The tournament is over. The bright lights over Suplizio Field are now dark, but the one thing that still burns bright is the talent of the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series all-tournament team.
The team is chosen by the media and JUCO Committee.
Clay Jones, Shelton (Ala.) State Community College; Brooks Robinson, Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist College; Kevin Atkinson, New Mexico Junior College and Jesus Barroso and Einar Atencio, Chipola (Fla.) made the infield.
The outfield consisted of Brian Cavasos-Galvez, New Mexico; Tom Hatcher, Chipola; Allen Caldwell, Spartanburg Methodist; and Jeremy Barfield, San Jacinto (Texas) College-North.
The two catchers were Kyle Henson, San Jacinto and Luis Cruz, New Mexico.
The pitchers were J.R. Robinson, New Mexico; Drew Parker, Chipola; and Cole Rohrbough, Western Nevada Community College.
Young Harris (Ga.) College received the Homa Thomas Sportsmanship Award, and outstanding pitcher was awarded to Ryan Chaffee of Chipola.
The Jay Tolman Best Defensive Player was won by Spartanburg Methodist third baseman Keon Graves
The designated hitter spot went to Brandon Belt of San Jacinto, who was also the winner of the Big Stick Award, which goes to the player in the tournament with the highest batting average.
Belt hit .600, going 9 for 15.
“It feels great (to have won this award) in a national tournament like this, it’s truly an honor,” Belt said.
In addition to being selected to the all-tournament team, each player will take a different memory of Grand Junction with them.
“Playing in front of the fans, and the fact that the people in Grand Junction are so darn nice,” J.R. Robinson said.
The elite squad had a few words of advice to the players in the 51st annual JUCO World Series:
“Leave it on the field,” Robinson said.
“Come in and play as a team,” Hatcher said. “It’s not necessarily about the best talent, but it’s the scrappiest team that will win.”
“Never ever give up,” MVP Drew Parker said. “Anything can happen in baseball.”
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Ali Vaisvil can be reached via e-mail at sports@gjds.com.
