By Jordan Long
The JUCO Division 1 World Series crowned a new champion. The tournament had been won by the Chipola Indians the previous 2 years. They made it to Grand Junction hoping to make it 3 in a row. They ended up losing their 1st two games of the double elimination tournament. Navarro knocked them off 10-6 and Cowley College ended their season with a 20-12 defeat. The Central Arizona Vaqueros are the king of the JUCO World Series this year. Let’s take a look back at their amazing season.
Central Arizona came into the JUCO World Series with a record of 45-19, winning the Western District Tournament. They hadn’t made the trip to Grand Junction since 2011. That year Central Arizona made it all the way to the National Title game, only to lose 6-4 in 10 innings to Navarro College. They were hoping to take home their 1st National Championship since 2002.
Central Arizona faced Monroe in their opening game in Grand Junction. Monroe was no match for Central Arizona. The final was 12-4 in 8 innings due to the run rule. The story of the game for Central Arizona was a 5 run 6th inning. Going into that inning the score was 5-3. At that point Monroe was still in the ball game and maybe thinking they could come back. The 5 run 6th inning ended that hope and extend the Vaqueros’ lead to 10-3. Central Arizona moved onto the winners bracket.
Waiting for them was Chattahoochee Valley. The game was never close. Central Arizona won 10-2 in 7 innings due to the run rule. At that point, Central Arizona couldn’t do any wrong on offense. They were having timely hits and scoring runners when they were in scoring position. It showed the Vaqueros were going to be tough to beat. Then again in JUCO anything is possible.
In their next game they played Iowa Western. This was not the Vaqueros’ game. They went up 1-0 in the 1st inning but after that it was all Iowa Western. Iowa Western pounded out 13 hits and scored 14 runs. This game was over in the 6th inning because of the 10 run rule. The Vaqueros lost 14-4.
The Vaqueros were now in the losers bracket. From here on out they were fighting for their season. They knew one more loss and they were headed back to Coolidge, Arizona. They faced Chattahoochee Valley again. Chattahoochee Valley wanted a better result. It didn’t happen. Central Arizona stayed alive with a 14-5 drubbing of Chattahoochee Valley.
Next up for Central Arizona was Walters State. They were the #3 team in the JUCO poll. They were trying to reach the Championship game and win it this year. In 2018 they played their way into the Championship game, only to come up empty against the Chipola Indians 10-7. This year they wanted to bring home[JL1] the National Title. Central Arizona denied them with a 12-5 triumph in 10 innings, ending Walters State’s run in the JUCO World Series.
Central Arizona had to wait to see if they would advance to game #19 since they had the most games played or face Iowa Western in game 18 if Iowa Western stayed undefeated. Navarro beat Iowa Western 23-8. There were 3 teams left. Central Arizona played in the most games and had a bye to the National Championship Game.
The Vaqueros’ opponent ended up being Iowa Western. Iowa Western was trying to bring their 4th National Championship to Council Bluffs, Iowa. This was going to be a hitters game. Both teams could hit and drive in runs. Iowa Western jumped to a 7-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. It looked like it could be a long game for the Vaqueros. They stormed back to score 12 unanswered runs. Heading into the top of the 6th it was 12-7. Iowa Western managed 1 more run in the 6th inning and so did the Vaqueros. The final was 13-8.
Central Arizona is now the JUCO National Champions for the first time since 2002. Congratulations to Anthony Gilich and the whole coaching staff. This is a ride the coaches and the student athletes will remember forever. Central Arizona should enjoy this win until the JUCO season starts next year. They hope they will play their way back to Grand Junction to defend their title in 2020.
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