GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Cochise College baseball team really didn’t expect to score 16 runs in the entire JUCO World Series tournament, let alone in one game.
The Apaches eliminated Neosho County Community College on Wednesday with a 16-1 five-inning rout behind a solid pitching performance from Jacob Potts, a host of single and walks, plus a home run blast from Jake Luna in the second inning.
“We’re capable every once in a while of doing that,” said Cochise head coach Todd Inglehart said of Cochise’s offensive outburst, a rarity this season. “If we face guys that have trouble in the strike zone, we’ll be pretty good. We’re a disciplined team offensively. Guys get ahead in the count or get walked and it’s hard not to put up runs.”
Potts gave up just four hits, walked two and struck out two in the complete game. Neosho’s lone run came on a home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth and final inning.
“Honestly, I was just locating everything today,” Potts said. “Everyone in our bullpen, when we’re on, there’s no way anyone can touch us if we’re hitting our spots. It felt like one of those days.”
Every Apache in the lineup had at least one hit as Cochise exploded for seven runs in the first inning, two more in the second, four in the fourth and three in the fifth on 11 hits and 10 walks against six Neosho pitchers. Tagg Duce went 2 for 3 with a walk, and Stephan Desgagne went 2 for 3 with a double, the team’s only other extra-base hit.
“Potts did a good job,” Inglehart said. “That’s a very easy situation to lose concentration and take for granted what your offense did for you, and he didn’t. He threw really well. You could tell he was focused.”
Luna was in Wednesday’s game at left field, his first time playing since the Western District Championship tournament in Sterling while nursing a left wrist injury sustained during the Region I tournament. Potts said his blast to left field solidified the team’s confidence in the lead.
“I’ve been itching to get into the batter’s box, so it felt good,” Luna said. “I finally got my opportunity today and saw a really good pitch. Everyone was seeing the ball well today; everyone had confident at-bats.”
The win avenges the 2-1 loss to Neosho in the opening round of the World Series, and Cochise stays alive in the losers bracket for game 16 on Thursday against Spartanburg Methodist, who lost to Central Alabama on Wednesday night. Cochise is one of four teams left in the tournament.
“It’s win or go home,” said Potts. “We want to keep playing.”