By Jordan Long
The Junior College World Series (JUCO) starts tomorrow in Grand Junction, Colorado. This is a double elimination tournament for Division 1 Junior College baseball teams. The field is set with 10 teams who represent 10 districts throughout all of the United States except for California since they have their own junior college baseball tournament at the same time as JUCO. Let’s get to know this years’ teams.
Representing East Central is Walters State Community College out of Morristown, Tennessee. The Senators are ranked #3 in the JUCO poll. They come to Grand Junction with an outstanding record of 52-9. They are making back-to-back trips. Walters State made it all the way to the Championship Game last year only to be knocked off by Chipola College. The final score was 10-7. They hope the disappointment of advancing all the way to the Championship Game only to lose it will fuel them to win the tournament this year.
From the Central district is Cowley College. The Tigers are out of Arkansas City, Kansas. This is their 9th appearance at JUCO and 1st since 2017. Cowley has not won it all since going back-to-back in 1997 and 1998. Maybe this will be their time to shine and end the drought.
The winner of the Southern district is the Navarro College from Corsicana, Texas. This marks the Bulldogs 4th trek to JUCO. The Bulldogs are ranked #15. Navarro College won it all back in 2011. They hope history repeats and they will be the last team standing.
The Gulf is one of the most difficult districts to win. There are so many talented JUCO teams in the state of Florida. Whoever comes out of it is usually battle tested and can do well at JUCO. The Chipola College Indians are making yet another appearance in Grand Junction as the defending champions, ranked #16 in the JUCO poll. This is their 3rd time in a row and they are looking for a three-peat. If they succeed, they will make history, becoming the 1st school to win it 3 times straight since San Jacinto College did it in 1985 to 1987. It could happen. The Indians can always hit in JUCO. Their offense will lead the way for them to have a chance, but it will be up to their relief pitching for them to advance.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College is the winner of the Southeastern. They are traveling from Phenix City, Alabama. Chattahoochee Valley Community College was here last year. In the 2018 JUCO Tournament Chattahoochee Valley lasted 2 games. They lost to Iowa Western 7-6 and had to go through the losers bracket. It didn’t work out as Chattahoochee Valley Community College was defeated by Temple College 8-7. With that bad taste in their mouth they want to stay in Grand Junction longer than 2 games.
New Mexico Junior College won the Southwestern District Tournament. They have not been to the JUCO World Series since 2007. In 2007 they lost to Chipola in the National Championship game. They hope the 12 year wait is worth it and they look to bring home the title. New Mexico Junior College hasn’t won it all since 2005.
Central Arizona from Coolidge, Arizona heads to Grand Junction after winning the Western District. This marks their first time in the JUCO World Series since 2011. They are looking for their third National Title and 1st since 2002.
Monroe College Mustangs are making the journey to Grand Junction from New Rochelle, New York, the 2nd time in school history. Monroe was victorious in the Eastern District. Last year Monroe lost to San Jacinto College in their 1st game by the score of 9-0 in 7 innings due to the run rule. The Mustangs were in the losers bracket. They knew 1 more loss and their historic season was over. Monroe College beat Jefferson College to keep their season alive 14-9 before falling to San Jacinto College 11-1 in 6 innings. The Mustangs are ready to take an even further step in JUCO.
Iowa Western from Council Bluffs, Iowa, represents the Northern. This school seems to reach the JUCO World Series every year. This is their 19th appearance. Iowa Western is ranked 9th in the JUCO poll. Last year Iowa Western defeated Chattahoochee Valley before falling to Southern Idaho and Chipola to end their season. This year they hope to have better results. When Iowa Western plays in the JUCO World Series, offense carries them. Iowa Western must play sound defense and not have many errors for them to reach their goal of winning the JUCO World Series.
Connors State is the final team in the field from the South Central region, hailing from Warner, Oklahoma. They haven’t been to JUCO since 2013. The Cowboys have made it to Grand Junction 6 times before, but their trip has always ended in disappointment. Their overall record in the JUCO World Series is 2-12. This team knows their history and they hope they can reverse the past.
The tournament begins tomorrow. There are “mercy” run rules during the tournament except for game 19, which is the National Championship game. JUCO lets that game play out since it is the final game of the tournament. For all other games, when a team is ahead by 10 runs after 5 complete innings or 8 runs after 7 innings the game is over.
The 2 teams playing in game #1 are Walters State Community College and Cowley College at 9 a.m. They are all talented JUCO baseball teams and they know how difficult the road is to get to Grand Junction and win it. Every team as a shot to win it, while Chipola looks for history. They might be tough to beat. In the end it is a wide open competition, so may the best school come out on top in this double elimination tournament.
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