Cook’s 4-Hit Day Powers CCBC Essex Past Chesapeake, Sets Up Elimination Matchup vs. Anne Arundel

Wye Mills, MD — Behind a dominant performance from sophomore Justin Cook, CCBC Essex knocked off top-seeded Chesapeake College 12-4 on Saturday in the Region 20 Semifinal Elimination Game, keeping their postseason run alive.

The victory was CCBC Essex's second win of the final four, both coming in elimination games after falling to Chesapeake in Friday's opener. The win evens the season series between the Knights and Skipjacks at 3-3.

Cook (Bradenton, FL / Manatee) was electric at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with a double and three singles. He reached base in every trip and sparked multiple rallies.

Eduardo Zayas (Cidra, PR / Bilingual Education School) opened the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly. Maxwell Urena (Brooklyn, NY / Christ the King) followed with a triple in the second, and Jimmy Perez (Queens, NY / HS for Arts and Business) added an RBI single.

In the third, Rafael Castillo (Queens, NY / HS for Construction Trades) delivered a sacrifice fly and Ethan Holland (Salisbury, MD / Parkside) chipped in an RBI single to extend the lead.

Freshman Drew Rommel (Fallston, MD / Fallston) earned the win with a gritty six-inning effort, allowing four hits and four runs (two earned), striking out two and walking four. Freshman Yadier Henriquez Lopez (Harrisburg, PA / Central Dauphin East) tossed a clean inning of relief to secure the win.

CCBC Essex totaled 14 hits, including multi-hit games from Cook, Perez, and Urena. The Knights played clean defense and turned a key double play to stifle a Chesapeake rally.

Chesapeake was led by Monroney's 2-for-2 effort and RBI contributions from Wallace, Hubred, and Monroney.

Next up, CCBC Essex (30-26) will face Anne Arundel in another elimination game. The winner will move on to Sunday's Region 20 Championship Series with a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament on the line.