Ernie Clement of the 2014 Albany Dutchmen PC: Corey Mansfield/Brokenbatblog.com (@Broken_Bat_Blog)

Three former PGCBL players are national champions.

Matt Thaiss (Watertown 2013), Ernie Clement (Albany 2014) and Jack Gerstenmaier (Newark 2014) helped lead the Virginia Cavaliers to a 2-1 series win over Vanderbilt in the College World Series. The Cavaliers won the deciding third game of the series, 4-2, on Wednesday night. The win avenged a CWS Finals loss to the Commodores last season. 

Thaiss played for the Watertown Rams in the summer of 2013. He hit .333 with a .667 slugging percentage and .455 on-base percentage for the West Division regular season champions.

The Jackson, New Jersey-native leads Virginia with a .327 average on the year in 66 games played, all starts. His .518 slugging percentage and .416 on-base percentage also lead the team. The sophomore was named to multiple All-American teams, including  a third-team All-American at catcher by Louisville Slugger.

Ernie Clement played for the Albany Dutchmen in the summer of 2014 and hit .322 in 19 games played. Clement stole seven bases and drove in nine runs.

The freshman has started 60 games, hitting at .249 with 6 doubles, 3 triples and a home run for Virginia. Clement has also driven in 22 RBIs and scored 25 runs. 

Down one to game to none on Tuesday night, Clement had three hits and drove in what proved to be the game-winning run as Virginia forced a Game Three.

Jack Gerstenmaier led the Newark Pilots with a .337 batting average during the 2014 summer. He drove in 15 runs and also stole eight bases for the West Division champions. 

In 12 games played for Virginia this season, Gerstenmaier has hit .297 with a .324 on-base percentage. He drove in Virginia’s only run in the game one loss on Monday.

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