National News

 June 4, 2011

2011 NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2011
David Allen Ballpark; Enid, Okla.

Cover photo by BILLY HEFTON, EnidNews.com

For more information on the tournament -- http://davidallenballpark.com/

Audio and video of all games available at http://www.ctbsports.com/. 

For more coverage read: http://enidnews.com/sportslocal/x1315239851/Western-KOs-Jones-County-for-Juco-crown

Game 19 (Championship): Western Oklahoma St. College 11, Jones County Junior College (Miss.) 1 Box Score

Like the boxer with the same name, World Series MVP Roberto Duran, Jr. provided the knockout punch, driving in a pair of runs in the first inning with a double, blasting a two-run home run in the third, and driving in two more in the fifth with another double, as the Western Oklahoma State College Pioneers (51-16) defeated Jones County Junior College (46-17) 11-1 in the NJCAA DII World Series title game Saturday night before a nearly capacity crowd of over 2,500 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Okla.

Duran finished the game 4-5 with 6 RBI, finishing the series with a .480 batting average with three home runs and 11 runs batted in. After losing in 11 innings to Madison on Monday night, the Pioneers rattled off four straight wins to claim their first NJCAA DII World Series title after four tries. The Pioneers best previous finish was last season when they finished third.

On Saturday night, the combination of strong Pioneer starting pitching and plenty of timely hitting was just too much for the Bobcats who missed out on a chance to win the title in their first appearance at the World Series. In the top of the first, WOS took command of the contest as Esteban Paula led off with a walk and Wes Schill followed with a double down the left field line. Michael Cruz drove in the first run with a ground out to 2nd and following a fly out and another walk, Duran doubled to left to make it 3-0.

Jones County would answer back with a run in the second as Ryan Roberts singled in Nick Ray who had singled to start the inning. Leading by two, WOS would show they would not be denied as Wes Schill started the inning with a solo home run over the wall in left and two batters later, Duran would hit his third home run of the series, deep over the wall in left. The 6-1 lead was more than enough for starer and winner Erlin Santos who went the distance allowing just one run on eight hits, striking out five en route to his second win of the tourney to earn Pitcher of the Series honors.

In the fifth, WOS broke the game wide open as the Pioneers erupted for five more runs to build an 11-1 lead and never looked back. In addition to Duran Jr.'s big day, fellow All-Tournament selection Wes Schill had two hits and scored three times, Marty Dunlap also had two hits and scored three times while Elvis Rodriguez and Garrett Brown had two hits apiece as part of the Pioneers 14 hit attack. For the Bobcats, Ladd Jones, Darion Hamilton, and Chase Headrick each had two hits in the contest.

2011 NJCAA DII World Series All-Tournament Team
Adam Cralll -Kellogg
Parker Schrage -Madison College
Levy Lewis -Western Oklahoma State
Ladd Rhodes -Jones County
Nick Ray - Jones County
Elvis Rodriguez -Western Oklahoma State
Alex Crawford -Des Moines Area CC
Wes Schill -Western Oklahahom State
Andrew Waslund -Madison College
Kenny Acosta -Western Oklahoma State
Erlin Santos -Western Oklahoma State
Roberto Duran Jr. -Western Oklahoma State

Most Valuable Player/Big Hitter Roberto Duran Jr. - Western Oklahoma State
Most Valuable Pitcher Erlin Santos - Western Oklahoma State
Top Defensive Player Treysen Vavra - Madison College
Coach of the Tournament Kurt Russell - Western Oklahoma State