MT. PLEASANT, TEXAS — San Jacinto College’s dreams of a repeat trip to the JUCO World Series were spoiled in a 5-4 loss to fourth-seed Wharton County Junior College in the fourth round of the Region XIV tournament at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.

San Jacinto College’s relief pitcher Spencer Cuniff pitched eight effective innings, allowing only one earned run in a 5-4 loss to Wharton Junior College in the 2008 Region XIV tournament.

San Jacinto College, last year’s Region XIV undefeated championship team, ended its 2008 season placing third in the tournament with losses to South Zone rivals Alvin Junior College and Wharton.

San Jac’s starting right-hand pitcher Jeb Galtney was shaky from the start, giving up four earned runs on four hits and two walks in the first inning. When Galtney opened the second by giving up a leadoff double, head coach Tom Arrington pulled him and brought in reliever Spencer Cuniff. Cuniff pitched eight effective innings, allowing one earned run, but Wharton’s early 4-1 lead put San Jac at a disadvantage against Wharton’s best pitcher Trey Ross. The crafty lefty seemed to mystify San Jac hitters with sinkers and sliders that had the batters swinging at bad pitches and taking good pitches.

“When Wharton got those four runs early, that sort of put us on our heels and forced us to play a defensive style of game and we just seemed to never be able to get back in the game,” Arrington commented.

Arrington was especially disappointed that the heart of the lineup could not come through with big hits in key situations. “When we had runners on base and had either no outs, or only one out, and had opportunities to score, the heart of the batting order just could not get the job done,” he noted.

Despite the loss and elimination from the tournament, Arrington said he is proud of the team’s accomplishments for the season, especially the way they finished as Region XIV South Zone champions and ranked sixth in the nation in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I poll.

“We worked very hard to get to this level and of course we wanted to advance to the national championship,” he commented. “These young men put in a lot of hard work and commitment and they gave it everything they had. I know we had a high-quality club, but unfortunately we fell a little short of our ultimate goal.”

San Jac finishes the season with a 44-14 overall record. All-Conference selections include Chris Corrigan (pitcher); Killian Kinart (catcher); Tanner Hines (infielder); Quentin Luquette (outfielder); Kris Miller (utility); Rick McGraw (designated hitter); and Arrington (Coach of the Year).  All-Region selections include Miller at outfield, Corrigan at pitcher, and Jeremy Barfield at outfield.

For more information about San Jac baseball, visit www.sanjac.edu/athletics.