BASEBALL: MC ready to host NJCAA Region V baseball tourney
The Midland College baseball team and college officials are excited to be hosting the NJCAA Region V Baseball Tournament this weekend at Christensen Stadium.
By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram
MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Midland College baseball team and college officials are excited to be hosting the NJCAA Region V Baseball Tournament this weekend at Christensen Stadium.
The double-elimination tournament action begins on Friday and will go through either Monday or Tuesday depending on if another game is needed to determine the champion.
The winner qualifies for the JUCO World Series to be played in Grand Junction, Colorado, May 28-June 3.
This is the first time that the tournament will be hosted by one of the participating schools at their home field and it features the top four teams from the Western Junior College Athletic Conference and the top four teams from the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.
Host Midland College (37-18) opens play against Ranger College (20-12) at 10 a.m. Friday. The Chaparrals were the No. 2 seed out of the WJCAC, while Ranger is the No. 3 seed out of the NTJCAC.
"Starting with (MC athletic director) Forrest Allen, our administration, our maintenance department, our training department, our student services department, they've worked their tails off for the past six to eight weeks to prepare for this tournament," MC coach Hector Rodriguez said. "We were excited about the opportunity to host here and be able to show off our beautiful facility and show off our city."
Allen and Rodriguez said the tournament was originally going to be at Texas Tech's Dan Law Field but because the university is hosting the Big 12 Track & Field Championships at its track stadium next door to the baseball field and thought it would too much congestion and not enough resources available to host. Lubbock Christian University also couldn't host because of graduation this weekend. Officials then went to see about using Momentum Bank Ballpark next week, but RockHounds' officials declined. WJCAC officials then decided that Christensen Stadium would be the most ideal location.
"We're excited to have it," Allen said. "We're going to try to enhance the experience for the players and coaches. We have also distributed tickets to about 20 area high school baseball teams for players who can come out to watch a couple of nights of baseball. And any Little League or youth baseball player that wear their uniforms can get in for free."
Tickets are $25 for tournament passes, $12 for student tournament passes, $10 for adult one-day passes and $5 for one-day student passes. There will be a concession stand with drink refreshments only and food trucks in the south parking lot stadium with food being allowed to be brought inside the gates.
Probably the favorite on paper going in will be No. 4-ranked McLennnan Community College (43-10-1), the defending national champion. Seven Highlanders have signed with NCAA Division I programs.
MC has six players who have signed with D-1 programs led by the Oklahoma State duo of pitcher Luke Young and infielder Tyler Wulfert.
Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT
NJCAA Region V Baseball Tournament
at Christensen Stadium
Friday
First round
Game 1: (N3) Ranger College (20-12) vs. (W2) Midland College (37-18), 10 a.m.
Game 2: (W4) Howard College (24-27) vs. (N1) McLennan CC (43-10-1), 1 p.m.
Game 3: (N4) Weatherford College (36-19) vs. (W1) New Mexico JC (41-15), 5 p.m.
Game 4: (W3) Odessa College (36-19) vs. (N2) Grayson College (24-8), 8 p.m.
Saturday
Elimination bracket
Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m.
Winner's bracket
Game 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday
Elimination bracket
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 1 p.m.
Winner's bracket
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8 p.m.
Monday
Elimination bracket
Game 13: Game 11 loser vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m.
Championship game
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
If necessary game
Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser, 1 p.m.