaliers celebrated their seniors and set up their starting rotation for the upcoming AAC Tournament.

Seniors Tanner Parham (JR/Lenoir, NC), Daniel Collins (JR/Guyton, GA), Ethan Minn (SR/Bristol, CT), Ross Hoffner (SR/Mocksville, NC), Mitchell Donahue (SR/LaGrange, GA), Ricardo DeArmas (SR/Miami, FL), Robert Hernandez (JR/Miami, FL), and Caleb Talton (JR/Lexington, SC) were congratulated for their important role in transitioning the team into an AAC Tournament qualifier.

Three years and four seasons ago, the Cavaliers finished the campaign with just eight wins, while this year's team currently notched 22. Montreat is now an tournament-caliber team and still has more baseball to play as they face Tennessee Wesleyan on Wednesday to open the AAC tournament.

(Friday, April 27) Point 8 Montreat 1 (Nine Innings)

Senior Daniel Collins got the start and worked 5.1 innings, allowing four runs and striking out two Skyhawks, but it wasn't enough as Point scored eight for the win. The Cavaliers had eight hits but struggled to string them together and pushed across just one run. 

(Saturday, April 28) Game 1: Point 6 Montreat 1 (Nine Innings)

For the Cavaliers, Jared Drayton (JR/Richmond, IN) got the start and went five, striking out seven Skyhawks in the process. He yielded to James Crowder (JR/Tallahassee, FL), who gave up a run in two innings of work. Seniors Ethan Minn and Mitchell Donahue each pitched a frame and each held the Skyhawks scoreless, making their last trips to the mound in the navy and gold a memorable one. Donahue and Crowder both struck out a pair, giving the staff 11 in the game over nine innings.

(Saturday, April 28) Game 2: Point 6 Montreat 5 (Seven Innings)

Ricardo "Ricky" DeArmas made his last game at Newell Field one of his best, and there has been plenty of competition for the honor over his career. DeArmas went 4-for-4, belted a home run, drove in four, and was busy around the bag at first, registering nine putouts and tossing in an assist to round out an outstanding afternoon. Robert Hernandez also left a lasting impression on the diamond in his final game, starting at shortstop, and going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Hernandez threw out three runners from short, and was part of a 3-6-4 all-senior double play as DeArmas fielded a grounder and threw to Hernandez for one out and the shortstop returned a throw to Ross Hoffner for the DP. Hoffner was active at second, throwing out four, while registering a pair of putouts, including one on the double play. Senior Caleb Talton played errorless baseball at third and registered a basehit and RBI as the Cavs fell just short of salvaging the final game of the three-game set.