BY MIKE MASTOVICH
MMASTOVICH@TRIBDEM.COM
JOHNSTOWN —
Adam Morgan grew up rooting for his hometown Boston Red Sox.
The Northeastern University designated hitter probably dreamed of smacking a few homers over the Green Monster at Fenway Park.
On Friday morning, he did the next best thing.
Morgan smashed a pair of three-run homers over the Screen Monster at Point Stadium, leading Northeastern to a 10-2 victory over Western State College of Colorado in the opening game of the National Club Baseball Association Division II World Series.
“It's pretty cool. We're from Boston so we have the Green Monster,” said Morgan, who went 3-for-3, was hit by two pitches and drove in six. “This is definitely a different take on it. This whole field is cool. I like it a lot. I can't wait to play more games on it.”
Northeastern is located in Boston and most of its players are from New England.
Right-handed pitcher Nick Young threw a complete game, scattering 10 hits while striking out five and walking two.
“A complete game is optimal for the beginning of a tournament like this,” said Young, who threw 65 strikes and 104 pitches. “We have limited pitchers so we have to eat up as many innings as possible. I felt good out there, nothing special. They got a decent amount of hits but we were able to get the outs when they had men on base.”
Young got a boost when Morgan blasted a drive over the deepest part of the Screen Monster, above the 336-foot mark in left-center field, making it 3-0.
“It was just a low and outside fastball. He threw me another one in the same spot so I was looking for that one,” Morgan said. “When it came in I dropped the barrel of the bat on it and luckily it carried for me. I didn't think I hit it that great.”
Morgan's second homer highlighted Northeastern's five-run sixth. The drive went down the left field line over the foul pole and well across Johns Street.
“The second one was a high fastball, and I turned on it and got all of it,” Morgan said.
Northeastern's Jeremy Gordon went 4-for-4. Michael Librett and Matt Jamula each had two hits, with Librett ripping a double. Western State's Ryan Horton had three hits, including a double, and Dylan Huyck had two hits, with a double.
“This is a mini Fenway,” Young said. “It's nice having that short porch in left for our hitters. I just have to make sure I keep the ball down so they don't pop one out over there.”
