Grayson County (Texas) College is making its sixth trip to the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series in the program’s 12-year history, but such a trip didn’t seem possible earlier this season.
The Vikings (43-15), who won back-to-back national titles in 1999 and 2000, were decimated by injuries, but recovered in time to join the tournament field.
“I tell you what, I’m really proud of this team,” Grayson County coach Dusty Hart said. “We’ve gone through more stuff this year than I’ve ever had to deal with. We’ve had ups and downs with injuries. Two months into (the season) our leading hitter (second baseman Scott Lawson) went down with a broken wrist and is done for the year. Our shortstop sprained his (ulnar collateral ligament) in his throwing arm. We played the middle portion of the season without our starting infield. Our right fielder is playing with a broken hand. Our left fielder was hit in the elbow and couldn’t throw.
“At one point, it was almost humorous. Our second-string shortstop and second baseman would go on a dead sprint to the outfield because our outfielder’s couldn’t throw. The perseverance is unimaginable unless you went through it with us. It took 28 guys to get where we’re at. We got healthy at the right time. By regionals, our shortstop was back. I think every guy on our team played and contributed. It’s been a fun ride.”
Second baseman Scott Lawson, who signed with the University of Miami, was hitting .468 with 13 doubles and six home runs and stole 22 bases in 31 games when he was injured, but Hart has plans for him in the World Series.
“He is one of our biggest leaders,” Hart said. “There’s a slight change he gets his cast off this week. We’re going to at least let him pinch run.”
Shortstop J.D. Alfaro leads the team with 18 home runs and 76 RBI. He is hitting .366.
Right fielder Bo Coffman is healed and is hitting .382 with 21 doubles, eight home runs and 47 RBI.
Because of the injuries, the Vikings were playing without their leading hitter, home run hitter and base stealer for portions of the season, but the team never panicked, even though their coach was concerned.
“They didn’t seem to flinch,” Hart said. “They never batted an eye. The hardest part was on me. It was like trying to put a puzzle together for me for a while.
“I’m sitting here going ‘man this is bad luck.’ They’ve had every opportunity to make excuses, but they found a way. This is probably one of the most determined teams we’ve had.”
Several players have contributed, Hart said, including two pitchers playing at third base in place of the No. 4 hitter, who left at Christmas to play at the University of Nebraska.
“We’ve had two pitchers (Gunner Wright and Cody McDowell) playing third and they stayed there,” Hart said. “We would’ve never known had the injuries not occurred. Gunner Wright has hit eight home runs. He hadn’t played third since high school. We knew he could hit a little bit, but we weren’t counting on him there. We were counting on him as a pitcher.
“The other kid (Cody McDowell) been here three years. He had to redshirt one year. He never played a position. He is an excellent defender.”
Even with Wright and McDowell playing third base, the pitching staff has been fine.
Five pitchers have thrown more than 50 innings this season.
R.L. Eisenbach, a sophomore left-hander, is 10-0 with a 3.36 ERA and two complete games. He’s struck out 68 batters in 67 innings pitched. Conrad Flynn, a freshman right-hander, is 9-2 with a 3.84 ERA and four complete games. He has 70 strikeouts in 652⁄3 innings. Danny Grande, a sophomore right-hander, is 6-2 with a 4.03 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 73.2 innings.
“Pitching has been the one constant,” Hart said. “Everyone is healthy. We’re fortunate almost every injury we had was to a position player. We were really young on the mound. Early on, our youth showed. Our ERA was hovering around 8. Now, it’s 5.36, but that’s good with our park. It’s definitely an offensive park. They really solidified some stuff for us. (The pitching staff has) been the cement that held everything together.”
Matt Lane (7-2, 3.62, 692⁄3 innings) and Brett Bruening (5-2, 7.26 ERA, 531⁄3 innings) have contributed a lot of innings as well.
“Bruening was the most raw guy at the start of the season,” Hart said. “He started getting into our fourth slot halfway through the year. He’s really matured. At regionals, we threw five guys. Conrad and R.L. threw complete games. Bruening threw a complete-game five-hitter in the regional championship game. That was the best game he’s thrown all year.
“They were as determined as any team I’ve had to get here. The sophomores that returned, we had as much talent as we’ve ever had walk through the doors. Ironic how things work. Last year, our No. 1 pitcher was throwing 100 mph. Every position player had a chance to get drafted, had been drafted, or planned on getting drafted. We underachieved. Our sophomores had a sour taste in the mouth. Other guys fed off that.”
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E-mail Allen Gemaehlich at agemaehlich@gjds.com.
GRAYSON COUNTY (TEXAS) COLLEGE
— Coach: Dusty Hart, 3rd year
— Record: 43-15
— Previous JUCO appearances: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
— JUCO titles: 1999, 2000
— Hitting leaders: Scott Lawson, 2B, So., .468, 40 RBI, 6 HR, 22 stolen bases; J.D. Alfaro, SS, Fr., .366, 76 RBI, 18 HR, 14 doubles, .749 slugging percentage; Bo Coffman, OF, Sop., .382, 47 RBI, 8 HR, 21 doubles, 61 runs; Eric Walker, C, Fr., .370, 56 RBI, 5 HR; Eric Ross, OF, Fr., .333, 30 RBI, 2 HR, 21 stolen bases.
— Pitching leaders: R.L. Eisenbach, LHP, So., 10-0, 3.36 ERA, 67 IP, 58 H, 68 SO, 29 BB; Conrad Flynn, RHP, Fr., 9-2, 3.84 ERA, 4 complete games, 65.2 IP, 70 SO, 13 BB; Danny Grande, RHP, So., 6-2, 4.03 ERA, 73.2 IP, 72 SO, 32 BB; Brett Bruening, LHP, Fr., 5-2, 7.26 ERA, 53.1 IP, 38 SO, 40 BB; Matt Lane, LHP, So., 7-2, 3.62 ERA, 5 saves, 69.2 IP, 46 SO, 14 BB.
