The South Mountain Community College Cougars made an impressive showing in their first Junior College World Series.  The Cougars finished the week in a tie for fourth in the nation after a 2-2 record in the ten-team tournament.  Three Cougars were named to the JUCO World Series All-Tournament Team for their efforts during the week.  Kala Ka’aihue (1B), Luis Nieblas (DH), and Josh Tarnow (DH) all finished the tournament with batting averages over .500.  Dustin Brader and CJ Retherford picked up victories on the mound for the Cougars.  Kala Ka’aihue led the tournament in home runs (4) and Luis Nieblas finished second in batting average.

South Mountain dropped the first game of the series to Texarkana College by the score of 8-7, despite having a 7-0 lead in the seventh inning.  The Cougars were led by Scott Mueller’s seven innings on the mound, giving up only three earned runs.  Luis Nieblas led the offensive attack with four hits, including two doubles.  In the second game of the series, the Cougars eliminated Northeast Oklahoma College by the score of 9-4.  Dustin Brader pitched seven innings, allowing only two earned runs to pick up his third playoff victory.  Offensively, Josh Tarnow drove in four runs on two hits and Luis Nieblas collected three more hits for the tournament.  Game three of the tournament featured a complete game victory on the mound for CJ Retherford in an elimination game against Hutchinson Community College.  Retherford gave up six earned runs and struck out seven batters over nine innings.  The Cougars won by the score of 11-8.  Anthony Franco had three hits and two runs batted in, while Kala Ka’aihue added three hits including a home run.  The Cougars were eliminated by Iowa Western College in their fourth game of the World Series.  South Mountain fell by the score of 13-12, despite having a 12-4 lead in the game.  During the game, the Cougars hit five home runs, two from Kala Ka’aihue and one each from Steven Pesqueira, Dan Colella, and Max Leon.  The team left Grand Junction, CO. in a tie for fourth place and a final season record of 48 wins and 20 losses.