T-Birds Win Second-Straight WJCAC Title

The New Mexico Junior College baseball team secured their second-straight WJCAC baseball title in an 11-8 win over visiting Midland College.

Landen Yorek started on the mound for the T-Birds, surrendering two earned runs, three homers, and four hits in two and two-thirds innings of work. 

Paul Coppinger came in relief and shut down the Chaps offensively. Coppinger struck out four batters and gave up five hits in four and a third innings of relief. The sophomore pitcher earned his third victory of the season. 

Catcher Lorenzo Moressi had a 2-run homer in the bottom of the second to give NMJC a 3-2 lead. Shortstop Brent Iredale scored two runs on a single to left center in the bottom of the third to pull the T-Birds within one, 6-5. Freshman Erick Ballenilla doubled to add another run and tie the score at six apiece.

Right fielder Josh Pearl hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to give the T-Birds the lead 8-7. Center fielder John David Moreno went back-to-back with a solo shot after Pearl's long ball to extend the lead by two, 9-7. 

Mark Henning added a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to make the lead three, 10-7. Another solo homer, this time by Aaron Lugo in the sixth, stretched the lead to four runs, 11-7. The Chaps put one run across the plate in the seventh, making the final score 11-8.  

Third baseman Dylan Jasso was 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored. Aaron Lugo went 2-for-4 with a solo homer. First baseman Luis Gonzalez was 2-for-3 with two singles and a run scored. Sophomore John David Moreno went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and three runs scored. Left fielder Erick Ballenilla finished with two RBIs.

The T-Birds improve to 41-11 (28-5) on the season and have been crowned WJCAC champions for the second-straight season.  

Head baseball coach Michael Robbins said it took a mid-season reset to become the championship team they are today.

"We thought this team had a chance to be really good," Robbins said. "We knew the talent was there, but about mid-year, we had a sort of reckoning and needed a reset. From that point, our commitment to what we're trying to accomplish has been outstanding."

Game 2

Third baseman Dylan Jasso's heroics springboarded the T-Birds to victory in a 10-7 win over the Chaps on sophomore day.

The Thunderbirds were fresh off winning back-to-back WJCAC titles and had to turn around and refocus for Game 2 of the doubleheader against Midland.  

The T-Birds trailed 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning when the bats woke up in a big way. Rafael Gross hit a solo shot to center field to tie the score up at seven apiece with one out. 

Then with two outs and a runner on first Jasso stepped up to the plate and hit a go-ahead 2-run homer on an 0-2 count to give NMJC the lead. Brent Iredale followed up the at bat with a solo homerun to make it 10-7, which ended up being the final score.

Max Swenson surrendered two hits and struck out four batters over three innings in the start for the T-Birds. Garrett Thiele obtained his fourth win of the season in relief after coming in with two outs in the eighth and closing out the game.  

Shortstop Brent Iredale was 2-for-5 with a homer, a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. 

Center fielder John David Moreno went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Catcher Lorenzo Morresi went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. 

Second baseman Aaron Lugo was 2-for-3 with two walks and an RBI. Rafael Gross finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a solo homer. First baseman Luis Gonzalez recorded a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. 

The WJCAC champs move to 42-11 (29-5). NMJC will play Midland College Saturday, May 6 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. CDT in Midland, Texas at Christensen Stadium.