Little Falls, NJ – The players made it look like just another day at the ball field after the final out.

Sure, there were handshakes and smiles when Montclair State complete its three-game sweep to the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament championship with a 10-2 victory over The College of New Jersey yesterday at Yogi Berra Stadium.

But the players' subdued celebration sent the message that it had some unfinished business ahead, like winning a second straight national title.

"They handed it very professionally," Montclair State coach Norm Schoenig said. "They always know there is something else to accomplish. I'm sure they're looking down the road, simply because they've been there. They know they have to get the job done. They understand that."

Montclair earned the automatic bid that foes to the NJAC championship and will learn it seeding on Sunday for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional set to start May 16 in Boyertown, Pa. The College of New Jersey (23-12-1) must wait to find out if it has gained one of the three at-large bids available in the 42-team field.

The job at hand for Montclair State (30-9) will be to win both the NJAC and national title in same year. Although Montclair has won three World Series titled (1987, 1993, 2000), it has never won both the national title and the NJAC crown in the same season.

"This is the best ballclub I've played on in my life," Montclair State starting and winning pitcher SCOTT ALLAN said. "We can get it done anywhere, anytime in any division."

Allan, as senior out of Immaculata, backed up his words on the field, striking out eight and walking two as he limited TCNJ to nine hits and just two runs in 8 1/3 innings. Allan (5-0) could have completed the game, but gave way to senior JIM WHALEN as Schoenig got every senior on the field for the final out. Allan played left field for the final two outs.

In the top of the eighth, Allan, batting in the DH slot, fouled off a pitch that broke the large window of the Jackals' game room, located near the restrooms on the concourse behind home plate. He finished his at-bat with an RBI single that gave Montclair a 6-2 lead.

Although Allan made a large impact with his foul ball, he pretty much broke TCNJ in the bottom of the first. Montclair had scored four runs in the top of the first inning against Matthew Szustowicz, but TCNJ had runners on first and third with no outs before Allan escaped without run being scored.

"He always comes through, especially in the big games," Montclair outfielder CHRIS BARAN, who had three hits, two runs and two RBI, said. "Everyone knows what he did in the World Series last year."
Montclair won 20 of the 21 games it played against NJAC opponents this season. It's only loss was a 7-1 decision to Rutgers-Newark on April 14.

"This just helps us bring momentum into the regional tournament," senior third baseman CRAIG CONWAY, the school's all-time hits leader with 269 and counting, said. "I'd say that's a little bit of an incentive to win both titles. I think we have the opportunity to put it all together like we did last year and win the whole thing if everything falls in place for us."

Montclair benefited from the return of shortstop BRIAN ELLERSON, whose health was in double because of a possible ACL tear. Ellerson was outstanding in the field and contributed three hits, three runs and an RBI while wearing a brace.