Pirates Stay Alive in JUCO World Series
By NJCAA
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Chattahoochee Valley battens down the hatches and holds off Connors State (OK) 6-5 in game 11 of the Alpine Bank Junior College Baseball World Series.
Chattahoochee Valley (37-19, 2-1 JUCO) jumped on the board first with a one-out solo home run by Andrew Greckel. In the top of the fourth, Connors State (48-13, 0-2 JUCO) would tie the contest up with a solo shot by Jake Womack.
In the bottom of the frame, the Pirates scored a pair of runs on a single by Davis Schwartz and a fielding error by the center fielder. Later in the inning, Greckel would hit another home run, again to right field, scoring two. The two home runs in the game by Greckel are his first of the season. Chattahoochee Valley would lead 5-1 after four.
The Pirates would add an insurance run in the seventh with a solo home run by Jason Rooks. That run would be valuable as Connors State would mount a comeback in the eighth inning. Braden Calico singled in a run followed by a two-RBI double to right by Mike Coletta, making it 6-4.
In the ninth inning, Anmi Ortega hit a leadoff single. After a fly out and single, Womack would hit into a fielder’s choice RBI, cutting the deficit to one. That is where the magic ended as Chris Mondesi would come up and strike out, ending the game and the Cowboys season, 6-5.
Greckel went 2-5 with three RBI for the Pirates. The pitching staff struck out a combined 11, Zack Cable accounting for 7 of them. Cable picked up the win for Chattahoochee Valley. Connors State only had two extra base hits (Coletta, Womack). Bryar Ward pitched well, striking out eight but earned the loss.
Chattahoochee Valley advances to play in game 14 on May 29 at 5:00pm ET against Central Arizona.