This spring, the Johnson County Community College (JCCC) Cavaliers baseball team delivered one of the most remarkable seasons in program history. Entering postseason play as the nation’s top-ranked team, the Cavs paired their record-breaking season with the program’s first national championship win at the NJCAA Division I Junior College World Series from May 23—30.
A record-breaking regular season
JCCC baseball finished its season with a 54-2 record and a perfect 32-0 mark in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) East Division play—an achievement accomplished only once before in conference history. The Cavaliers also set a new record with 204 home runs during the regular season, more than any college baseball team at any level has recorded in a single season.
Throughout the spring, the team led the nation in multiple key offensive categories, including runs, hits, runs batted in, and total bases. Individually, several Cavaliers emerged as national standouts. Freshman Ryan Bradford broke the NJCAA single-season home run record with 41 home runs, while also ranking among national leaders in hits and RBIs. More than 20 of the current team members plan to play for Division I schools in the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and AAC next year.
Road to the World Series
After securing the top seed in the Plains District Tournament championship, the Cavaliers entered the postseason on a 41-game winning streak. After several tournament wins, the Cavaliers were upset by Cowley County Community College. The Cavaliers battled through a challenging elimination bracket to advance to the series stage.
By the time the team arrived at the JUCO World Series, they compiled a 62-3 overall record and entered the tournament for the national title as the No. 1 overall seed. This was the team’s fourth consecutive trip to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
JCCC’s series highlights
In the opening game, the JCCC Cavaliers delivered a statement victory, defeating Harford Community College 19-2behind a powerful offensive performance. The team continued to build momentum with a 12-7 win over Walters State.
In the next round, the Cavaliers dominated Miami Dade 19-1. The Cavaliers then advanced to the title game after one of the most dramatic wins in program history. Trailing 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning, sophomore outfielder Ashton Hartwig launched a walk-off three-run home run to lift the Cavaliers to a thrilling 10-9 victory over Midland College and keep JCCC unbeaten at the JUCO World Series.
The Cavaliers concluded this memorable season by defeating Blinn College 8-5 to capture their first World Series championship in program history. The team finished their record-setting 2026 campaign with a staggering 219 home runs, which included 15 across five games at the JUCO World Series.
History made
Recently, ESPN baseball analyst Jeff Passan sat down with Coach Horner and players from the JCCC baseball team to discuss the season and program success.
This incredible season and first program JUCO World Series win reflect more than two decades of excellence under JCCC’s baseball head coach Eric Horner.
“I don’t think the words ‘National Champion’ have sunk in quite yet,” Horner said in an interview with The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. “This is what it’s all about. This is what the kids’ goals are; this is what everybody’s goals are. We have Grand Junction on a big poster in our locker room. I’ve got Grand Junction in my office. This is what you play for, and to actually be the last one standing … this group is special, and this group’s going to go down in the history books.”
While JCCC has reached the World Series multiple times in recent years, the 2026 team stands apart for its historic achievements and offensive firepower. From a record-setting regular season to a national championship win, the Cavaliers have elevated expectations for the program and solidified their place among the elite teams in junior college baseball.
