CCRI captains Desmond Williams (Torrington, Conn.) and Bryan Yarce (Cranston) were both honored for the second year in a row as All-Region XXI selections. The duo led the Knights to a 51-17 record as player for the Knights over their two years at CCRI.       

Williams was a prolific scorer for the Knights who was ranked No. 6 in the nation this year by the NJCAA averaging 22.7 points per game and ended his career as No. 4 all-time scorer in CCRI history with 1,332 career points. In his sophomore year, Williams scored in double-figures 26 of the 27 games he played in, including erupting for 30 or more points five times and 20 or more points 17 times. He was named NJCAA Division II men’s basketball player of the week for the week of February 1. Lats year, he was named First Team All-American by the NJCAA.

As a sophomore Yarce continued to be the team’s top facilitator, while starting 30 of the 32 games for the Knights.  Yarce was ranked No. 7 in total assists with 191 and No. 8 by the NJCAA in assist per game with 6.4. Yarce was also ranked No. 30 by the NJCAA with 70 steals on the year. In addition, he raised his scoring average to 12.3 points per game. Also during the year, Yarce was named NJCAA Division II National Player of the Week for the week of November 12-18 when he helped spearhead the Knights’ 22-point comeback versus Cuyahoga CC when he scored 22 points with seven assists and seven steals. 

Three Lady Knights earn All-Region honors

Sophomore captain Jahira Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y.), freshman Lexi Barros (New Bedford, Mass.) and freshman Ahnyyah Jackson (Hackensack, N.J.) were all honored as All-Region XXI selections on Wednesday. 

Smith is a two-year captain of the Lady Knights and two-time All-Region XXI (New England) selection.  Recently, was named WBCA All-American. Smith led nation is steals with 126, averaging 4.3 assists per game. 

Barros burst upon the scene as a freshman and she was second on the lady Knights in scoring behind Smith, averaging 16.1 points per game, with which ranked her No. 44 by the NJCAA. Barros also was ranked 12th in the nation in steals with 96 and was ranked No. 6 in three-point field goal percentage, making 43.3-percent of her three-pointers.  

Jackson was another freshman who made a big impact, averaging 12 points per game. Jackson, along with Barros, was a key piece to the perimeter attack for the Lady Knights while also being able to penetrate the opposing defenses and get free throw opportunities where she led the Lady Knights, shooting 80-percent from the free throw line. That ranked her No. 15 by the NJCAA.  Jackson scored in double-figures in 20 games she played in this year and had 20 or more points in three games, including a career-high 23 points versus UConn-Avery Point. 

Knights blow out Mariners

The CCRI baseball team traveled to New London, Conn. to play the Mitchell College JV team on Tuesday. The Knights defeated the Mariners 15-1. With the victory, the Knights improved to 6-6 on the season.

The Knights finally put it all together offensively and exploded for 15 runs and 23 hits. CCRI scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back. Dylan Gracia (Middletown) led off the game with a hard single up the middle and Jacob Saley (Trumbull, Conn.) hit the next pitch over the 385-foot mark in right-center field for a two-run homer. Ryan O’Dell (Lincoln) followed with a single and stole second base, Jonathan Vasquez (Bridgeport, Conn.) followed with an RBI single to right field, Rob DaCosta (Cranston) followed that with an RBI double to right-center field, captain Nick Coro then had an RBI single and Pat O’Keefe (East Greenwich) finished off the barrage with another RBI single.

The Knights added three more runs in the top of the sixth, four more in the seventh and finished with a single run in the top of the eighth inning. Vasquez continued to lead the offense with five hits, including three doubles, with three RBI. O’Keefe chipped in with four hits and an RBI. Joe Yankee (Lincoln) continued his strong offensive start, as he added three hits, including two doubles and two RBI.  Gracia, Chris Pistacchio (Johnston), Saley, DaCosta, and Coro all added two hits apiece.

The pitching staff was just as dominant, as freshman Matt Laferierre (Coventry) turned in a brilliant starting performance, going six innings and giving up just four hits and one run while striking out nine Mitchell batters. Marc Boutilier (Orlando, Fla.) came on in relief in the top of the seventh and pitched two hitless and scoreless innings and closer Jay Ferri (North Kingstown) came on in the bottom of the ninth to strike out the side.

“The most impressive outing of the season so far,” CCRI head coach Ken Hopkins said. “With a big week of games, it is important to gain some confidence offensively and this game surely gave us an indication of what could happen when the Knights put it all together.”

 The Knights are back in action Friday when they travel to Willimantic, Conn. to play the Eastern Connecticut State University JV squad at 1 p.m.

CCRI takes home three honors at Cox Media luncheon

The CCRI Knights and Lady Knights basketball teams were featured prominently at the 2013 Cox Sports Basketball Media Awards held on Monday at the Radisson Hotel in Warwick.  CCRI took home a total of three of the 10 awards today. CCRI Knights’ captain Desmond Williams (Torrington, Conn.) was the co-winner of The Steve McDonald Award as DIII/CC Men’s Player of the Year, CCRI Lady Knights captain Jahira Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was honored with the Kevin McNamara Award as the winner as DIII/CC Women’s Player of the Year, and Lady Knights head coach Kate Lynch was honored as the Tom Carmody Award winner as DIII/CC Women’s Coach of the Year.

Williams won his honor for the second year in a row. Williams was a captain on this year’s team and is a two-time All-Region XXI (New England) selection. He was a prolific scorer for the Knights, ranking No. 6 in the nation this year by the NJCAA, averaging 22.7 points per game. Over his career, Williams scored in double-figures in 60 out of 62 games in which he played. He ended his Knights career as the No. 4 scorer on the CCRI all-time scoring list with 1,332 career points.

Smith is a two-year captain of the Lady Knights and two-time All-Region XXI (New England) selection. Recently, she was named WBCA All-American as she helped lead her team to the “Elite Eight” this year at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. Smith led the nation in steals with 126 and averaged 4.3 assists per game. In addition, she is the CCRI’s all-time leader in scoring, assists, steals and made free throws. 

Lynch coached the Lady Knights to a 25-7 record, the third-best in program history. The Lady Knights won their 10th consecutive Region XXI title as well as winning the District O Championship, which earned the Lady Knights a trip to NJCAA Nationals at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Ill., where they made the “Elite Eight.” Also, she was named District O Coach of the Year by the NJCAA. In addition, Lynch will also be honored as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Russell Athletic/WBCA Junior College National Coach of the Year. She will receive that award at the WBCA national convention in April.