SALINA, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College baseball team is headed back to Grand Junction, Colorado for third consecutive year.
The Cavaliers defeated Cloud County 6-4 Friday evening at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina, Kansas, to win the Region 6/Plains District Championship and earn a spot in the NJCAA World Series May 24-31.
This is the third straight trip to the. World Series for head coach Eric Horner and his program, and the fifth overall for Johnson County.
Sophomore first baseman Easton Roe went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in the second and solo shot over the right field wall in the eighth to power the Cavaliers offense.
Sophomore outfielder Ryker Edwards blasted a solo shot in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie and a lead they would not relinquish. He also had a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carter Kelley in JCCC's two-run fourth inning.
Freshman right-hander Ronin Vincenti was called upon in the sixth and pitched one and two-thirds in relief, allowing one hit, zero runs with three strikeouts to pick up the victory. Freshman right-hander Keston Holman logged the final two and one-third innings to earn the save, his third of the tournament and 11th on the season.
For the tournament, Roe hit .364 (8-for-22) with three doubles, two home runs, eight runs and seven driven in. Edwards batted .421 (8-for-19) with three homers, eight runs, five walks, four steals and three RBI.
Other key batters over six-game tournament were Jeremy Comer at .421 (8-for-19) with four doubles and eight RBI, Chris Mancinas at .357 (5-for-14) with a double, home run, three runs and eight driven in. Leadoff hitter Jake McClure hit .368 (7-for-19) with a double, RBI and 11 runs scored. Miken Miller had six hits, and 10 RBI and Bo Shinkle hit .368 with a double, home run, 10 walks, 10 runs and three RBI.