RSSPotomac State, Central Arizona to meet again Friday
Potomac (W. Va.) State first baseman Zach Markel makes a nice tag on Central Arizona’s Willie Johnson.
How about a rubber match?
Potomac State (W.Va.) College and Central Arizona College are playing for a third time tonight at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s hard to believe we’d face a team three times in a series,” Potomac State coach Doug Little said. “But it’ll be a good matchup, they are good and hopefully we can play well and give the fans a good game.”
Central Arizona defeated Potomac State on Monday night 12-2, and the Catamounts returned the favor Thursday night 11-3.
Central Arizona controlled the first game, but struggled on the mound Thursday, walking 11 batters.
“We have to come out and play a lot cleaner baseball,” Central Arizona coach Jon Wente said. “You can’t give up 11 walks and expect to win a baseball game.”
Potomac State had the advantage of a days’ rest and the Vaqueros were coming off a hard-fought game with Navarro on Wednesday night.
“They had a slugfest with Navarro and that might have taken something out of them,” Little said. “So we have to come out strong (tonight), because they’ll be coming after us.”
Potomac State has the option to return Patrick Bankemper, who faced the Vaqueros on Monday night and held them to four runs in seven innings.
Wente said Cody Gray will get the start tonight.
The winner of the rematch plays Navarro in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Navarro hasn’t been to the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series since the tournament’s first year in 1958, and the Bulldogs are making the most of their second visit.
The Bulldogs survived their game in the elimination bracket against Iowa Western and moved into the title game because they had played the most games. Navarro is 4-1, Potomac and Central Arizona each 3-1.
“I’m not picky who we play, I’m just glad to be here,” Navarro coach Whoa Dill said after their 9-5 win over the Reivers. “The only reason I’d care is if Central Arizona were to lose, that’d give us a day off.”
Navarro hasn’t played Potomac State, but lost a close game to Central Arizona 11-8 on Wednesday.
“Our bodies are tired, our pitching is getting down, but we’ve got all summer to rest,” Dill said.
The Bulldogs will play their sixth game of the tournament Saturday, and Dill said his team is getting more comfortable in the confines of Suplizio Field.
“They’ve gained a lot of experience and I think we’re used to this field,” Dill said. “We’ve had to change the game plan with the ball bouncing out of here, but mostly we’ve told them to go out there and play hard.”
The Bulldogs came into the tournament as an unknown, and Dill said his original goal was to gain experience and hopefully win over some fans.
Somewhat unexpectedly, the Bulldogs have used a reptile to become fan favorites.
Navarro adopted a pet turtle named Rally late in their season, and the Texas pond turtle has made the trip to Grand Junction.
“This rally turtle thing has blown up, it’s funny to watch,” Dill said. “But you know what? Whatever works.”
First baseman Casey Grayson just laughs when he talks about Rally — the players insist the turtle had a stomachache and was a bit off his game Wednesday, the first game they lost with the turtle in the dugout.
“It has relaxed us. Every day people are asking about him and it kind of relieves the tension and lets us relax,” Grayson said. “He’s got his own baseball card. That’s pretty nuts, pretty crazy.”
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