A day of rain gave Shelton State (Ala.) Community College the rest it needed.
The Bucs (46-16), who had to come through the losers’ bracket, defeated No. 15 Wallace State (Ala.) Community College-Hanceville 7-4 on Friday to win the Southeastern District title and qualify for the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series for the second consecutive year.
“We played well,” Shelton State coach Bobby Sprowl said. “We played hard.
“We had a core of players coming back. We struggled at times during the year, but when it mattered we got it done and played well at the end.”
Shelton State sophomore Adam Scott, who signed with the University of Alabama, limited Wallace State to two earned runs on five hits and struck out nine in eight innings of work for the victory.
Sophomore Tyler Horne went 2 for 3 with three RBI.
Later in the day, Central Arizona College (41-20) became the sixth team to qualify, winning the Western District. The Vaqueros defeated Trinidad State Junior College (35-26) twice, both in convincing fashion. Central Arizona won the first game 12-1 and the second 6-1 to qualify for the World Series for the third time.
“We got outstanding pitching from Jason Mitchell in the first game, then Joe Anson in the second,” Central Arizona coach Jon Wente said.
Xorge Carrillo led the way, going 3 for 4 with a double and four RBI.
Although this is Anson’s third trip to Grand Junction, it is his first as the head coach of the Vaqueros. He said this team has a similar feel to the one that won it in 2002.
“This is a team that has a lot of guys signed to play Division I and it has felt like the 2002 team down the stretch here,” Wente said. “It feels like everything has been going right for us.”
The Vaqueros will play at noon on May 24 against the winner of the Northern District.
“It hasn’t hit yet but once we are on our way to Grand Junction, it will feel good,” Wente said.
No. 17 Chipola (Fla.) College (44-12-1), Alvin (Texas) Community College (39-16), Grayson County (Texas) College (43-15) and Johnson County (Kan.) Community College (41-16) have already qualified earlier this week.
No. 2 Walters State (Tenn.) Community College (52-7) and No. 5 Young Harris (Ga.) College (50-12) opened their three-game East Central District series Friday night. Walters State won the first game 5-0. Chad Bell threw a complete game and center fielder Adam Milligan had three RBI for the Senators. Young Harris and Walters State will play again today at 3 p.m. If Walters State, wins they will advance to the World Series, but if Young Harris wins the two teams play Sunday.
In the South Central District tournament in Warner, Okla., Connors State College plays Delgado (La.) Community College today for the championship. Crowder (Mo.) College was eliminated.
The Northern and Eastern District tournaments start today.
Rend Lake (Ill.) College hosts No. 9 Iowa Western Community College (50-10) and South Suburban (Ill.) College (40-17) in the Northern District. Hagerstown (Md.) Community College (38-16-1) hosts Pitt (N.C.) Community College (40-12) in the Eastern District.
