2003
NJCAA * Division II * World Series
Tournament Bracket

*This page will give the results of the tournament as the games are played.*

Click here for tournament statistics and game box scores

Saturday, May 24
Game 1 - Itawamba CC (46-9) 3, Parkland CC (48-13) 2 - 9:00 a.m. 
Game 2 - Iowa Central CC (37-16) 11, CCBC-Catonsville (29-15) 2 - 12:00 p.m.
Game 3 - Bevill State-Fayette (36-23) 6, Glendale CC (31-30) 5  - 3:00 p.m.
Game 4 - Mercer County CC (24-10) 12, Grand Rapids CC (37-17) 8  - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 25
Game 5 - Parkland CC (49-13) 10, CCBC-Catonsville (29-16) 9 - 9:00 a.m.
Game 6 - Grand Rapids CC (38-17) 8, Glendale CC (31-31) 7 - 12:00 p.m.
Game 7 - Iowa Central CC (38-16) 10, Itawamba CC (46-10) 1  - 3:00 p.m.
Game 8 - Bevill State-Fayette (37-23) 6, Mercer County CC (24-11) 2 - 7:30 p.m.

Monday, May 26
Game 9 - Parkland CC (50-13) 9, Mercer County CC (24-12) 7 - 3:00 p.m.
Game 10 - Grand Rapids CC (39-17) 9, Itawamba CC (46-11) 1 - 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 27
Game 11 - Grand Rapids (40-17) 10, Parkland CC (50-14) 2   - 3:00 p.m.
Game 12 - Iowa Central CC (39-16) 4, Bevill State-Fayette (37-24) 3 - 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 28
Game 13 - Grand Rapids (41-17) 11, Bevill State-Fayette (37-25) 5  - 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 29
Game 14 - Grand Rapids (42-17) 14, Iowa Central CC (39-17) 6  - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 30
Game 15 - Grand Rapids (43-17) 9, Iowa Central CC (39-18) 2  - 7:30 p.m.

May 30, 2003
Grand Rapids pounds out nineteen hits, downs Iowa Central 9-2 to win NJCAA II World Series championship
Millington, Tenn. - Grand Rapids Community College (43-17) became the first team in the eleven year history of the NJCAA II World Series to come back and win six straight games and the national championship, after losing their opening game. Friday night’s game was no different from any of their others as they pounded out nineteen hits in route to their championship victory.

Kurt Lauscher, starting his third game in seven days, went the distance for the win for Grand Rapids. He allowed only two runs on four hits with eleven strikeouts. Justin Sokol took the loss for Iowa Central.

Neall French led the offense for the Raiders, going 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI. Lauscher had four hits on the night to go along with his great pitching effort. Tournament MVP Justin McKenzie recorded three hits on the evening. Kris Wolfe had two hits for the Tritons.

All-Tournament Team -
Tim Dillard, Itawamba
Kenyatta Davis, Parkland
Ben McCullars, Bevill State
Justin Lacy, Bevill State
Kyle Baran, Iowa Central
Kris Wolfe, Iowa Central
Jim Pitt, Iowa Central
Kurt Lauscher, Grand Rapids
Tim Brown, Grand Rapids
Ryan Lyster, Grand Rapids
Neall French, Grand Rapids
MVP - Justin McKenzie, Grand Rapids

May 29, 2003
Grand Rapids forces winner-take-all championship game with 14-6 win over Iowa Central in NJCAA II World Series

Millington, Tenn. - Grand Rapids Community College’s (42-17) offense just kept on rolling as they won their fifth consecutive game in the NJCAA II World Series to force a winner-take-all championship rematch with Iowa Central (39-17) on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Grand Rapids scored six runs in the first and eight consecutive runs after Iowa Central tied the game in the third in route to the 14-6 victory.

Greg Witkowski picked up the win in relief for the Raiders, going two-thirds of an inning and allowing two runs. Ken Hunter earned the save with three and a third innings of successful relief. Brett Jensen (11-1) suffered the loss for Iowa Central.

Justin McKenzie once again led the Grand Rapids offense, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored, five RBI and a grand slam. Tim Brown and Neall French each recorded three hits for the Raiders. All nine players had a hit for Grand Rapids.

Paul Anderson, Kyle Baran, Jim Pitt, and Luke Reiland each had two hits for the Tritions. Pitt’s two hits were a triple and a home run.

Grand Rapids and Iowa Central will play for the national championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

May 28, 2003
Grand Rapids downs Bevill State 11-5; advances to National Championship game in NJCAA II World Series


Millington, Tenn. - Grand Rapids Community College (41-17) scored in six of the eighth innnings and eliminated Bevill State (37-25) 11-5 to move into the championship game of the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. The Raiders pounded out fifteen hits on the evening, while Bevill State notched twelve.

Ken Hunter picked up the win in relief for Grand Rapids, going four and two-thirds innings. He gave up eight hits but allowed only two runs. Matthew Cole took the loss for Bevill State.

Neall French and Kurtis Wells paced the offense for the Raiders with three hits each. Justin McKenzie and Kurt Lauscher had two hits, while Zach Boswell and Tim Brown each drove in two runs.

Ben McCullars went 3-for-4 for the Bears with a run and two RBI. Justin Lacy also had three hits for Bevill State. Chris Waller went 2-for-2 with two RBI.

Grand Rapids advances to the national championship to take on Iowa Central at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. If Grand Rapids wins, the additional game will be played Friday at 7:30 p.m. Bevill State finished third.

May 27, 2003
Iowa Central edges past Bevill State in extra innings 4-3 in NJCAA II World Series winner’s bracket final

Millington, Tenn. - Iowa Central Community College (39-16) plated a run on a wild pitch in the top of the tenth inning and held on for a 4-3 victory over Bevill State - Fayette (37-24) in the winner’s bracket final in the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Tuesday evening.

Brett Iverson went the distance for the Tritons, picking up his seventh win of the season without a loss. He scattered eight hits and allowed three runs (two earned). Morrow Thomley took the loss for Bevill State, allowing one unearned run with no hits in three innings of relief.

Kris Wolfe led the Iowa Central offense with three hits, while Kyle Baran and Jim Pitt each recorded two. Justin Lacy had three hits for the Bears.

Iowa Central advances to the championship game Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Bevill State will play Grand Rapids at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday for a berth in the finals.

Grand Rapids continues hot hitting; ousts Parkland 10-2 in NJCAA II World Series

Millington, Tenn. - Grand Rapids Community College (40-17) scored in five of the seven innings in route to a 10-2 victory over Parkland College (50-14) in an elimination game in the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Tuesday afternoon. The game was shortened to seven innings because of the "eight runs after seven innings" run rule.

Kurt Lauscher tossed a complete game for the victory for Grand Rapids. He allowed only two unearned runs on five hits, while striking out four. Ransom Jones took the loss for Parkland.

Neall French led the offensive attack for the Raiders, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Tim Brown and Ryan Lyster each added two RBI for Grand Rapids. Tony Popov led the Cobras with two hits.

Grand Rapids will take on the loser of Iowa Central/Bevill State at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Parkland is eliminated.

May 26, 2003
Grand Rapids dominates Itawamba 9-1 in elimination game in NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Grand Rapids Community College (39-17) scored all they would need in the first inning and coasted to a 9-1 victory over Itawamba Community College (46-11) in an elimination game in the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Monday evening. The game was shortened to seven innings because of the "eight runs after seven innings" run rule.

Travis Doyle tossed a complete game for the victory for Grand Rapids. He allowed only one run on four hits, while striking out eleven. Sparky Smith took the loss for Itawamba.

Grand Rapids pounded out eight extra-base hits in the game, including three home runs. Six of their nine runs came off of those three homers. Kurtis Wells blasted the first home run of the game in the first scoring three runs. Kurt Lauscher notched a two-run homer, while Tim Brown lauched a solo shot.

Itawamba received one hit each from Reed Hawkins, Marshal Faulkner, Tim Dillard, and Brian Williamson.

Grand Rapids will take on Parkland at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. Itawamba is eliminated.

Parkland rallies to eliminate Mercer County 9-7 in NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Parkland College (50-13) scored five runs in the final two innings for a 9-7 come-from-behind win in an elimination game over Mercer County Community College (24-12) in the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Monday afternoon.

Reliever Ryan Sowers tossed two and one-third innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win. Beau Burris (5-4) took the loss for the Vikings.

Parkland got a hit from every spot in the lineup, led by number nine hitter Andy Wesley, who went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Bo Gum and Ben Trotter each recorded two hits for the Cobras. Ken Lup went 3-for-4 for the Vikings, while Trevor Tenaglia drove in three runs.

Parkland will take on the winner of Itawamba/Grand Rapids at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. Mercer County is eliminated.

May 25, 2003
Bevill State moves into winner’s bracket final with 6-2 win over Mercer County in NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Bevill State Community College (37-23) broke open a 2-2 tie with four runs in the fourth and shut down the Mercer County Community College (24-11) offense to claim a 6-2 win in a winner’s bracket game in the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Sunday evening.

John Harbin (7-1) tossed a complete game for the Bears, allowing only two first-inning unearned runs. He scattered seven hits and struck out three. Adam Shaffer took the loss for the Vikings.

Ben McCullars led the offensive attack for Bevill State going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Andrew Stout also had two hits for the Bears. Charlie Iacono, Ken Lup, and Tom Lagler each had two hits for Mercer County.

Bevill State will take on Iowa Central at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Mercer County plays Parkland at 3:00 p.m. Monday.

Iowa Central continues hot hitting, blasts Itawamba 10-1 in NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Iowa Central Community College (38-16) scored at least ten runs for the second consecutive game and trounced Itawamba Community College (46-10) 10-1 in a winner’s bracket game in the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Sunday afternoon. The game was shortened to seven innings because of the "eight after seven" run-rule.

Justin Sokol (8-1) pitched a complete game for the Tritons, allowing only four hits and one run. He struck out six batters and did not surrender a walk. Drew Jaudon (9-2) took the loss for Itawamba.

Jim Pitt led the Iowa Central offense, going 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBI. Pitt’s two hits included a double and a home run. Kyle Baran, Johnny Lukehart, and Seth Evans each recorded two hits for the Tritons. Kevin Caldwell and Bryan Williamson had two hits apiece to account for all of the offense for the Indians.

Iowa Central will take on the winner of Bevill State/Mercer County at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Itawamba plays Grand Rapids at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Grand Rapids takes out Glendale 8-7 in extra innings in NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Glendale Community College (31-31) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings but ran out of gas as Grand Rapids Community College (38-17) plated a run in the tenth for an 8-7 win. The loss eliminated Glendale from the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Sunday afternoon.

Ken Hunter earned up the citory in relief for Grand Rapids, tossing two scoreless innings. Jared Grainger suffered the loss for Glendale.

Justin McKenzie, who entered the game in the sixth inning, was the offensive hero for the Raiders with two solo homers in his final two at bats of the game in the eighth and tenth innings. Tim Brown also recorded two hits for Grand Rapids.

Chris Marini led the charge for Glendale, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Ron Smith, Brian Wilson, and Thomas Hills each picked up two hits for the Gauchos.

Grand Rapids advances to take on the loser of Itawamba/Iowa Central at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Glendale is eliminated.


Parkland eliminates Catonsville 10-9 in NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Parkland College (49-13) scored the winning run in their final at bat to knock out the Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville (29-16) in an elimination game in the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Sunday morning.

Michael Stitz picked up the win in relief for Parkland, tossing a hitless inning. David Gobeli (3-2) took the loss for Catonsville.

Parkland pounded out sixteen hits in the game, including six extra-base hits. Michael Coles, Jeff Darnall, and Kenyatta Davis, the heart of the Cobras line-up, went a combined 9-for-14 with five runs and four RBI. The trio each had three hits. Pat West drove in three runs for the winners.

Michael Cardwell led the offensive attack for the Cardinals with three hits and three RBI.

Parkland advances to take on the loser of Bevill State/Mercer County at 3:00 p.m. Monday. CCBC Catonsville is eliminated.

May 24, 2003
Mercer County wins slugfest over Grand Rapids in the first round of the NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Mercer County Community College (24-10) pounded out fifteen hits and scored twelve runs in route to a 12-8 win over Grand Rapids Community College (37-17) in the first round of the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn.

Mark Pienciak (5-1) picked up the win in relief for Mercer, giving up four runs and ten hits in two and two-thirds innings. Joe Farina threw one and a third inning of scoreless relief to pick up his first save of the season. Kurt Lauscher took the loss for Grand Rapids.

Mercer rapped out fifteen hits in the game, all of which were singles. Chris Freihaut, Joe Hernandez, Michael Roman, Bill Seiler, and Gene Darling each had two base hits for the Vikings.

Grand Rapids recorded seventeen hits on the night led by four from Ryan Lyster. Every starting player on both teams recorded a hit on the evening.

Mercer County advances to take Bevill State at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Grand Rapids will take on Glendale at 12:00 p.m. in an elimination game.

Bevill State gets past Glendale 6-5 for opening round win in NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Bevill State Community College (36-23) plated five runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to come from 3-1 down to claim a 6-5 victory over Glendale Community College (31-30) in the first round of the NJCAA II World Series in Millington, Tenn.

Travis Smith (5-2) picked up the win in an inning of relief for the Bears. He allowed one run on two hits. Morrow Thomley pitched two innings of scoreless relief to pick up his fourth save of the season. Chris Marini (6-5) took the loss for the Gauchos.

Justin Lacy led the offensive attack for Bevill State, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Thomley and Chris Waller each had two hits for Bevill State. Marini and Ben Dubin each recorded three hits for Glendale.

Bevill State advances to take on the winner of Mercer County/Grand Rapids at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Glendale will take on the loser of that game at 12:00 p.m. in an elimination game.

Iowa Central downs CCBC-Catonsville 11-2 in opening round of NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Iowa Central Community College (37-16) scored early and often as they knocked off the Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville (29-15) in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II World Series in Millington, Tenn. Saturday. The Tritons scored runs in the first, second, fifth, sixth, and ninth in route to a 11-2 victory.

Brett Jensen (11-0) tossed a complete game for the victory. He allowed only two runs on seven hits, while striking out five and walking four. Scott Koscielniak (5-2) took the loss for the Cardinals.

Jim Pitt led the offensive attack for the Tritions, going 3-for-5 with a single, double, triple, and a run scored. Kyle Baran also recorded three hits, while Seth Evans, Joe Anthonsen, Kris Wolfe, and Paul Anderson each had two hits for Iowa Central. Nick Pleyo had two hits for Catonsville.

Iowa Central advances to take on Itawamba at 3:00 p.m. Sunday. CCBC-Catonsville will take on Parkland College at 9:00 a.m. in an elimination game.

Itawamba takes out defending champion Parkland in opening game of NJCAA II World Series
Millington, Tenn. - Itawamba Community College (46-9) plated a run in the bottom of the tenth inning to defeat defending champion Parkland College (48-13) 3-2 to open the 2003 NJCAA Division II World Series in Millington, Tenn.

With one out in the bottom of the tenth, Kevin Caldwell reached on an infield single and advances to second on an overthrow by the shortstop. Two batters later, Marshal Faulkner singled to center to drive in Caldwell for the winning run.

Tim Dillard (11-0) earned the win with a 10-inning complete game. He scattered 11 hits and struck out 12 without walking a batter. David Smith took the loss for Parkland.

Caldwell led the offensive attack for Itawamba going 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Bryan Williamson recorded two hits for the Indians. Chris Malone led Parkland with three hits.

Itawamba advances to take on the winner of CCBC-Catonsville/Iowa Central at 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Parkland will take on the loser of that game at 9:00 a.m.

NJCAA Division II National Tournament kicks off in Millington

The National Junior College Division Two World Series begins on Saturday, May 24 at 9:00 a.m. at USA Stadium in Millington. Millington, which has hosted the tournament since its inception in 1993, will host the World Series for the 11th consecutive year. Eight teams from eight different states will compete in the double-elimination tournament, which lasts through next Thursday. The Championship game will be played Thursday night, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. If the team from the loser’s bracket wins, the additional game will be played on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s action begins at 9:00 a.m. with the defending champion
Parkland College (48-12) from Champaign, Ill., against the Itawamba Community College Indians (45-9) from Fulton, Miss. Parkland is in the World Series for the third straight time. This is Itawamba’s first appearance in the World Series.

Saturday’s 12:00 game pits the Iowa Central Tritons (36-16) from Fort Dodge, Iowa, against the Cardinals of the Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville (29-14) from Catonsville, Md. Iowa Central is making their sixth World Series appearance. They finished as runners-up in 1997 and 2000. CCBC-Catonsville is making their tournament debut.

At 3:00 p.m., the Glendale Community College Gauchos (31-29) from Glendale, Ariz., take on the Bears from Bevill State Community College – Fayette (35-23) from Fayette, Ala. Glendale is making their first tournament appearance. Bevill finished 5th in their only appearance in 2001.

The 7:30 p.m. game will be the Raiders of Grand Rapids (MI) Community College (37-16) against the Mercer County Community College Vikings (23-10) from Trenton, N.J. Grand Rapids is making their fifth appearance and boast an 11-4 record in the tournament. They won the championship in both 1996 and 1997. Mercer County’s best finish was 5th in 2000. This is their third tournament appearance.     

The tournament will continue Sunday through Thursday, May 30, with four games on Sunday as well.