GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Cowley and McLennan met for the first time at the World Series.  In a heavy weight bout, Cowley held off McLennan 10-8 in game 9 of the Alpine Bank Junior College Baseball World Series.
 
It was a busy first inning for both teams.  After a leadoff walk, Cowley’s (52-10) Trey DeGarmo hit the ninth pitch of the at bat over the right field wall, giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.  In the bottom of the inning, McLennan (50-13) scored a pair off a Hunter Grimes double and a Daniel Altman single, making it 2-2.
 
Each team would score one each in the second.  Cowley’s Trayson Miller hit a solo home run to center field while McLennan’s Grimes hit a sacrifice fly.  McLennan would take their first lead at 3-2 in the third on a John Ceccoli home run, his third of the series.
 
Cowley would add three in the fourth.  Two runs on an error by the shortstop and the third on an RBI single by David Herring.  McLennan’s Cole Fontenelle would hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one, making it 6-5 Cowley after four.
 
The two teams would trade runs through the next few innings, highlighted by a pair of solo home runs by McLennan in the sixth.  Grimes hit one to left field followed a few at bats later by Ceccoli’s second one run of the game and fourth of the series.  It was 9-7 Cowley after six.
 
In the seventh, McLennan would cut the lead in half on an Izzy Lopez single to left field.  Lopez would find his way to third but would be stranded, Cowley leading 9-8 after seven.  Cowley would add an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning off a fielder’s choice.  McLennan would go one-two-three to end the game.
 
Hayden O’Toole went 2-4 while Trey DeGarmo went 2-3 with 2 RBI for the Tigers.  McLennan’s Ceccoli went 2-5 with a pair of home runs.    Grimes with 3-4 with 3 RBI.
 
Cowley advances to play on Tuesday at in game 12 at 3:00pm.  McLennan has been eliminated.