Howard Claims DI Baseball Championship; Ends Season with 63-1 Record
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Howard College (Texas) baseball team capped off an unbelievable season Friday, May 29, by accomplishing their top goal of the year - winning a national championship. The Hawks, which garnered national headlines this baseball season with a record-setting 57 game winning streak, won their 63rd game of the season by defeating Santa Fe Community College (Fla.) 7-4 in 10 innings in the title game of the 2009 NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series in Grand Junction.
A national audience watching on Altitude TV witnessed one of the best title games in recent memory. The two clubs were locked in a 3-3 tie for four innings heading into the top of the ninth with two outs until Howard's Andrew Collazo connected for just his fourth hit of the tournament - a towering home run that sailed over the left field wall to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead.
Santa Fe then sent the game into extra-innings when Keon Broxton doubled to the gap in left-center field, which scored Jardian Thomas who led-off the inning with a double. Broxton's hit almost won the game for the Saints as Tyler Cook, who drew a walk, tried to score from first on the hit but was called out on a very close play at home plate. Had Cook scored, it would have forced a second championship game on Saturday.
Howard was able to load the bases in the top of the 10th when Santa Fe pitcher Andy Mee walked in the go-ahead run for the Hawks. Collazo, who was named the tournament's best defensive player, then came up big again for Howard with a two-out, two-run single to put the Hawks up 7-4.
Santa Fe was able to get runners on the corners in the bottom of the 10th, but Howard's Will Calhoun shut the door on the Saints to complete a remarkable championship season for the Hawks.
Howard ends the 2009 season with an astonishing 63-1 record, which is the best mark of any championship team in the history of NJCAA baseball. The Hawks also set a NJCAA record for most consecutive wins with their 57-game winning streak earlier in the year.
For tournament stats and to order a DVD of the championship game visit http://www.jucogj.org/. For more in-depth coverage of the tournament visit Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Sports.
Also, tournament highlights and interviews with players and coaches can be seen at www.nbc11news.com/sports and www.kjct8.com.
Photos courtesy of Buddy Bair (Buddy Bear Photography)
May 23 (9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.)
Game 1: Howard College, Texas (58-1) def. Western Nevada College (45-12) - 4-3 (11 innings) Box Score
Game 2: Shelton State Community College, Ala. (43-16) def. Iowa Western Community College (39-22) - 16-6 Box Score
Game 3: Cowley County Community College Kan. (47-13) def. Seminole State College, Okla. (40-18) - 11-8 Box Score
Game 4: Santa Fe Community College, Fla. (32-20) def. Middle Georgia College (43-18) - 17-13 Box Score
May 24 (10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.)
Game 5: Western Nevada CC, Nev. (45-13) def. Iowa Western CC, Iowa (39-23) 11-0 Box Score
Game 6: Middle Georgia College, Ga. (43-19)def. Seminole State College, Okla. (40-19) - 16-6 Box Score
Game 7: San Jacinto College, Texas (43-9) def. Spartanburg Methodist College, S.C. (54-7) 7-1 Box Score
May 25 (10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.)
Game 8: Western Nevada CC, Nev. (46-13) def. Middle Georgia College, Ga. (44-19) 11-6 Box Score
Game 9: Santa Fe CC, Fla. (33-20) def. Cowley County CC, Kan. (48-13) 10-9 Box Score
Game 10: Howard College, Tex. (59-1) def. Shelton State CC, Ala. (44-16) 7-4 Box Score
May 26 (11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.)
Game 11: Spartanburg Methodist College, S.C. (55-8) def. Cowley County CC, Kan. (48-15) 10-7 Box Score
Game 12: Western Nevada CC, Nev. (48-13) def. Shelton State CC, Ala. (44-18) 9-2 Box Score
Game 13: San Jacinto College, Texas (45-9) def. Santa Fe CC, Fla. (34-21) 9-4 Box Score
May 27 (3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.)
Game 14: Santa Fe CC, Fla. (35-21) def. Spartanburg Methodist College, S.C. (55-9) 15-12 Box Score
Game 15: Howard College, Tex. (61-1) def. San Jacinto College, Texas (45-10) 12-11 Box Score
May 28 (3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.)
Game 16: Santa Fe CC, Fla. (36-21) def. San Jacinto College, Texas (45-11) 12-4 Box Score
Game 17: Howard College, Tex. (62-1) def. Western Nevada CC, Nev. (48-14) 11-3 Box Score
May 29 (7:30 p.m.)
Game 18: Championship - Howard College, Tex. (63-1) def. Santa Fe CC, Fla. (36-22) 7-4 Box Score
All Tournament Team
Travis Feiner, INF - Western Nevada
Devin Shines, INF - San Jacinto
Monk Kreder, INF - Howard
Bryan Johns, INF - Howard
Tyler Cook, INF - Santa Fe
Keon Broxton, OF - Santa Fe
Marty Gantt, OF - Spartanburg
Runey Davis, OF - Howard
Deric Hawkins, OF - San Jacinto
Jerome Pena, C - Western Nevada
Mac Gordon, C - Cowley
Jacob Cowan, P - San Jacinto
Zach Neal, P - Howard
Jordan Lewis, P - Western Nevada
Andy Mee, DH - Santa Fe
Robert Purkey Most Valuable Pitcher
Jacob Cowan - San Jacinto
Jay Tolman Outstanding Defensive Player
Andrew Collazo - Howard
Homa Thomas Sportsmanship Award
Marty Gantt - Spartanburg
Rawlings Big Stick Award (Top Hitter)
Deric Hawkins - San Jacinto
Preston Walker Most Valuable Player
Andrew Collazo - Howard