WILBURTON, Oklahoma – For the first time in 24 years, the Eastern Oklahoma State College baseball team is headed to the NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series.

The Mountaineers clinched the South Central District Championship with a 6-3 victory over Mineral Area College on May 16, capping a best-of-three series that showcased the team’s resilience and offensive firepower. The win sends Eastern to the prestigious national tournament in Grand Junction, Colorado, marking the program’s second-ever appearance and its first since 2001.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these guys,” Head Coach Dru Sebastian said. “They’ve battled all season long, and to punch our ticket to the Grand Junction is a dream come true for this group. It’s been a long time coming for Eastern.”

After dropping the opening game of the series 5-3 on Thursday afternoon, Eastern responded later that evening with a thrilling 8-6 win, sparked by a seven-run sixth inning. Sophomore catcher Kahne Nolen drove in two runs, while first baseman Ruben Venter collected three hits and two RBIs. Joe Victery added a solo home run, and Grayson Connell earned the win in relief with 3.2 innings of solid work to close the door on Mineral Area’s comeback attempt.

In the deciding game on Friday, Eastern jumped out early and never looked back. Venter set the tone with a crucial three-run homer in the first inning. Shortstop Jack Runsick led the offense, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs. Diego Rodriguez earned the win in relief with 3.1 scoreless innings. Venter also made the game-winning 3-6 double play to punch the Mountaineers’ ticket to the World Series.

“Being able to win district with this team means everything to me,” Venter said. “The adversity this group has gone through and being able to lean on each other in tough moments is everything. Making key plays on both sides of the ball is something I’ve visualized throughout the course of the season and I’m glad I could come through for the guys. From setting the tone of the game with the home run, to ending the game with the double play, there’s no better feeling than getting the win to go to Junction.”

The Mountaineers finish the district tournament with a 31-25 record, riding a wave of momentum into the JUCO World Series. The 2025 squad has captured the imagination of the college and local community, rekindling a proud tradition of Mountaineer baseball.

“Our entire athletic department, campus, and community are incredibly proud of Coach Sebastian and the team for their postseason success,” said Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach Kendra Whisenhunt. “They’ve overcome numerous challenges and demonstrated remarkable unity and resilience throughout the season. We are excited to see our baseball program headed to the NJCAA World Series for the first time since 2001 and we can’t wait to cheer for them in Grand Junction.”

Eastern earned the No. 10 seed in the tournament and will now prepare for its first-round matchup with No. 1 seeded Walters State Community College on Saturday, May 24, at 1 p.m. CDT. All tournament games can be streamed on ESPN+.