Chaps Baseball Finish 2026 at 53-12, Third Place Finish in the JUCO World Series

NJCAA Division I Baseball National Tournament/JUCO World Series

Semi-Final Game vs Johnson County Community College, KS

Sam Suplizio Field

Grand Junction, CO 

The Midland College Chaparrals baseball team finished their record-breaking 2026 season in the semi-final game of the JUCO World Series.  The Chaparrals, 53-12, squared off against the #1 seed Johnson County Community College, KS.  The JCCC Cavaliers who were ranked as the #1 team in the NJCAA for the better portion of the 2026 season finished the season with a 67-3 overall record and the national title.  

In what was seen by many as a matchup between the two best teams in NJCAA Division I baseball, the Chaps and Cavs faced off in front of 9,643 supportive and knowledgable fans at Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, CO.  

Midland College opened the game with doubles by Dylon Myrow and Bammer Maes.  Maes double drove in Myrow for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  MC's Caleb Eagar added to the excitement with a two-run homerun, driving in Maes for a 3-0 advantage.  After going scoreless in the bottom of the first inning, Johnson CCC recorded three Midland College outs in the top of the second inning.  In the bottom of the second inning, the Cavaliers scored two runs to draw to within one run at 3-2. 

As the game moved to the third inning, MC freshman phenom Eagar once again sent a shot out of the ballpark.  Eagar's solo homer moved the Chaps to a 4-2 lead.  Following Eager's homerun, MC's next three batters were retired in order to move the game to the bottom of the third.  The Johnson County Cavs were held scoreless in the bottom of the third with MC starting pitcher, Logan Flores retiring the side in 1-2-3 order. 

In the top of the fourth inning MC's Cole Neatherlin got on base after being hit by a pitch.  Midland College's AJ Velarde recorded a single that moved Neatherlin to third base.  MC centerfielder Brennan McTavish followed Velarde with a single to center, scoring Neatherlin and moving Velarde to second base.  After a sacrifice fly by Myrow, Velarde moved to third base and McTavish stood on second base.  Midland College designated hitter, Maes, punched a double into left field, scoring Velarde and McTavish giving the Chaparrals a 7-2 lead.  Once again MC's Eagar smacked a hit, this time a double down the left field line to score Maes and increasing the MC lead to 8-2 in the fourth inning.  The inning ended on a ground out to first base by Jorge Gil and a fly out to center by Stevyn Andrachick.  Once again Flores retired the Cavs in order on a flyout to centerfield, an out on a foul tip and a second fly out to center to end the fourth inning with the Chaparrals leading 8-2.  

Midland College only had one baserunner in the top of the 5th; a Caiden Olivas lead-off single.  Johnson County led off the inning with a solo home run to move the score to 8-3 at the end of the five innings.  The score remained unchanged at 8-3 in the sixth and seventh innings. 

Midland College's Cole Neatherlin led off the eighth inning with a solo homerun to extend the Chaps' lead to 9-3.  Following a strikeout by Velarde, MC's McTavish singled to right field.  The Chaparrals ended the top of the 8th inning with a Myrow strikeout and a pop out by Maes.  In the bottom of eighth inning, Johnson County benefitted from back-to-back walks followed by a double that scored two runs (9-5).  The Cavaliers scored another run on a one-out single that tightened the score to 9-6.  

Moving ahead to the ninth inning the Chaparrals held a three-run lead.  MC quickly posted three outs, save an Andrachick single.  JCCC opened the bottom of the ninth with three consecutive singles which drove in a run drawing the Cavs to within two runs (9-7).  With JCCC baserunners at second and third and one out, the Cavaliers won the game with a three-run, walkoff homerun to end the Chaps magical season by a score of 10-9. 

Midland College vs Johnson County Community College Box Score:
https://gochaps.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/boxscores/20260528_2eew.xml 

Midland College's Logan Flores and Caleb Eager were named to the 2026 JUCO World Series All-Tournament team for their outstanding play.  

Go Chaps!