Weatherford, TX – For the first time in school history, Weatherford College's baseball team is heading to the NJCAA Division I World Series, also known as the JUCO World Series, following their thrilling 15-13 victory over New Mexico Junior College in the Region V Tournament championship. Coyotes head coach Jeff Lightfoot said, "It's an exciting time for our program and community" and called it a "dream come true," as reported by the Weatherford Democrat.
The Coyotes (50-9), who are ranked No. 5 in the country, outlasted their No. 9 ranked opponents in a game that saw Weatherford build a 10-1 lead by the fourth inning, only for New Mexico to claw back with a six-run outburst in the fifth and sixth innings. A lightning delay saw the game postponed until Tuesday afternoon.
After play resumed, Weatherford quickly added three more runs to take a 15-8 lead. However, New Mexico wasn't finished yet, rallying with five runs in the final inning before a decisive out sealed the win and secured the program's first-ever regional title.
Robin Villeneuve continued his strong performance at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three doubles, three RBI, and three runs scored. Charlie Giese earned the win on the mound with five and two-thirds innings of work, giving up five earned runs while striking out four.
The JUCO World Series, which takes place in Grand Junction, Colorado, is set to happen from May 27 to June 3. This milestone appearance marks the culmination of 21 straight seasons under the leadership of Coach Lightfoot, who celebrated his own historic feat earlier this year with his 800th win in April.
As the NJCAA prepares to release tournament seedings and brackets, Coyote supporters can stay updated by visiting wcathletics.com and following WC's athletics social media feeds.