The 2010-2011 sports school year has ended for every team in Kansas junior college athletics except for one.
Seward County Community College baseball (44-18) is set to open the NJCAA World Series under the lights Saturday in Grand Junction, Colo. Their first opponent is Iowa Western (40-18). The two teams split a doubleheader Feb. 14.
The Saints won the Jayhawk West Division and went undefeated in Region VI playoff games. They defeated Colby Community College 5-2 in Wichita May 16 to earn the trip to Colorado. Their only other World Series appearance was in 2004 when the Saints finished fifth.
“Back then, we were just happy to make it,” Seward coach Galen McSpadden told the Leader and Times. “This time, this group won’t be happy just to get there. They expect to win it.”
Seward is led on the mound by Logan Hall, an NJCAA All-Region VI selection. He went 10-2 this season and has thrown seven complete game. He is second in school history in wins (17) and innings pitched (178 1/3).
The Saints have two all-region selections at the batting order in freshman shortstop Jake Barrios and sophomore outfielder Tyler Hill. Barrios (from Weatherford, Okla.) hit .361 with a team high 7 homers and 53 RBI. He was recently named Jayhawk West Freshman of the Year.
Hill is chasing .400 this season. He sits currently at . 399 and has driven in 52 teammates. Hill is from Arvada, Colo. He is one of six Saints playing in their home state.
Iowa Western is the defending World Series champions. The Reivers are making their fifth straight World Series appearance and 13th overall. They are only the second team in 11 years to make it back to the World Series the year after they won it all. Iowa Western is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, just across the river from Omaha.
This year’s team is ranked 13th overall. Tanner Moore and Damek Tomscha are among their studs at the plate Moore hit .370 with 71 hits and 46 RBI. Tomscha batted .374 with 13 homers and 58 RBI.
The Saints may have deal with North Carolina State-bound Taylor Eikenberry. The lefty is 7-1 with a 1.85 ERA this season.
There are 10 teams in the World Series. The format is double elimination. If the Saints beat Iowa Western, they will play the winner of Southern Union-Navarro College at 2 p.m. Monday.
If Seward loses, they face the Southern Union-Navarro loser at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Check back for coverage of Seward throughout the World Series.
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