A year after losing in the NJCAA Division II World Series final, Pear River Central baseball made the most of its second consecutive return to the title game.
The Wildcats (50-11) claimed the NJCAA Division II World Series championship after a 4-3 win in 11 innings over South Mountain College (52-18) on May 30 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma.
“They never quit. They always believed,” Pear River coach Michael Avalon said in a press release. “This was our goal on day one — to get back here. We didn’t know how it would work or how it would look, but they never stopped believing.”
The title is Pear River’s second overall and second national championship in five years.
Pearl River earned an at-large bid into the Division II World Series after losing in the Region 23 Tournament to Jones College, 13-0. The Wildcats went on to win every game in the World Series, going 4-0.
“I’m so thankful for this group, and I love them,” Avalon said. “I love this place. The fans are unbelievable. The guys never quit. We’re national champions, and that is so hard to do. Seeing this on their faces is worth every bit of it. Before they won, they were already champions.”
Ethan Garner delivered the walk-off hit after a fly ball to left field, which South Mountain outfielder Will Strand lost in the sun, allowing the ball to drop and Estes to score the winning run.
Right-handed pitcher Drew Harrison and Jackson Estes were given World Series All-Tournament team honors.
Harrison allowed two runs with a 1.50 ERA, 15 strikeouts and three walks in 12 innings pitched during the tournament. Estes went 7-for-15 at the plate with three home runs and five RBIs.
Jackson Beddoe earned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award after going 8-for-15 with five extra-base hits, six RBIs and scoring five runs.
Pearl River College softball wins NJCAA Division II title
In its first trip to the NJCAA Division II World Series, Pearl River Central softball also walked away with a championship.
The Wildcats (48-7) beat Des Moines Area College, 2-1, to claim the NJCAA Division II World Series title on May 25 at Brinkley Softball Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
A two-run sixth inning was enough to pull Pearl River Central ahead after Des Moines Area (60-12) scored one run in the first inning. Natalee Eaves’ two-RBI triple gave the Wildcats the program’s first title.
“That’s one of the toughest games that we’ve had all year,” Pearl River coach Christie Meeks said in a press release. “We had to battle through making adjustments throughout. The main thing that stands out is that they’ve been resilient. That’s through anything that they faced this year. They’ve proven people wrong.”
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X @MikeSChavez or Facebook at Michael Chavez.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pearl River Central wins NJCAA Division II World Series titles in baseball, softball