Sunday Sports: JCC men’s baseball team focuses on talent, potential

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - Brandon Noble’s Cannoneers entered play this weekend with a 1-10 overall record and 1-8 in conference play. The Cannoneers are sporting a young roster with only 6 sophomores and 25 freshman.

While it’s a young roster, Coach Noble says it’s one filled with talent and potential.

Noble said, ”We’re blessed with such a great group of guys. They work so hard from the fall. Part of it is a little bit of a learning curve, getting outside for the first time. So they’ve had to learn how to play together.”

The injury bug has hit the Cannoneers hard, with the team losing its number one and number three starters to injury for the season.

Other players are stepping in and getting an opportunity they may not have had this season.

”Yeah, that puts a strain on the pitchers, especially the guys that we expected to rely on,” Noble said. “But at the same time, it provides an opportunity for other guys to step up. We’ve seen a couple of our guys really go out the last couple weeks and pitch well and look for them to be able to extend that throughout the season.”

Despite the record and the injuries, the players remain optimistic about what they can accomplish with 19 games left on the 2022 schedule.

J.C.C. catcher Brayden Mason said, “We have a lot of talent on this team. We’re all new together, we’re all young. We just haven’t really put it together yet.”

J.C.C.’s roster is light on local talent, with only five players combined from the Frontier League and N.A.C.

But like past years, the Cannoneers’ roster has players from all over the country and outside the country, with one player from Texas and four players from Canada. So why J.C.C.?

”It was just a great opportunity as I wanted to keep playing baseball after high school,” said pitcher and outfielder Yojairo Juan. “Coach reached out to me and he told me about opportunities that came here, so I chose to attend this school and continue my studies and baseball.”

”My dad is in the military stationed at West Point Military Academy so I decided to come up here, give him a chance to watch me play a year of college baseball,” said pitcher Elijah Sherwin, who hails from Cibolo, Texas.

After playing the first third of their season on the road, the Cannoneers are slated to open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday, hosting Hudson Valley Community College.

In women’s college lacrosse from SUNY Canton, the Lady Roos hosted Maine Maritime.

SUNY Canton gets the scoring underway when Samantha Dayter scores her 45th goal of the season. It’s 1-0 Lady Roos.

With the score tied at 1, Stephanie Thayer scores off the free position. It’s 2-1 SUNY Canton.

Tied at 2, it’s Thayer with her second goal of the game -- her 19th of the season. It’s 3-2 Lady Roos.

Maddy Caron gets into the scoring column with her 23rd of the season. It’s 4-2 Lady Roos.

Then it’s Casey Pleton with the tally. SUNY Canton beats Maine Maritime 19-4.

In Federal Hockey League action from the Watertown Fairgrounds ice arena, the Wolves hosted Delaware.

The Thunder threaten early, but Wolves Goalie Adam Beukeboom comes up with the save.

The Wolves look to strike first, but Delaware goalie Greg Harney makes the stop.

Midway through the first, the Wolves take the lead when Nolan Slachetka tips home the loose puck in front. Watertown is on top 1-0.

Wolves go on to beat Delaware 7-1.

Sunday’s local scores

College baseball

RIT 11, St. Lawrence 6

St. Lawrence 6, RIT 5

University of Rochester 12, Clarkson 5

University of Rochester 7, Clarkson 2

College softball

Ithaca 11, St. Lawrence 4

Ithaca 8, St. Lawrence 0

Clarkson 15, Union 6

Clarkson 5, Union 1

Pro hockey

Watertown 7, Delaware 1

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