The Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute baseball team defeated Surry Community College 11-10 to win the National Junior College Athletic Association Division-Three Region 10/Mid-Atlantic District Championship Sunday at Burlington Athletic Stadium in Burlington.
Caldwell, ranked fifth in the latest NJCAA D-3 Baseball poll, earned the program’s second Region 10 and Mid-Atlantic District Championship. The Cobras will advance to the D-3 World Series in Johnson City, TN, May 23-27.
Caldwell fell to Surry in their opening round of the double elimination tournament on Friday by a score of 10-9. The Cobras battled back through the consolation bracket, winning four games in two days.
On Saturday, Caldwell held off a late rally by Rockingham Community College to win 11-9. In the night cap, the Cobras eliminated Camp Community College 18-2.
Having to defeat Surry twice on Sunday to win the championship, Caldwell used a 10-run seventh inning to overwhelm the Knights 14-4 and set up the winner-take-all championship game.
Trailing 10-8 entering the bottom of the ninth, Caldwell tied the game on back-to-back bases loaded walks. The winning run was scored by pinch runner Cullen Pruett on a pass ball, giving Caldwell a 11-10 victory.
Nathan Pope