PIONEERS HEADING TO JUCO WORLD SERIES

Elgin, Illinois – The Delta College baseball team played the final game in a best of three against Elgin Community College on Monday for a winner take all trip to the NJCAA College World Series.  After losing in heartbreaking fashion in game one 6-3 and pulling out a 9-5 win in game two, the Pioneers won game three 14-3 to advance to Greeneville, Tennessee on Saturday.  The win improves their record to 34-21 on the season.

"It's been our goal since day one of the program in 2012," said head coach Danny Smith. "We knew we had the right make up of players to do it this year despite hurdles and setbacks throughout the season and we finally made it happen today."

Both teams got on the board in the first inning before Delta took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second as Zach Schirmer scored ahead of Justin Heinlein's two-out triple.  In the third inning, Delta plated four runs courtesy of a Ty Snover single that scored Hunter David and Z Westley.  A Ty Robbins single scored Dean Marais while a Mitch Morley squeeze plated Snover for a 6-1 lead.

A run in the fifth and two in the sixth made it 9-1 in favor of Delta after six innings.  Meanwhile, DC starting pitcher Justin Jurek was spot on, keeping the Elgin hitters at bay while limiting them to just two hits through six.

"Justin has a great mental mindset on the mound," said Smith.  "Nothing phases him out there.  He just keeps pitching over top of errors and walks and battles."

Jurek threw seven innings, surrendering one run on four hits while striking out 11.  He improves to 7-3 on the year.

Delta scored five runs in the seventh to go up 14-1 before surrendering two in the eighth for the final score. 

Offensively, Ty Snover went three for four with five RBI's while Z Westley went five for six with two doubles.  Zack Booth (3 for 6) and Ty Robbins (3 for 5) also contributed to the 20-hit barrage for Delta. 

Hunter David was named the tournament MVP after going for 9-for-16 with two doubles and eight RBI.  Danny Smith was named the Regional Coach of the Year.

The Pioneers next play in the opening round of the World Series on Saturday against an opponent to be determined in the eight team, double-elimination tournament.