No. 3 Seed Midland College Eliminates No. 10 Harford Community College, Plays Walters State CC on Tuesday

NJCAA Division I Baseball National Tournament/JUCO World Series

Sam Suplizio Field

Grand Junction, CO

Midland College baseball fans spent most of this afternoon's game riding the emotional waves that comes from watching JUCO baseball.  The grit exhibited by both teams kept fans of both teams spellbound until the final out was recorded.  When the dust settled, the Midland College Chaparrals kept their post-season aspirations alive with a 13-10 win over a scrappy and talented Harford College Fighting Owls team.  

The game started with back-to-back solo homeruns by Midland College's Dylon Myrow and Bammer Maes moved the Chaparrals ahead in the first inning by a score of 2-0.  After MC starting pitcher Luke Heyhow loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, Horford CC's James Asmus launched a grandslam to move the Owls to the lead (4-2).  Heyhow went 6.0 innings in the game, including 11 stikeouts and scattering five HCC hits.    

Midland College inched closer in the top of the 3rd, scoring a run to tighten the score to 4-3 after a single by Myrow followed by a double by Caleb Eagar (scoring Myrow).  In the top of the fifth MC's AJ Velarde drew a leadoff walk.  Velarde stole second to move into scoring position for MC.  MC outfielder, Brennan McTavish, smacked a double, and drove in Velarde to tie the game at 4-4.  

The Chaparrals appeared to take control of the game when they scored three runs in the top of the sixth and in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 10-4. RBI by Jorge Gil and Brennan were critical to the Chaparrals offensive success. 

Harford refused to go quitely, responding with five runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to move to within a single run at 10-9.  HCC knotted the score in the bottom of the 8th at 10-10.  Midland College responded with three runs in the top of the 9th riding the hot bat of Velarde.  MC retook the lead by a score of 13-10. 

Midland College's Lane Schulz who entered the game in the bottom of the 8th, slammed the door on the Fighting Owls post-season hopes.  Schulz, a freshman right-hander from El Campo, TX, made his second appearance in as many days going 1.1 innings giving up one hit and strking out two.  Schulz picked up the win in relief for the Chaparrals.  Midland College used a parade of pitchers, including Clayton Norrell, Alex Uher, Carson Haffner and finally Lake Schulz.   

Offensively Midland College received outstanding performances by Myrow who went 2-5 including the aforementioned leadoff homerun.  AJ Velarde was 2-4 with four RBI, including the double that drove in Caiden Olivas and Cole Neatherlin in the top of the 9th.  Velarde's RBI provided the runs needed to secure the win for the Chaps.  Jorge Gil led the Chaparrals by going 4-5 and three RBI in the game.  

Harford Community College vs Midland College (box score):  

https://gochaps.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/boxscores/20260525_2x1x.xml 

Go Chaps!