"The game definitely didn't feel like a win at all, but the season did."

-Central Head Coach Anthony Gilich

06.05.2021

Game Replay
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Video Highlights

Grand Junction, Colo. – McLeannan (TX) ended a 37 year drought between championships, topping Central Arizona 7-3 in the National Championship Game of the Alpine Bank Junior College Baseball World Series.

Both hurlers came out firing, keeping both teams at bay through the first three innings. In the fourth, each team scored a run off the long ball. In the top of the fourth, Central Arizona's Kiko Romero's home run went to left center. In the bottom of the inning, McLennan's Dominic Tamez's home run went to left.

In the bottom of the fifth, McLennan (47-16) took at one run lead as Miguel Santos homered to left field, making it 2-1. In the eighth, McLennan would open it up, scoring five runs putting the game out of reach. Tamez, who went 4-4 on the night, tripled to right center scoring two. That was followed by an RBI double by Alex Lopez and an RBI double down the right field line by Jaylen Williams. Williams would later score on a throwing error by the catcher.

In the top of the ninth, Logan Henderson, who was having an MVP performance, left the game after one pitch. Not before he struck out 17 and only allowed two hits and a single run in 8.0 innings of work. He was four strikeouts away from tying a 60 year old record set in 1961.

Central Arizona (51-8) would make it interesting, scoring a pair of runs on an error by the second baseman with two outs. But, Landry Wideman would strike out the final batter to earn McLennan their first championship since 1983.

All-Tournament Team
IF: Dayton Dooney, Central Arizona
IF: Noel Perez, Indian Hills (IA)
IF: Mason Greer, McLennan (TX)
IF: Miguel Santos, McLennan (TX)
IF: Sabin Ceballos, San Jacinto-North (TX)
OF: Bryce Madron, Cowley (KS)
OF: Landrey Wilkerson, Crowder (MO)
OF: Mason Auer, San Jacinto-North (TX)
OF: Dusty Garcia, Central Arizona
C: Colby Smelley, Shelton State (AL)
C: Chase Adkinson, San Jacinto-North (TX)
P: Logan Henderson, McLennan (TX)
P: Garrett McMillan, Shelton State (AL)
P: Liam Evans, Central Arizona
DH: Blake Jackson, McLennan (TX)

Bus Bergman Coach of the Tournament: Mitch Thompson, McLennan (TX)
B45 Birch Bomber Leading Hitter: Noel Perez, Indian Hills
Robert Purkey, Jr. Memorial Outstanding Pitcher: Logan Henderson, McLennan (TX)
Jay W. Tolman Outstanding Defensive Player: Sabin Ceballos, San Jacinto-North (TX)
Tilman M. "Tillie" Bishop Sportsmanship: Travis Lalleland, Crowder (MO)
Daily Sentinel Tournament MVP: Logan Henderson, McLennan (TX)