FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
SGC Goes 1-2 in JUCO World Series
The South Georgia College Tigers aren’t the last team standing at the
2011 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, but they
weren’t the first team to exit, either.
In
the Tigers’ first JUCO World Series appearance since 1970 and the first of
retiring head coach Scott Sims’s career, SGC posted a 1-2 record, losing
13-3 to top-seeded Central Arizona, beating Jefferson College of Missouri
10-4, then falling to the Seward County (Kansas) College Saints 14-4. The
Tigers played games on three consecutive games, beginning on Saturday, May
28 and finishing on Memorial Day. They end the season with a 34-33 record.
The first game of the tournament wasn’t going to be easy. The Tigers faced
the top JUCO team in the country, the Vaqueros of Central Arizona. Coach
Sims gave the ball to Frank Ambrosino, SGC’s workhorse of a pitcher who
battles in every inning he throws. The Vaqueros proved to be just as
formidable as advertised; they touched Ambrosino for 11 runs (10 earned) on
12 hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work.
The Tigers’ offense went to work early; in fact, SGC held on to a slim 2-1
lead after two innings. Then, an inning later, Central Arizona’s bats woke
up. In the third and fourth innings, the Vaqueros plated 12 runs to take
13-3 lead (SGC scored a single run in the top of the fourth). Seth Foster,
Wesley Morris and Brandon Cruce scored the Tigers’ runs.
The
following day, SGC and Jefferson College squared off in the early game to
see who would have the not-so-dubious distinction of being the first team
eliminated from the tournament. The Tigers were determined to hang around as
long as possible, and jumped on the Vikings early. Thanks to strong
offensive performances by Foster and Logan Gaines (who were a combined 10
for 10 in the game), the Tigers built a 5-0 lead by the fourth inning. The
Vikings clawed back into the game in the seventh, plating three runs to get
within two. SGC, however, wanted to put the game out of reach. In the
eighth, the Tigers scored five more runs to all but end the Vikings’ hope of
a comeback. SGC won easily 10-4. Starter Dylan Wall lasted 6 2/3 innings,
giving up six hits and three runs (all earned). Reliever Zach Hula closed
the door on Jefferson College, throwing the final 2 1/3 innings and picking
up the save. Foster and Gaines were both 5 for 5. David Reid-Foley also had
three hits in the game.
SGC hoped the momentum from Sunday’s big win would propel the Tigers through
the next few days. Unfortunately, the Seward County Saints had the same
plans. Game day dawned cool and crisp, with temperatures in the low 60s with
a breeze blowing out of the southwest. As the game wore on, the mercury
dropped and the weather felt more like February than late May. The Tigers
started out as cool as the temperature, giving up one run in the first and
three in the second to fall behind 4-0 early. Starter Brice Baker did his
best to keep the Saints under control, but the SGC defense struggled
throughout the contest.
The Tigers rallied in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs to tie the
game at four. The Saints busted the game wide open in the sixth when they
scored nine runs to take a commanding 13-4 lead. They added a run in the top
of the sixth to go up by 10 runs. When the Tigers didn’t score in the bottom
of the frame, the game ended via run rule. Baker, the first of six SGC
pitchers who saw action against Jefferson, took the loss. Gaines and Jeremy
Donaldson were both 2 for 3 with a run scored. Donaldson also drove in two
runs for the Tigers.
For the tournament, Gaines led the team with a .636 batting average, two
doubles and two RBI. Foster hit .600 with two doubles and five RBI. Other
offensive leaders were Brandon Cruce (.500), Jeremy Donaldson (.444), Wesley
Morris (.333) and David Reid-Foley (.300). Dylan Wall earned the only win
for the Tigers; he posted a 4.05 ERA in his one outing. Zach Hula, who threw
two days in a row, came out of the tournament with one save and a 3.38 ERA.
“This has been an incredible experience. These guys competed all year long
to get here, and they competed while we were here. We would have loved to
have been here longer but things didn’t go our way. I’m proud of each one of
these young men. I knew we had a good team when the season started. It
wasn’t an easy season but they never gave up. Their hard work and never-quit
attitude carried them all the way to Grand Junction. I’d like to thank a
great group parents. These are quality young men, and it’s because of their
influence. I’d also like to thank the administration, faculty and staff at
South Georgia College. They have supported us throughout our run and we
appreciate everything they’ve done,” stated Coach Sims.
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About South Georgia College
South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu)
was founded in 1906 and is located in Douglas, Ga. The college's environment
gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and
close collaboration with faculty. With over 20 majors and transfer
opportunities, South Georgia College provides the finest education possible
to the citizens of its service area.
