GRAND JUNCTION, CO – An eight-run sixth inning proved to be too much to overcome as Indian Hills' epic run through the postseason came to an end Tuesday night as the Warriors were eliminated by top-seeded Crowder College, 12-8 at the 63rd Annual Alpine Bank JUCO World Series at Sam Suplizio Field.
The game that ended IHCC's season may be most remembered for an umpiring decision rather than the play on the field, unfortunately, as the pivotal sixth inning turned on a controversial call, or more accurately, an overturned call.
The sixth inning began with Indian Hills holding a 6-4 advantage. With no outs and Crowder's Landrey Wilkerson on second after a leadoff double, the Roughriders' Josh Patrick appeared to line out to a diving Samuel Fortier in center. Fortier popped up and fired in to second to double off Wilkerson. After the play, the three-man umpiring crew convened and determined that Fortier had trapped the ball, rather than making a clean catch, and instead of having two outs and no one on, Crowder was in business with runners at second and third with nary an out.
What would follow was nothing short of disastrous for the Warriors, as a single, two walks, two doubles and a homerun produced eight runs and before IHCC could escape the sixth, it was 12-6 in favor of the Roughriders.
The Warriors would get a Noel Perez two-run homer in the ninth to cut the margin to 12-8, and would actually bring the tying run on deck before Cole Agemy coaxed Fortier into a pop out to Wilkerson in right to bring IHCC's run to an end with a record of 44-16.
The unfortunate events of the sixth inning overshadowed what was an admirable starting performance from Gavin Hinckley. The freshman from West Bend, Wisconsin had only been called upon in a starting role three times prior to Tuesday's elimination contest versus No. 1-seeded Crowder, but with many of the Warriors' options exhausted on Monday night versus McLennan (TX), IHCC Head Coach Matthew Torrez turned to Hinckley.
The move proved to be a good one as the Warrior went five strong innings against the high-powered 'Riders, scattering six hits, allowing four runs, three earned, while walking one and fanning three.
Charles Lefebvre (2-5) was saddled with the loss for second straight night for the Warriors as he was caught up in the sixth inning debacle. Lefebvre faced just three batters in the sixth but ended up charged with three runs on two hits, both doubles, while allowing one walk.
Offensively, the Warriors kept pace with Crowder, even with the eight-spot in the sixth inning. IHCC outhit the Roughriders 14-13, and were led by Perez' three-hit performance. Ren Tachioka, Pier-Olivier Boucher, and Ricardo Van Grieken all had a pair of hits for the Warriors.
The loss in the double-elimination JUCO World Series marks the end of the line for 14 Warrior players that were instrumental in turning around the program in Torrez' third year at the helm. Of the 14, five "COVID-sophomores" made a conscious decision to return for a third season after their second season ended prematurely on March 13, 2020 in Boone after a doubleheader with DMACC with a record of 4-11 with the pandemic stoppage. This group would go on to become the cornerstone of the program's resurgence. Pitchers Maddux Hoaglund, Wyatt Wendell and Nick Marshall formed a force at the top of Torrez' rotation, while catcher Dave Janssen was a clutch hitter, and the Region XI defensive player of the year. Infielder Brady Nowicki's third season was slowed by injury, but his experience on and off the field helped as the Warrior middle infield developed into one of the nation's best. This team's legacy will be persevering through perhaps some of the most difficult and unusual of circumstances and, yet after a 17-year drought, returning Indian Hills the JUCO World Series for the 12th time in school history.
JUCO WORLD SERIES
SAM SUPLIZIO FIELD
GAME THREE
Crowder 012 018 000 – 12 13 0
Indian Hills 030 210 002 – 8 14 2
Zach Voss, Caleb Hollis (3), Maddox Thornton (4), Breven Yarbo (6), Jace Presley (8), Cole Agemy (9) and Jack Stroth. Gavin Hinckley, Dade Hensley (6), Charles Lefebvre (6), Nick Marshall (6), Douglas Rojas (7) and Dave Janssen.
W – Thornton. L – Lefebvre (2-5).
E – Fortier, Van Grieken. DP – IH 3. LOB – CC 4, IH 10. 2B – Gray, Chambers, Wilkerson, Rodriguez, Van Grieken 2, Morrow. 3B – Boucher. HR – Holt 2, Wilkerson, Janssen, Perez. RBI – Gray 2, Holt 4, Stroth, Glasgow, Chambers 3, Wilkerson, Boucher, Fortier, Janssen 2, Perez 2, Rodriguez. HBP – Fortier. CS – Patrick, Tachioka.
Umpires - HP: Jared Ferrans 1B: Scott Johnston 3B: Skip Powe
Start: 3:17 pm Time: 3:09 Attendance: 2933
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 88 degrees