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Wolfpack's Wagner Named NJCAA Pitcher of the Week

Photo courtesy of Robert Koch
Photo courtesy of Robert Koch
May 19, 2021

YOUNGWOOD, Pa. - Following two stellar outings in a pair of victories last week, Westmoreland County Community College's Jared Wagner has been named the NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Week.

Wagner started and threw the first nine innings in Westmoreland's 3-2 win over Prince George's in game one of Region XX series on May 11. After PG scored both runs in the 3rd inning, Jared followed wth six straight scoreless innings and allowed just three hits, as the game went into extra innings where the Wolfpack won in the 10th. His final line for the game included two runs on six hits in nine innings pitched while walking one and striking out five.

Just three days later, Wagner came on in relief in the 2nd inning and Westmoreland trailing 2-0. He held PG scoreless the rest of the game on only two hits, as the Wolfpack rallied for a 6-2 win to advance as the Region XX representative in the District Tournament next weekend. Wagner retired 13 in a row at one point and 16 of the last 17 batters in the game.

"Jared stepped up on two levels in Saturday's game, first by pitching on three and a half days rest," said Wolfpack head coach Mike Draghi. "But he also came in out of the bullpen after being a starter most of the season and threw eight shutout innings of two-hit ball to give us a chance to win. He's a tough kid who has continued to get better as the year went on and he's pitching his best baseball at the most important time for us."

This is the second time this season a Wolfpack player has earned national NJCAA Player of the Week status. Center fielder Tommy Kegerreis was recognized as the Division III Player of the Week for March 28-April 4.

Wagner, Kegerreis and the Wolfpack will travel to Rockingham Community College in North Carolina this weekend for the District Tournament. The winner of the best-of-three series, which starts with a doubleheader Friday and will feature a third game on Saturday if necessary, will advance to the NJCAA Division III World Series in Greeneville, Tennessee the following week. The Wolfpack have played in the World Series twice, including a fourth place finish in 2005 and an appearance in 2011.