BASEBALL: Wells Ks 12 to help Chaps move to Region V championship

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Pitching and defense have been major keys to success for the Midland College baseball team this weekend at the NJCAA Region V Tournament.

On a hot Sunday afternoon at Christensen Stadium, it was Jarek Wells' turn to shine on the mound.  

The Houston Baptist University signee struck out a career-high 12 batters and the Chaparral offense came up with some key hits to beat No. 19 Grayson College, 6-1.

The Chaps (40-18) move to the championship round of the tournament and will play whoever survives out of the elimination bracket between McLennan Community College or Grayson at 5 p.m. Monday. Grayson plays McLennan at 1 p.m. Monday.

Admission to Monday's championship round is FREE

The survivor of the elimination bracket has to beat MC on Monday and again on Tuesday afternoon to reach the JUCO World Series. But opponents haven't been able to score much against the Chaps as they have allowed just four runs in three games.

Jarek Wells

"I think it's been really good," said Wells of his team's pitching. "Luke Young started us off (on Friday) and from then on, the confidence and the awareness of our pitchers ready to step up has been awesome."

Wells was lights out against the Vikings. After he allowed a leadoff single, he set the tone for the rest of the game by striking out the side in the top of the first inning.

The second-year right-hander from San Antonio allowed just one run on four hits and two walks over 7 1/3 innings.

"The offspeed was working," Wells said. "(Catcher Ryan Blackwell) did a great job of calling the game back there and we were on the same page. It's really easy to pitch with confidence when you've got an offense like that and a defense like that behind you.

"The dugout brought a lot of energy, the whole team just showed up. Whenever that happens, it's really easy to do your job."

Said outfielder Chris Garcia (2-for-4, two runs scored) about Wells' performance: "He balled out. He gave it all he had. He was a dog on the mound today. He shut them down."

MC coach Hector Rodriguez said Wells was ready for his moment ever since they made eye contact in the locker room on Saturday night to signal to him that he was starting.

"He said, 'I got you,'" Rodriguez said. "He pitched his tail off and he was able to command two pitches. He was able to command the breaking ball and the sinker down in the zone. I'm just really proud of him. He stepped up for us, just like the other guys have this weekend.

"When you get his breaking ball going, you're going to get a lot swing and misses. It's a tough arm slot, it's a tough pitch to hit."

The MC offense was able to get him some runs early with three in the second inning thanks in part to three walks and a hit-by-pitch to go with two singles.

The Chaps then made it 5-0 in the fifth as Tyler Wulfer hit a solo home run to straightaway center field and then Chris Garcia scored on a double steal.

"Before the game (Wells) said all I need is one or two runs early as a confidence booster and get some momentum going," Garcia said. "That's what we did. We helped him out and he did his job."

Grayson got its only run in the seventh on a Noah Brewer double and again threatened in the eighth when it got two runners on against Wells.

But Rodriguez then decided to go with closer Aaron Molina and the freshman right-hander from El Paso got the next two outs to get out of the eighth and then closed it out by striking out the side in the ninth.

"He came in and did his job," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez told his team to just take Monday's game one pitch and one at-bat at a time and don't make the moment too big.

"(The confidence) is probably better than ever," Garcia said. "It's been really high. Everyone has been up and excited."

Added Wells: "It feels amazing. This is what you come for. This is what you play every day for. This is what the fall season is for. You just want to go win the thing and that's what we're after."

Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT 

MIDLAND COLLEGE 6, NO. 19 GRAYSON COLLEGE 1

Grayson           000      000      100      --          1          4          1

Midland          030      020      010      --          6          10        0

Ryan Free, Gunner Morris (2) and JD Gregson. Jarek Wells and Ryan Blackwell. W – Wells. L – Free. 2B – Grayson: Noah Brewer; MC: Luke Bumpus, Rhett Clark. HR – MC: Tyler Wulfert.

• CLICK HERE for an "MC Baseball" photo album from the tournament, by MRT's Tim Fischer 

NJCAA Region V Baseball Tournament
at Christensen Stadium

Friday

First round

Game 1: (W2) Midland College (37-18) 2, (N3) Ranger College (37-19) 0

Game 2: (N1) McLennan CC (43-10-1) 15, (W4) Howard College (24-27) 7, 7 innings

Game 3: (N4) Weatherford College (36-19) 3, (1) New Mexico JC (41-15) 2

Game 4: (N2) Grayson College (36-16) 9, (W3) Odessa College (36-19) 5

Saturday

Elimination bracket

Game 5: Howard College (24-28) 8, Ranger College (37-20) 4. Ranger eliminated

Game 6: New Mexico JC (41-16) 15, Odessa College (36-20) 2. Odessa eliminated

Winner's bracket

Game 7: Midland College (38-18) 6, McLennan CC (44-10-1) 3

Game 8: Grayson College (37-16) 12, Weatherford College (37-19) 2

Sunday

Elimination bracket

Game 9: McLennan CC (44-12-1) 6, New Mexico JC (42-16) 5. NMJC eliminated

Game 10: Weatherford College (37-20) 10, Howard College (25-28) 5. Howard eliminated

Winner's bracket

Game 11: Midland College (39-18) 6, Grayson College (38-16) 1

Game 12: McLennan CC (45-12-1) 8, Weatherford College (38-20) 1. Weatherford eliminated

Monday

Elimination bracket

Game 13: Grayson College (38-17) vs. : McLennan CC (46-12-1), 1 p.m.

Championship game

Game 14: Midland College (40-18) vs. Game 13 winner, 5 p.m.

Tuesday

If necessary game

Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser, 1 p.m.