The best season in College of Central Florida history came to an end at the JUCO College World Series when the Pats came up short to Cowley College 10-7. This was the Pats second loss in the double elimination tournament and ends their season with a 47-17 record. The most wins in school history. Head Coach Marty Smith said "Getting to Grand junction is difficult. Winning in Grand junction is difficult. The teams that are left in this tournament can really, really play. The Pats left it all on the field. It just wasn't enough. A great year. We had a blast."
The Patriots' leadoff hitter Kevin Kilpatrick led off the top of the first inning with a home run to left field, his second game in a row with a lead-off home run. Then, after two were out Edrick Felix and John Marant hit back-to-back HRs to make it a 3-0 game. CF would get another run in the second inning when Victor Castillo's sac fly drove home Jackson Taylor who had walked. Pats starting pitcher James Hill shutout Cowley College over the first two innings, but things got dicey in the third inning. Two walks and three singles made it 4-3 Patriots after three innings. The Tigers bats stayed hot in the fourth inning as they went deep twice to give them a 6-4 lead and knock Hill out of the game. Connor Godwin relieved Hill and was able to subdue the Tigers for an inning when a Conner Gore RBI double upped the lead to 7-4. The Patriots would get right back into the game when they scored two runs on an error by the Tigers second baseman to make it 7-6. But these Tigers were tough as they once again pushed the lead back to three runs on a Bryce Madron two run two out triple to center field. The Patriots would score one run in the top of the eighth on a Landon Ginn sacrifice fly, but that would be it as the Tigers won 10-7. Godwin tossed 3.2 innings allowing three runs and striking out two. Avery Love, Ty Moody, and Parker Seay closed out the game for the Pats on the mound.
Leading the team at the plate in Grand Junction were; Kevin Kilpatrick (6-14, 2 HR, 6 RBI), Caleb Cali (5-12, HR, 2 RBI), Victor Castillo (5-10, HR, 2 RBI), Edrick Felix (2 HR, 4 RBI), and Carson Bayne (6-12, HR, 3 RBI).
The Patriots were obviously distraught to have the best season in Patriots history come to an end without a national championship, but proud of themselves for what they did accomplish. Winning the Mid-Florida Conference and NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Championship which hadn't been done by the Patriots in 24 years. Also having both the Region 8 Player of the Year, Caleb Cali and the Region 8 Pitcher of the Year, Ben Chestnutt.
This was a special team that broke many team and individual records this season:
TEAM RECORDS
WINS: 47
GAMES PLAYED: 64
HOME RUNS: 96
HITS: 701
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
HITS: Kevin Kilpatrick 100
DOUBLES: Caleb Cali 22*
HRs: Edrick Felix 19
RBI: Edrick Felix 81
WINS: Ben Chestnutt 11*
BAA: Landon Ginn .177