land of the giants

Jones County Junior College plays its first-ever NJCAA Division II World Series game today at approximately 3:55 p.m. It’s the third of four games set for today in Enid, Okla., where 10 teams will battle for the national title in a true double-elimination tournament. Jones, which won the MACJC and Region 23 titles, is very good. The Bobcats are ranked sixth with a 46-16 record. They’ve got a great pitching staff, with three 10-game winners and a collective ERA of 2.79. Zach Allen leads their attack with a .364 average, and Vito Perna (.358), Darion Hamilton (41 RBIs), Ryan Roberts (team-best six homers) and Chase Headrick also can rake. But it wouldn’t be a shock to see JCJC go out in two games. The field in Enid is loaded. JCJC opens with Des Moines Area, which is ranked fourth with a 46-16 record and features four sluggers with six or more home runs, including 17-homer man Gabby De Verona. The top seven teams in the NJCAA poll are there, and they didn’t just hop into those spots. Five of the seven were ranked in the top eight before last week’s regionals. No. 1 Heartland (Ill.) is 53-9. If Jones wins today, that’s probably its next opponent. Oh brother.