Roadrunner slugger and leftfielder Nick Nocella did it all this weekend, contributing key hits and RBIs whenever needed to lead the Runners' to the North Atlantic District Baseball Tournament championship following a 22-4 win over Northern Essex CC Saturday.

In the championship game, Nocella collected 4 hits and 2 RBIs, to finish the 3-game tournament with 8 hits and 8 RBIs. The highlight for the former Gloucester Catholic standout proved to be Friday's 12-10 opening win over Atlantic Cape when he blasted a grand slam to clinch the come-from-behind victory.

Click Here for Region XIX Photo Highlights

The tournament championship stamped the Roadrunners' ticket to the NJCAA Division III World Series, May 29-June 3 in Greeneville, TN. Coach Rob Valli's team (34-4-2), the No. 1 team in the NJCAA D-III National Rankings, will likely enter the World Series as the overall top seed.

"We've had a great season and winning the Districts and heading to the college World Series is exciting," noted Nocella. "This means a lot to me personally and I know to everyone on the team. We plan to make the most of this opportunity."

The outcome was pretty decided after one inning when the Runners roared to a 7-0 lead in the first inning before extending the advantage to 19-1 after six innings. Nocella and infielder Jose Correa picked up four hits each while Jack Billings slammed a home run and collected 3 hits and 4 RBIs. Teammates Shawn Dougherty, Sam Daggers and Sean Szetowicki all added 3 hits apiece.

Starting pitcher Rich Racobaldo earned the win, allowing five hits and one run while striking out four in six innings.

The win capped a three-game sweep of tournament opponents for Coach Rob Valli's Runners, who beat Atlantic Cape (12-10) and Northern Essex (7-2) in their first two games.

Check back here for details on the NJCAA Division III World Series, including the release of tourney brackets and matchups.

Game 2: Runners 7, Northern Essex 2

Rightfielder Shawn Dougherty received a playoff start Friday afternoon, and he delivered the biggest hit of his brief college career.

Dougherty steppped up to the plate in the third inning with the bases loaded and belted a grand slam over the right centerfield wall to highlight the Roadrunners 7-2 victory over Northern Essex in Game 2 of the North Atlantic District Championship Tournament Friday.

The Runners advanced to the North Atlantic District championship game Saturday against the winner of the RCSJ Cumberland vs. Northern Essex elimination contest.

Dougherty's big slam was clearly the highlight of his freshman season at RCSJ as he helped secure the win for right handed pitcher Jack Billings, who lasted 5 1/3 innings in a solid effort. Billings allowed two runs and eight hits while striking out seven. Southpaw Chris Widger was credited with the save in 3 2/3 innings of relief work.

Dougherty receive support in the lineup from teammates Jim White, Dauri Geneo and Nick Nocella, all of whom collected two hits apiece.

Coach Rob Valli's Runners, who rallied to win Game 1 12-10 over Atlantic Cape, improved to 33-4-2 overall with the Game 2 win.

See photo highlights by clicking here.

Dougherty stepped up to the plate in the third inning with the bases loaded and belted a grand slam over the right centerfield wall to highlight the Roadrunners 7-2 victory over Northern Essex in Game 2 of the North Atlantic District Championship Tournament Friday.

The Runners advanced to the North Atlantic District championship game Saturday against the winner of the RCSJ Cumberland vs. Northern Essex elimination contest.

Dougherty's big slam was clearly the highlight of his freshman season at RCSJ as he helped secure the win for right handed pitcher Jack Billings, who lasted 5 1/3 innings in a solid effort. Billings allowed two runs and eight hits while striking out seven. Southpaw Chris Widger was credited with the save in 3 2/3 innings of relief work.

Dougherty receive support in the lineup from teammates Jim White, Dauri Geneo and Nick Nocella, all of whom collected two hits apiece.

Coach Rob Valli's Runners, who rallied to win Game 1 12-10 over Atlantic Cape, improved to 33-4-2 overall with the Game 2 win.

See photo highlights by clicking here.
https://gccphotos.smugmug.com/GCC-SPORTS/Baseball/Baseball-Districts-Day-1-on-52121/n-Rdcbkq/i-8d2K6JX

Game 1: Runners 12, Atlantic Cape 10

Former Gloucester Catholic standout Nick Nocella came up big just when the Roadrunner Baseball team needed him most.

Nocella's grand slam proved to be the difference as the Runners -- down 10-0 in the early innings -- staged a huge rally to edge Atlantic Cape Community College in the opening round of the North Atlantic District Championships Friday at RCSJ Gloucester.

Click Here for Photo Highlights of Roadrunners vs. Atlantic Cape CC

The Runners now will meet North Essex in Round 2 after North Essex defeated RCSJ Cumberland in it opening round game. The survivor of this game advances to the championship bracket and needs only to win one game for the tournament crown.

In the bottom of the sixth and behind 10-7, Nocella stepped up to the plate and belted his grand slam, scoring four precious runs for an 11-10 lead. The Runners added one more run for the final of 12-10.

Earlier, the visiting Buccaneers erupted for eight runs in the second inning and added two more in the third for a commanding 10-0 lead.

The Runners finally got on the scoreboard with a run in fourth inning before capping off the big rally with five in the sixth. Cole Chesnet, Sean Szetowicki, Jim White and Nocella all collected multiple hits to lead the Roadrunner rally.

Dan Frake was credited with the win for RCSJ, coming out of the bullpen to hurl five innings and allowing just one run.