Today In Sports History: Walters State Celebrates First JUCO National Baseball Title In School History

By Jordan Long

The Junior College World Series National Championship Game was held on this date in 2006.   It was Walters State out of Tennessee versus Yavapai from Arizona.  Yavapai wanted to bring home the National Championship for the first time since 1993.  For Walters State, this was their 4^th appearance and they were looking for their first title.

                Yavapai lost their first game in the JUCO World Series in game 7.  It was a close game, but Wallace State got past them 6-5.  The loss meant Yavapai had to reach the championship game through the losers bracket, which is not an easy task.  They knocked off Butler 9-2, Potomac State 13-3, and Wallace State 17-8. 

                For Walters State, they beat Connors State 3-1, San Jacinto 6-4, and Wallace State 10-8.  In game 17, it was a rematch with San Jacinto.  A win for Walters State meant a potential championship game for game 18 because there would only be them and Yavapai left.  A loss and 3 teams would be left.   Walters State got past San Jacinto 3-1 meaning they could take home the National Title in game 18 against Yavapai.  Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.  Yavapai forced a winners takes all game 19, drumming Walters State 9-0 by the run rule.

                In game 19, neither team scored in the 1^st inning.  In the 2^nd inning, Walters State scored 1 run.  In the bottom half of the inning, Yavapai answered with a run to tie the game up.  Walters State retook the lead with 2 runs in the 3^rd.   Going into the 4^th inning, the score stood at 3-1.  Nobody scored until the 5^th inning when Walter State pushed 2 runs across.  With Walters State leading 5-1, Yavapai needed to rally.  They did with 3 runs in the 6^th inning and a run in the 7^th, tying the game at 5.  In the top of the 8^th inning. Walters State went ahead for good with 2 runs.  Yavapai cut the lead to 7-6 with a run in the bottom half of the 8^th.  Going into the 9^th inning, anything was possible. Walters State didn’t score.  That gave Yavapai a chance to tie the game or win it in walk off fashion.  It didn’t happen.  Walters State forced 3 ground balls for a clean inning giving them the National Title for the first time in school history.

                Yavapai finally won the JUCO Tournament in 2016, their last JUCO appearance. Walters State made the trek to Grand Junction, Colorado last year.  They lasted until game 16 when their season ended at the hands of Central Arizona by the score of 12-5 in 10 innings.  Today though, it is time to recall Walters State’s first ever JUCO National Title.