Following the Region 1 tournament championship, South Mountain CC earned the right to host the Western District Playoffs. The three teams competing for the right to go to the Junior College World Series were the host South Mountain, Dixie State College (2004 National Champions), and Lamar Community College (ranked #4 in the nation). The tournament was a double elimination format, taking place on Thursday and Friday.
South Mountain and Dixie State kicked off the tournament at 9:30am on Thursday morning. The Cougars sent freshman Scott Mueller to the mound for the opening game. Both Mueller and Chris Reap, for Dixie State, dominated the first seven innings of the game. These two offenses were using aluminum bats for the first time this year. In the top of the eighth inning, Mueller recorded the first out on a fly ball to left field, but the second hitter singled to left. The third hitter of the inning flew out to center field for the second out. This brought up the number 9 hitter for Dixie State, who hit a fly ball to right field, that was lost off the bat, and fell for an RBI double. With Dixie State leading 1-0, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Anthony Franco ripped a leadoff double down the left field line for South Mountain. After a pitching change for Dixie State, Dan Colella hit what turned out to be a game-winning two run home run for the Cougars. Scott Mueller allowed only four hits over 8 2/3 innings to pick up his tenth win of the year. Chad Whittle struck out the last hitter of the game to record his seventh save.
In the 12:30pm game on Thursday, Lamar Community College defeated Dixie State, eliminating Dixie from the Playoffs. At 3:30pm South mountain took on Lamar to see who would get the upper hand heading into Friday. South Mountain sent right-handed freshman Dustin Brader to the mound to take on Lamar. The Cougars jumped on top in the first inning on a solo home run from Dan Colella, but Lamar answered with a run of their own in the second inning. Both teams’ pitchers cruised through the next five innings without allowing a run. In the sixth inning, South Mountain led off with a single by CJ Retherford, a walk from Anthony Franco, and another single from Dan Colella. Kala Ka’aihue then hit a two-run double, followed by a two-run single from Max Leon, breaking open the score at 5-1. Lamar answered with an unearned run in the eighth inning, but the Cougars were able to get a run of their own in the ninth inning on a squeeze bunt from CJ Retherford, scoring Jesus Luna from third base. Dustin Brader pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record the win for the Cougars, 6-2. Brader pitched nine innings, striking out 11 batters, and giving up only 1 earned run.
South Mountain went into Friday’s game with the opportunity to win the Western District Tournament. Lamar still had to defeat the Cougars twice to win the tournament. South Mountain sent CJ Retherford to the mound against Lamar. After ending a bases loaded rally in the top of the first inning, CJ Retherford led off the bottom of the first by hitting the first pitch for a solo home run. South Mountain and Lamar traded runs for the first six innings of the game. With the score tied at 3-3, Retherford started the seventh inning with a double off the center field fence. Anthony Franco followed with an RBI double and then four straight singles from Dan Colella, Kala Ka’aihue, Max Leon, and Luis Nieblas. After seven innings of play, the Cougars held a 7-3 lead. Lamar was able to score an unearned run in the ninth inning, but CJ Retherford got the final hitter to pop out to Steven Pesqueira at second base, sending the Cougars to the Junior College World Series for the first time.