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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Central Arizona has won their third national championship (1976, 2002) with a 13-8 win over Iowa Western in the championship game of the Alpine Bank Junior College Baseball World Series.
Eleven runs were scored in the first frame between ninth ranked Iowa Western (51-11, 3-2 JUCO) and Central Arizona (50-20, 5-1 JUCO). Iowa Western put seven up, using a pair of singles, pair of doubles and a three-run home run by Jaden Rolffs. Central Arizona put up four on a double and three-run home run by Hunter Jump.
After adding one in the second, the Vaqueros would take the lead in the five-run third inning. They would add two insurance runs in the fifth on a Liam Spence two-run home run. Ernny Ordonez would hit a solo shot in the seventh. Iowa Western would muster a single run after the first inning on a fly out by Ronald Sweeney III.
Jump went 1-3 with three RBI. Ordonez was 3-5 with three RBI. As a staff, Central Arizona struck out 13. Mitchell DeCovich, who earned the win, fanned six while Lucas Knowles struck out five.
For the Reivers, Rolffs went 1-4 with three RBI. Sweeney was 2-2 with two RBI. Jared Simpson went 0.2 inning and was charged with the loss.
Iowa Western fell in the national championship game for the first time in their history. In their first three appearances, they won the title (2010, 2012, 2014). Central Arizona won their third title in four appearances in the game. They last played (and lost) in the championship game in 2011 to Navarro (TX).
2019 All-Tournament Team
IF: Cash Rugley, Navarro (TX)
IF: Ross Indlecoffer, Iowa Western
IF: Ronald Sweeney III, Iowa Western
IF: Michael Robinson, Walters State (TN)
IF: Liam Spence, Central Arizona
OF: Brennan Reback, Central Arizona
OF: Tyler Halstead, Cowley (KS)
OF: Caleb Balgaard, Iowa Western
OF: Hunter Jump, Central Arizona
C: Cody Milligan, Cowley (KS)
C: Jake Meyer, Central Arizona
P: Brandon Doty, Iowa Western
P: Jonathan Stroman, Central Arizona
P: Brandon Backman, Monroe (NY)
DH: Jose Gonzalez, Jr., Navarro (TX)
Homa Thomas Sportsmanship: Jose Gonzalez, Jr., Navarro (TX)
Robert Purkey Outstanding Pitcher: Dakota Donovan, Central Arizona
Jay Tolman Outstanding Defensive Player: Cash Rugely, Navarro (TX)
Bus Bergman Coach of the Year: Anthony Gilich, Central Arizona
Leading Hitter: Ronald Sweeney III, Iowa Western
Preston Walker MVP: Hunter Jump, Central Arizona