Chaparrals Suffer Opening Game Loss at Grand Junction, to Play Salt Lake CC Sunday Night

NJCAA Division I Baseball National Tournament/JUCO World Series

Sam Suplizio Field

Grand Junction, CO 

The Midland College baseball team will look to regroup as they play their second game of the JUCO World Series.  The Chaps dropped their opening round game to Wabash Valley College (IL) by a score of 11-6.  With the loss MC's season record goes to 50-11 as they head into Sunday's matchup with Salt Lake Community College.  The SLCC Bruins suffered a 13-3, five-inning run rule, loss to Blinn College.  Both games were played on Saturday evening at Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction.  

In the game versus the Wabash Valley College Warriors, the Chaparrals fell behind in the first inning after WVC's Brady Schallmoser hit a two-run homer.  MC responded by posting a four-run bottom of the first, spurred by Stevyn Andrachick's double to centerfield, driving in Caleb Eager.  Midland College outfielder Cole Neatherlin added to the first inning response with a three-run homerun that drove in Andrachick and Jorge Gil to extend MC's lead to 4-2. 

The Warriors, 44-20 on the season, recorded 12 total hits in the contest while the Chaparrals scattered eight hits over nine innings.  The Chaps were a combined 8-34 (.235) with Gil, Andrachick and Neatherlin each recording two hits.  Neatherlin led the Chaps with four RBI.  Midland College starter Logan Flores went 4.1 inning in the loss with Keller Linderman and Clayton Norrell recording relief appearances.  Linderman went four total innings while Norrell finishing the final 0.2 innings.  Flores struck out four Wabash Valley hitters.  Norrell recorded six Ks in the contest. 

Wabash Valley College vs. Midland College Box Score:

https://gochaps.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/boxscores/20260523_idqd.xml 

The loss sets up an elimination game versus defending national champion, Salt Lake CC, on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. (MT).  The Chaps and the SLCC Bruins previously met for a single game on Monday, February 9th in Midland.  Midland picked up a 19-9 win in the game. 

Salt Lake comes in with a 39-17 season record.  The losing team in the MC-SLCC game will see their season come to an end.  The winner will advance to take on the winner of the Seminole State College (OK) and Harford Community College (MD).  The Seminole State-Harford game is scheduled for today at 2:00 p.m. (MT).  

NJCAA Division I Baseball Tournament Bracket:
https://jucogj.org/documents/2026/1/9/2026_JUCO_Bracket.pdf 

Go Chaps!