When the Grayson County (Texas) College baseball team walks through the hallways to coach Dusty Hart’s office, the players pass by the two national championship trophies the Vikings won in 1999 and 2000 at the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
Banners have been hung on the gym wall.
Conrad Flynn is proud he is part of another banner that will be raised.
“Our sign’s going up on the wall,” the freshman pitcher for Grayson said after his team’s 13-2 victory over Shelton State (Ala.) Community College.
Flynn was a big part of that title. He earned two tournament victories, including a complete game in Friday night’s championship.
For his efforts, Flynn was selected as the tournament’s outstanding pitcher.
“We had to make that long bus ride (from Denison, Texas, to Grand Junction) worthwhile,” said Flynn, who is undecided about his plans this fall but may have opened some doors for himself with his weeklong performance.
Flynn was one of four Grayson players selected to the all-tournament team.
Teammate R.L. Eisenbach was one of three selections as all-tournament pitchers.
Eisenbach also went 2-0 with one victory coming in relief.
“My dad and I were actually talking about all-tournament two days ago,” Eisenbach said. “I didn’t expect this.”
Eisenbach said the outcome was beyond his dreams.
“You never know how well you’re going to do,” he said, crediting his team’s defense with helping him earn the award.
Joining Eisenbach as all-tournament pitchers were Josh Spence of Central Arizona and Adam Scott of Shelton State. Scott threw a one-hitter Thursday in a five-inning elimination-game victory over Hagerstown, Md.
Tournament Most Valuable Player J.D. Alfaro of Grayson led the infield selections.
Also chosen were Tyler Horne of Shelton State, Adam Duvall of Chipola (Fla.) College, Doug Otto of Johnson County (Kan.) and Chris Herrmann of Alvin (Texas) College.
The Rawlings Big Stick Award went to Alvin’s Blake Lynn, who led the tournament with a .556 batting average over four games.
Lynd also was one of four outfielders selected to the all-tournament team. Joining Lynd were Jimmy Patterson of Central Arizona, Tyler Lundy of Iowa Western and Charles Johnson of Hagerstown.
Xorge Carillo of Central Arizona and Clay Jones of Shelton State were selected as all-tournament catchers.
“I’m just grateful we came out here to Grand Junction and got a chance to play for a national championship,” said Jones, who is headed to the University of Alabama in the fall.
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E-mail Kent Mincer at kmincer@gjds.com.
Infielders
J.D. Alfaro, Grayson; Tyler Horne, Shelton State; Adam Duvall, Chipola; Doug Otto, Johnson County; Chris Herrmann, Alvin
Outfielders
Blake Lynd, Alvin; Jimmy Patterson, Central Arizona; Tyler Lundy, Iowa Western; Charles Johnson, Hagerstown
Catchers
Xorge Carillo, Central Arizona; Clay Jones, Shelton State
Pitchers
Josh Spence, Central Arizona; Adam Scott, Shelton State; R.L. Eisenbach, Grayson
Designated Hitter
Christian Johnson, Central Arizona
Robert Purkey Outstanding Pitcher
Conrad Flynn, Grayson
Jay Tolman Best Defensive Player
J.D. Alfaro, Grayson
Homa Thomas Sportsmanship Award
Hagerstown CC
Preston Walker Most Valuable Player: J.D. Alfaro, Grayson