Catcher Matt Quintanar is the top hitter in the lineup for Blinn College, hitting .410 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI and 10 stolen bases as the Buccaneers return to Grand Junction seeking a second straight title.
There was a moment late in the season where Blinn College (Texas) coach Dusty Hart knew his team had an extra gear. The Buccaneers had already battled significant injuries and gone 10-5 down the stretch, a lower mark than might have been expected for the reigning national champions.
Their journey back the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series started with a 4-3 loss to Paris Junior College in the regional, where the Dragons scored four runs in the first three innings and the Buccaneers couldn't complete a comeback.
"It's accepted in baseball that if you win the first one, you're in a good spot," Hart said. "There's a lot of truth to that. But what happens when you don't? It can take a bit to get that feel for winning back."
Working through the consolation bracket, the Buccaneers hammered Northeast Texas Community College 9-1, then sent Paris packing 2-1 in a revenge game where Blinn went up early and closed the door late. The Bucs twice beat Wharton County Junior College, 7-5 and 4-0 to win the regional, then smacked JUCO regular San Jacinto College 15-2 and 13-5 to earn their spot in Grand Junction.
"What an effort they put forth," Hart said. "These guys could've been satisfied with their top five ranking all year and the wins they did have, but they really showed resilience and grit. They showed how badly they want to get back here."
This year's Buccaneers' squad has several returners from last year's national championship team and Hart said that will aid the team at Suplizio Field. The offense is somewhat traditional, with "some pretty stout guys" in the middle of the order and table-setters at the top and bottom. Blinn is seventh in the country with 75 home runs while also drawing a sixth-best 344 walks. Hart pointed to the offense's ability to find different ways to win as a key to success in Grand Junction.
Caden Ferraro made the All-Tournament team last year for Blinn and his is the biggest bat in the lineup. Ferraro lead the Buccaneers with 17 home runs and 71 RBI and he is hitting .360. Catcher Matt Quintanar is the top hitter in the lineup, hitting .410 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
On the mound, the Buccaneers lost several arms to injury early in the season, including two "no-doubt conference starters" who could throw mid- to upper-90s. Despite, they kept strong performance thanks to the two anchors of their pitching staff: Hayden Morris and Brok Eddy.
Morris fanned 99 batters across 82 innings and finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record. Eddy sports a team-best ERA of 2.04 and had four shutouts across 13 starts spanning 79 1/3 innings.
"Those two guys were the backbone of the staff all year," Hart said. "We've had more injuries than I can remember having in recent years, but those two guys stayed consistent and they're a really big part of giving us a chance to win. We've got some other guys who will give us a chance on the mound, but they've gotten where they were by watching those two guys. Hayden and Brok have really built up the confidence of the entire staff."
Now, the Buccaneers will work for a chance to repeat in Grand Junction.
"Every team is different, especially at this level," Hart said. "But this team has experience and that extra grit that helps when you get to (Suplizio Field).
Blinn College Buccaneers
District: Mid-South Hometown: Brenham, Texas Record: 46-13 Coach: Dusty Hart (third year) Hitters to watch Name Pos Avg R RBI 2B 3B HR SB Matt Quintanar C .410 63 58 22 0 14 10 Bennett Fryman OF .376 55 56 11 0 12 9 Caden Ferraro IF .360 70 71 15 1 17 2 Ryder McDaniel IF .292 38 28 7 4 3 6 Pitchers to watch Name W-L Sv GS IP ERA SO BB BAA Hayden Morris 10-0 0 13 82 3.29 99 45 .244 Brok Eddy 11-3 0 13 79.1 2.04 83 29 .185 Ben Polleschultz 6-1 1 5 51.1 3.68 61 15 .283 Hunter Bond 3-1 5 0 25.1 1.42 42 7 .250