2024 JUCO World Series: Team Preview

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – The 2024 Junior College World Series begins this Saturday in Grand Junction with four games taking place on Day 1 of the Tournament. Teams are starting to arrive so here is your 2024 JUCO World Series team preview.

Blinn College

The Buccaneers from Benham, Texas won the Mid-South District to reach their 2nd consecutive World Series. 2024 is Blinn’s 8th appearance in the World Series where they hold an all-time record of 14-13 in Grand Junction. The Bucs finished the regular season with a 42-16 record which saw them hit 80 homeruns to pair with 497 runs scored. Blinn arrives in Grand Junction with a red hot offense as they scored 36 runs in the final two games of the season. 1 player I have my eye on is Sophomore Infielder Tanner Reaves who posted a .343 batting average.

Georgia Highlands

Cartersville, Georgia is the home of the Chargers. Highlands won the Appalachian District to reach their 1st World Series in program history. The Chargers went 53-8 this season with 566 runs scored and 102 homeruns. Keep your eye on #44 Sophomore Pitcher/Infielder Barrett Eldridge who batted .437 with 24 homeruns and 84 RBI in the regular season.

Shelton State

The next team is the Buccaneers from Tuscaloosa, Alabama who punched their ticket by winning the South District. Shelton is making their 7th World Series appearance and their back in Grand Junction for the 2nd consecutive season. The Buccaneers will be seeking a better outcome in 2024 than they had in 2023 where they went 1-2. Shelton can most likely be categorized as a small ball team. They hit .331 as a team this season with 136 stolen bases.

Florence-Darlington Tech

The Stingers from Florence, South Carolina are your East District Champions. Tech is making their 3rd appearance in the World Series they last traveled to Grand Junction in 2021. The Stingers are still on the hunt for their first win on the Western Slope as they’ve gone a combined 0-4 in the previous appearances. The ball club posted as 51-10 record this season with 11 of those victories coming on a neutral site, something they will lean on during their time in Grand Junction. If Sophomore Outfielder Jay Douglas gets on base make sure your locked in on the base paths because he stole 44 bases for the Stingers this year.

Johnson County

The Cavaliers from Overland Park, Kansas are your Plains District Champions making their 4th appearance in the World Series and their back in Grand Junction for the 2nd consecutive season. The Cavs haven’t enjoyed much success on the Western Slope as the program has just 1 win in 3 previous appearances. The name of the game for Johnson County is extra base hits, walks, and stolen bases. The team has 229 extra base hits, 315 walks, and 137 stolen bases in 63 games this season.

Iowa Western

Next we have the Midwest District Champions from Council Bluffs, Iowa. The reivers are the most decorated program in this year’s field. The program is making their 20th trip to Grand Junction with 3 JUCO World Series title victories in the last 14 years. The reivers won the National Championship in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Iowa Western holds an all-time record of 36-34 in the World Series. The 2024 team went 54-8 with a team batting average of .370 coupled with 671 runs scored. In the school’s history they’ve seen 63 players get drafted with 11 making it to the big leagues.

Crowder College

The Roughriders from Neosho, Missouri are your South Central District representative. The school is making their 5th World Series trip the last of which came in 2022. The Roughriders are heading to Colorado on a hot streak as they finished the season on a 7 game win streak. When Redshirt Sophomore Joey Morton steps in the batters box don’t check your phone because the 1st basemen hit 15 homeruns to pair with a team high 88 RBI.

Northwest Florida State

Niceville, Florida is the home of the Raiders. Northwest won the South Atlantic District to reach their 2nd World Series. The last time the Raiders were in Grand Junction was 2015 when they went 5-1 in route to a National Championship. The team went 36-13 this season and closed with 5 straight wins. The Raiders lineup is extremely balanced with 5 different players finishing the regular season with 40+ RBI.

McLennan

The Highlanders from Waco, Texas are back in the World Series for the 9th time in program history after winning the Southwest District. McLennan’s last trip to Grand Junction was in 2022 but in 2021 the school won their 2nd National Championship in program history. This year’s team is well balanced with 6 different players driving in 30 or more runs during their 43-17 regular season. The Highlanders are also one of the most decorated schools in this years tournament with 99 drafted players and 12 Major Leaguers.

Southern Nevada

The 10th and final team is the Coyotes from Henderson, Nevada. Southern Nevada won the West District to punch their ticker to the 4th World Series in school history. The Coyotes haven’t been to Grand Junction since 2017 but they are 1 of 4 schools in the field that have won a National Championship. Southern Nevada won the World Series in 2003. The Coyotes went 51-10 in the regular season where they were led by a two headed monster. Freshman Infielder Brady Ballinger hit .434 with 58 RBI while Sophomore 1st/3rd Basemen hit .324 with 55 RBI.

The 2024 JUCO World Series bracket will be released Tuesday May 21st where we find out where all 10 teams are seeded. Play gets underway Saturday with the first pitch in game 1 starting at 9 A.M.

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