Paris Junior College
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PJC Baseball wins Region XIV North Championship, off to “Super Regional”
Fresh from winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XIV – North Regional Baseball Championship, Paris Junior College’s baseball team heads to Brenham to play Blinn College in a best of three series for the Region XIV Super Regional and a chance to go to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
“I am extremely proud of this group of young men,” said PJC Athletic Director and Baseball Coach Clay Cox. “They went into an absolute gauntlet of a regional tournament and left no doubt. This time of year it comes down to who is playing their best baseball at the right time, and last weekend we were clicking on all cylinders.”
At last weekend’s tournament in Corsicana, PJC went in as third seed of four teams. The Dragons made a clean sweep of No. 2 seed San Jacinto College (11-3), No. 1 seed Navarro College (13-3), then San Jacinto College again (11-5). They scored 35 runs in three games while the other three teams managed a total of 34 runs over the entire tournament.
As a team, PJC hit .385 and only allowed four earned runs over the three games. The Dragons never trailed, and are now 41-18 for the year, breaking the record set last year of 39 wins.
Garret Villa went 2-0 on the mound, throwing seven innings and allowing just one run. Caleb Jameson also picked up a win. Jax Ortiz had two saves and threw 6.2 innings scoreless in two games in relief.
Barrett Riebock tied for the team lead with seven hits (batted .467 in the tournament with three doubles) and led the team with eight RBIs. Preston Gamster also had seven hits and three doubles (batted .500 for the tournament). Ryan Davis reached base 12 out of 15 times on the weekend (batted .600). Ethan Guerra hit .429 on the weekend and Kevin Shea .455.
“To build off last year’s conference championship and bring home a regional championship is a huge step for our program,” said Cox. “We put ourselves in a position to do something that has not been done here in a long time, and that’s get to Grand Junction. We aren’t done yet. Blinn College is rolling right now, too, and we have to go to their yard. The townspeople of Brenham will make that an electric postseason atmosphere. It’s going to be fun. We just have to continue to play our game and focus on what we need to do. Do that and we have a chance to take the next step.”
Game one begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham, Texas. Game two takes place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, and an “if necessary,” decisive third game will be played at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 15. Day passes may be bought at the gate. Adult tickets are $10, Seniors 60 and up are $5, and college students with current student ID and children under 12 may enter free.
To learn more about PJC’s baseball players and schedule, go to www.parisjc.edu/athletics and scroll down to select “Baseball Team” or “Baseball Schedule.” Tournament scores will be posted on the schedule page. Games will also be broadcast at www.tsbnsports.com and live stats followed at https://bit.ly/3DKI323.
CHAMPS – The Paris Junior College baseball team, pictured above, won the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XIV – North Regional Baseball Championship this week and heads to Brenham to play for a chance to go to the NJCAA World Series in Colorado.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
