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Cavaliers ranked 18th in NJCAA Baseball Poll and are picked to finish second in conference

JCCC baseball player Cooper Combs is ready to hit a pitch.
JCCC baseball player Cooper Combs is ready to hit a pitch.
Posted: Jan 31, 2023

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County baseball team garnered a No. 18 preseason ranking by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and have been picked to finish second in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference East Division for 2023.

Defending conference and region champion Cowley earned a No. seven ranking and was picked to repeat as conference champion. 

The Cavaliers finished 46-17 a season ago and placed third in the conference standings. JCCC has finished among the top 3 in the conference in 15 of the past 16 season, finishing on top four times. 

Fort Scott was picked third, followed by Kanas City Kansas, Coffeyville, Neosho County, Allen, Labette and Highland.

Head coach Eric Horner, now in his third season at the helm, returns eight players from last year's squad, led by Kansas Jayhawk Conference second-team outfielder Cooper Combs. The Springdale, Arkansas native hit .378 last season (73-for-193) with 11 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 69 runs scored and 59 driven in. He also drew 43 walks and stole 20 bases. Combs produced 21 multiple-hit games and 17 multiple-RBI games. 

A key returnee on the hill is left-hander Trent Martin, a second-team all-conference selection in 2022. He led the team and ranked second in the conference with nine victories, finishing 9-1 with 71 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched with an ERA of 2.83. 

Other key returning players are infielders Jeremy Radar and Easton Elliot and right-handed pitcher Cole Koone and Gabe Nutter. Radar hit .311 with 12 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 55 runs scored and 42 RBI. Elliot hit .355 with eight doubles, three triples, 52 runs scored and 31 driven in. Koonze posted a 4-1 record with a 5.90 ERA and 39 strikeouts, and Nutter tied for the team lead with 20 appearances, finishing 4-1 with 37 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.48. 

Horner also added five transfers to his 2023 roster, three from NCAA Division I program: pitcher Ty Blecha (Missouri State), infielder/outfielder Ryan Callahan (Kansas), pitcher John Harrick (Jefferson), pitcher Christian Johnson (Cowley/San Jacinto) and Shea McGahan (Missouri).

Johnson County opens its 2023 season in Dallas, Texas, Thursday Feb. 2 against Brookhaven in a three-game series. They also will take on Dallas-Eastfield, the No. 1-ranked team in NJCAA D-III, on Saturday, February 4. The Cavaliers first home series is Saturday, February 11 against No. 5 Crowder.