TOURNAMENT CENTRAL:

FLUSHING, N.Y. (May 8, 2023) – Now that the regular season has come to an end, the bracket for the 2023 CUNYAC Baseball Championship is set. Four teams with championship aspirations will compete for conference bragging rights on May 12-13 at Maimonides Park on Coney Island.
 
CCNY, last season's runner-up, is the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Beavers went 13-18 overall and 9-3 against conference opponents during the regular season, earning a tiebreaker over Baruch to secure the regular season title. James Dean Johnstone is 5-3 on the mound this season with a 4.19 ERA and 56 strikeouts across 58.0 innings of work, while Jonathan Rivera paces CCNY in batting average (.406), hits (41), RBI (26) and runs scored (28).
 
Baruch, the two-time defending conference champions, is the No. 2 seed in the bracket, going 11-13 overall and 9-3 against league opposition. On the mound, the Bearcats are led by Nathaniel Demchak who is 9-0 lifetime against CUNYAC opposition in the regular including a 5-0 mark this season. Joseph Cocozza leads the team this season in batting average (.460), hits (40) and slugging percentage (.644).
 
Lehman is the No. 3 seed after finishing 5-7 against CUNYAC foes during the regular season. Ranssel Pinedo leads the Lightning in batting average (.455), hits (40) and RBI (25).
 
John Jay rounds out the bracket as the No. 4 seed, earning one conference victory this season. Michael Manzoeillo leads the league in hits (48) while batting a team-best .340.
 
The tournament begins on Tuesday, May 9 with first round action to earn a spot in the championship series. No. 1 CCNY will host No. 4 John Jay at Ohio Field in the Bronx at 3:30 p.m. CCNY went a perfect 4-0 against the Bloodhounds in the regular season.
 
No. 2 Baruch will host No. 3 Lehman at Flowers Park in New Rochelle at 3:30 p.m. The Bearcats went 3-1 against the Lightning in the regular, splitting a doubleheader on the final weekend.
 
The winners of each game will compete in a best-of-three series for conference bragging rights at Maimonides Park. The first two games of the series will be held on Friday, May 12 beginning at 12:00pm. Friday's doubleheader will broadcast globally on Facebook Live. The if-necessary game three is slated for Saturday, May 13 at 12:00pm.

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