May 15, 2026
MCC opens the 2026 NJCAA East District championship against host, Westchester CC
By PAUL GOTHAM
MCC opens the 2026 NJCAA East District championship against host, Westchester CC
Monroe Community College Baseball will make its sixth district championship appearance since 2015 when the Tribunes face host Westchester Community College (Region 19) in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II East District championship.
A noon first pitch is scheduled, Friday from Vikings Field in Valhalla, New York.
Mercer County Community College (Region 19) will square off will Ulster County Community College (15) in a 3 PM game on Friday.
The double-elimination tournament continues on Saturday.
Monroe (34-8) is making its sixth trip to the district championship under head coach Dave Brust. The Tribunes claimed titles in 2016, '18 and '19.
Monroe and Westchester have met three times since 2013 with the Tribs holding a 3-0 advantage in those matchups.
MCC defeated Westchester (7-2) in the 2018 district championship. Monroe also topped WCC in the 2015 districts. The Tribunes eventually lost to UConn Avery-Point (UCAP) in the 2015 district final.
Westchester (25-16-1) will bring a five-game winning streak into play on Friday, a stretch in which the Vikings have averaged 14.2 runs per game.
Both Monroe and Westchester have played Erie Community College and UCAP this season. Westchester lost to Erie (3-2) in early March and took two of three from the Pointers.
Monroe took three of four from ECC and swept UCAP last weekend to clinch a spot in this weekend's tournament.
MCC is 3-0 all-time against Ulster (17-21) including a sweep in the 2019 districts.
The Tribs have yet to face Mercer County CC (33-13-1) in the postseason. The Vikings hold an 8-0 advantage against MCC since 2013 including three wins over the Tribs in 2022.
Mercer has won three straight heading into the weekend including a 19-11 win over Lackawanna College in regionals. Mercer took three of four from Lackawanna this season as did MCC.
