RSSJUCO Notebook: Harper cards return to World Series
Grayson County (Texas) College’s Andrew Jones heads back to the dugout on Tuesday after congratulating players on their performance during the Vikings’ 3-2 elimination loss to Iowa Western Community College during the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series at Suplizio Field. Jones hails from Wantirna, Victoria, Australia.
Harper cards return to JUCO
Last year’s Alpine Bank Junior College World Series was notable for the appearance of Bryce Harper, who played for the College of Southern Nevada and was the first pick in the Major League Baseball draft by the Washington Nationals.
Colorado Printing Company is giving fans at Suplizio Field a chance to get their hands on three baseball cards featuring the top prospect.
One of the cards, a shot of Harper batting, is in each 2010 Draftee set on sale at the ballpark.
The other two, action shots of Harper playing right field and catcher, take a stroke of luck to find. Only 100 of each card were produced, and each is individually numbered. The cards were randomly placed in packs of the 2011 JUCO team cards.
Sales representative Sean Nickle estimated there is a one in seven chance of finding a Harper card in the team packs.
Each team set costs $5 and the draftee set costs $10. The cards are sold near the south gate of the stadium.
Scholarships awarded
Before Tuesday’s game, five Western Slope athletes were awarded JUCO scholarships.
The scholarships were awarded to Palisade’s Joe Jonely, Grand Junction’s Cory DeRush, Fruita Monument’s Dallin Wright, Central’s Derek DiThomas, and incoming Mesa State freshman Nate Robertson, who recently graduated from Montrose.
The recipients were honored during a pregame ceremony with Alpine Bank President Norm Franke.
“When we started sponsoring the tournament, we wanted to make sure a lot of our sponsorship money went back to the community,” Franke said. “This came out of our sponsorship that we would give a scholarship to each high school and the college on an annual basis.”
Switching it up
Central Arizona leadoff hitter Keenyn Walker had four RBI during Monday night’s game against Potomac State, three from the left side and another hitting right-handed.
Walker is batting .625 in the World Series.
Taking four for the team
Baseball isn’t always regarded as a physical sport, but Central Arizona’s Max Rossiter has shown toughness.
The Vaqueros’ catcher has been hit by a pitch four times in Central Arizona’s two games.
He was hit three times Monday against Potomac State.
“The first one was in the head so that was a wake-up call, then the next one was in the tricep and then he dialed up a fastball into my side,” Rossiter said. “But I’ll take getting on base all day.”
Rossiter is halfway to his hit-by-pitch season total of eight.
True team effort
In the bottom of the ninth inning of Iowa Western’s 3-2 win over Grayson County, Reivers coach Marc Rardin used pinch hitters for the first two at-bats.
Adam Lavelle walked and Tony Schicktanz was hit by a pitch.
Starter Chris Waylock tied the game at 2-2 with a slow grounder that Grayson pitcher Jake Abbott overthrew to first base.
Aussie Aussie Aussie
Grayson County relief pitcher Andrew Jones didn’t see any action during JUCO, but had his mother and two sisters in Grand Junction for support.
Jones is from Wartirna, Victoria, Australia, a suburb of Melbourne.
“It was great having a little support,” Jones said. “It’s the first time they’ve seen any of my games over here.”
Same difference
In the top of fourth inning Tuesday, Seward County shortstop Jake Barrios hit an inside-the-park home run.
Barrios hit a line drive to center and Potomac State center fielder Jake Ringold missed on an attempt at a diving catch, allowing the ball roll to the wall while Barrios made his way around the bases.
Colorblind
Tuesday marked the second game of the tournament that Seward County wore black jerseys against a team wearing navy blue. The first color clash was in Sunday’s game against Southern Union.
Tournament officials don’t enforce the “home white” dress code, requesting only that the jersey colors contrast, said Walt Bergman, director of tournament play.
Attendance
Tuesday attendance made a predictable drop after Memorial Day, with people heading back to work. The morning game drew 2,214 fans and the afternoon game attracted 2,891. The night game brought in 8,718, for a total of 13,823.
Attendance through 13 games is 71,454.
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