The team donning the quirkiest haircuts in town became a major headache for the No. 2-ranked team in NJCAA Division II Sunday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

The No. 12-ranked Scottsdale Community College Arti-chokes, led by designated hitter Brett Nicholas’ seven RBI, peppered L.B. Wallace (Ala.) College 15-4 in a surprising run-rule victory at the World Series.

Nicholas put his team ahead 5-4 on a fifth-inning grand slam, then broke the World Series record for RBI in a game when he blasted a three-run homer to right field in the eighth. He led the Artichokes’ 16-hit onslaught, which steamed six Wallace pitchers in eight innings.

“It seemed like everything (Wallace pitchers) threw I was able to see really well,” said Nicholas. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt that on the field. I was just ecstatic and the dugout was really excited.”

The Artichokes, who started a head-shaving tradition coined “Mohawk May” in 2007, play at 7 p.m. Tuesday against the winner of today’s winners’ bracket matchup between Western Oklahoma State and defending national champion LSU-Eunice.

While the Artichokes didn’t enter the tournament with the highest ranking, they have proven to be the most unusual bunch in the 10-team field.

In addition to donning Mohawks, the team also brought along Joseph, a nativity scene character they dressed in Scottsdale garb for good luck. That tradition also started in 2007.

“These are good kids. They play hard and they work hard and they have great character,” said Scottsdale coach Alex Cherney. “I’m not about to stifle their personality.”

The Artichokes didn’t need any good-luck charms Sunday.

They trailed Wallace 4-1 going into the fifth, then sprouted six runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to salt the game away.

Nicholas led the Artichokes with his two home runs, tying the World Series record. First baseman Nolan Church went 3-for-6 with two runs, and J.J. Ethel tallied three hits and two RBI. The Artichokes batted around twice.

Scottsdale starter Jake Hummel, who allowed all four Wallace runs in the third, benefited most from his team’s potent offense. After allowing a single in the fourth, he retired the last seven hitters he faced to pick up the victory.

Relievers John Dean, Andy Steinmetz and Daniel Zapata combined to shut out the Saints in the last two innings. Wallace didn’t muster a single hit in the last four innings.

“It was good to see us play the way we’ve played all year,” said Cherney. “(Hummel) was absolutely outstanding for us.”



KANKAKEE 12,

KELLOGG 1 (5)

The Cavaliers jumped on Kellogg for four runs in the third inning and six more in the fifth in a runaway victory.

Gentry VanAllen blasted a solo homer in the second inning and added a two-run single in the third.

Phillip Striggow had a two-run double and Nate Reid added a two-run single.

Kankakee took advantage of five Kellogg errors, including three in the fifth inning.

Matt Heaslip cruised to the easy victory. The right-hander allowed five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in going the distance.



DES MOINES 13, MONROE 5 (8)

For the second day in a row, the Monroe Tribunes held a lead of at least four runs. For the second game in a row, they suffered a loss.

Brashad Johnson put the Bears ahead for good with a two-RBI single in the sixth inning, which gave Des Moines a 6-5 lead. The Bears scored two insurance runs in the inning to give reliever Cole Nelson some breathing room.

Nelson, who replaced starter Patrick Cooper in the fifth inning, scattered three hits and didn't allow a single earned run in picking up the victory. Monroe starter Jason Gardner took the loss after allowing eight runs in 52/3 innings.

Des Moines hitters were the benefactors of five Monroe errors.

Johnson ensured the run-rule with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth, giving him four RBI and putting the Bears up 13-5.

With the victory, No. 3-ranked Des Moines advances to face Kankakee at 3:30 p.m. today. Monroe, which blew a 5-0 lead against LSU-Eunice on Saturday, will head back to Rochester, N.Y.





NJCAA Division II World Series

May 23-30

At David Allen Memorial Ballpark

Sunday’s results

Scottsdale 15, Wallace 4 (8)

Kankakee 12, Kellogg 1 (5)

Des Moines 13,Monroe 5 (8)

Today’s games

Game 8 - Western vs. LSU-Eunice, noon

Game 9 - Kankakee vs. Des Moi-nes, 3:30 p.m.

Game 10 - Parkland vs. Allegany, 7 p.m.



Sunday’s top player



Scottsdale designated hitter Brett Nicholas set an NJCAA Division II World Series record with seven RBI. His grand slam in the fifth inning put the Artichokes ahead of L.B. Wallace 5-4, and his three-run homer in the eighth gave his team an 11-run cushion. He tied the World Series record with two home runs.



Play of the day



Des Moines Area Community College center fielder Hector Ponce robbed Monroe Community College's Joe Polichetti of an extra base hit when he caught a fly ball on a dead sprint. Ponce crashed into the brick wall, but was able to get up and run off the field.



Kellogg left fielder Mitch Vrooman robbed Allegany’s A.J. Czap of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch in deep left-center field.



COTTSDALE 15, L.B. WALLACE 4 (8)



SCOTTSDALE WALLACE

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Etchrn lf 5 1 0 0 Reed cf 2 0 1 0

Church 1b 6 2 3 1 Parks 3b 3 1 1 1

Nichlas dh 5 3 2 7 Wlliams rf 3 1 1 0

Petello cf 3 2 1 0 Fulfrd dh 3 1 1 3

Perez rf 4 2 1 1 Turner lf 3 0 1 0

Oestrle ss 4 0 2 2 Dixon c 3 0 1 0

Huard 2b 6 2 2 1 Culbrth 1b 2 0 1 0

Ethel c 4 1 3 2 Shear ss 3 0 0 0

Valrius 3b 2 2 2 1 Mnsmn 2b 2 1 1 0

Reeves ph 1 0 0 0

Linton ph 0 0 0 0

Waltmn ph 1 0 0 0

Totals: 39 15 16 15 Totals: 26 4 8 4



Scottsdale 010 063 05 -15

Wallace 004 000 00 -4



DP-Scottsdale 1. LOB-Scottsdale 13, Wallace 5. 2B-Huard, Ethel, Parks. HR- Perez, Nicholas (2), Fulford. S-Reed.

IP H R ER BB SO

Scottsdale

Hummel W 6 8 4 4 1 4

Dean 1 0 0 0 0 0

Steinmetz 1/3 0 0 0 1 0

Zapata 2/3 0 0 0 0 1

Wallace

Dent L 4 5 5 5 4 2

Norwood 0 0 2 2 2 0

Hall 1 2 2 2 0 0

Dozier 1 2 1 1 0 0

Brown 1 3 2 2 1 1

Mayo 1 3 3 3 2 2



WP-Hummel, Dozier. PB-Dixon (2). T-2:35.



KANKAKEE 12, KELLOGG 1 (5)



Kanakee Kellogg

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Graves cf 4 1 0 0 Lggett lf 2 0 0 0

Benntt ss 2 2 0 0 Yatch 2b 2 1 1 0

Rdeker lf 4 1 2 0 Cieslak cf 2 0 1 0

Russell lb 4 1 1 0 Strzlkwki c 1 0 1 1

VnAllndh 3 2 2 2 Wallis lb 2 0 1 0

Young rf 1 2 1 1 Lebreqe 3b 2 0 0 0

Reid c 3 2 2 2 Wrozek ss 2 0 0 0

Strggw 3b 3 1 2 2 Buter dh 2 0 0 0

Jansen 2b 2 0 0 0 Rinard rf 2 0 1 0

Gray ph 1 0 0 0

Schafer ph 1 0 0 0

Henika ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 26 12 107 Totals 20 1 5 1



Kankakee 114 06 — 12

Kellogg 001 00 — 1



E—Wrozek 2, Strzalkowski, Jansen, Labrecque 2, Cieslak. DP—Kankakee. LOB—Kankakee 9, Kellogg 5. 2B—Striggow, Redeker. HR—VanAllen.. S—Jansen. SB—Redeker, Russell 2, Strzalkowski, Buter, Graves.



IP H R ER BB SO

Kanakee

Heaslip 5 5 1 1 1 6

Kellogg

Sayers, L 22/3 6 6 5 3 1

Whitney 12/3 4 6 2 1 1

Post 2/3 0 0 0 2 0



WP—Sayers, Post. HBP—Bennett (by Sayers). T—1:54.



DES MOINES CC 13, MONROE 5 (8)



DMACC MONROE

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Robbns 2b 4 3 3 1 Urschl cf 2 1 0 0

Ponce cf 4 1 1 1 Larsen lf 5 0 0 0

Astor 1b 5 1 3 2 Plichtti dh 5 1 2 1

Hutter 3b 4 1 1 1 Bertrnd c 5 1 2 1

Rdmchr dh 5 2 2 2 Stout ss 2 1 1 2

*Keys lf 3 2 2 1 Smola 3b 4 0 3 1

Johnsn ss 5 1 2 4 Hrrngtn 1b 2 0 0 0

Kempin rf 5 0 1 0 Tmeno 2b 3 1 1 0

Adam c 4 2 0 0 Gleasn rf 3 0 1 0

Geil ph 1 0 0 0

Totals: 39 13 15 12 Totals: 32 5 10 5



DMACC 100 124 05 -13

Monroe 005 000 00 -5



E-Stout (2), Gardner, Tomeno, Geil. DP-Monroe 1. LOB-Des Moines 6, Monroe 11. 2B-Robbins, Keys, Stout, Smola. HR- Johnson. S-Ponce, Gleason. SF-Radmacher. SB-Keys, Gleason, Urschel. CS-Smola.



IP H R ER BB SO

DMACC

Cooper 4 1/3 7 5 5 4 6

Nelson W 3 2/3 3 0 0 3 7

Monroe

Gardner L 5 2/3 8 8 7 1 2

Beaumont 2 6 4 1 2 4

Corrigan 1/3 1 1 0 0 0



WP-Nelson (2). PB-Bertrand. T-3:00.