The Chattanooga State Road Show has reached its ultimate destination. Now folks can see how it plays on Broadway — or at least the junior college baseball version of that: Grand Junction, Colo.
It may be no coincidence that the Tigers have gone further than ever in a season when they never got to play on their home field. Ongoing improvements being made to the facility at the Amnicola Highway campus allowed the team no games there in 2010.
The Tigers did get to practice some on their field, as well as on the nearby tennis courts and in the gymnasium. Some home games were switched to away games; others were played at area high schools and other colleges.
Now coach Greg Dennis has Chattanooga State for the first time at the NJCAA Division I World Series, where he played two years with McLennan Community College of Waco, Texas. With the former Notre Dame High School star starting at shortstop, McLennan finished third in 1982 and won the national championship in 1983. Dennis was a first-team All-American and a member of the all-tournament team in ’83.
“The town’s changed quite a bit. It’s grown up a lot, and there’s more to do,” he said Friday by cell phone. “It’s been fun. The town is very juco-crazy, I think even moreso now.
“It’s been real fun. We hope to bring back some more memories starting tomorrow.”
Dennis surpassed 600 wins for his 21-year career as a junior college head coach during this season, one in which his team became noted for rising above adversity. Last weekend to get to Grand Junction, the Tigers (37-14) lost 10-0 in the first game of a best-of-three district playoff at Gordon College and trailed by 8-2 in the second and 8-4 in the third before winning each 10-8.
“I think this group’s top asset is its mental toughness,” the coach said before leaving Chattanooga. “They’re very resilient. I think we’re a good, athletic team, and our mound guys are very competitive, but I can’t look at this team and say we’re way better than anybody. I just think we stay within ourselves and play the game the way we’re capable, and we’re very hard-nosed.
“I don’t think playing anywhere bothers this team, although this is above and beyond what we’re accustomed to. We’ve just got to go out there and get our feet under us and get ready for Saturday morning.”
The Tigers open the tournament at 9 a.m. Mountain time against Hutchinson (Kan.), which is 37-22. The loser will play San Jacinto (Texas) North or State College of Florida at noon EDT Sunday. The winner will play the other of those teams at 9:30 p.m. EDT Monday. The tournament could end as early as Thursday or as late as next Saturday.
The Chattanooga State contingent included a two-hour drive to Monument Park among its pre-tournament activities, but even before Friday night’s banquet Dennis said the Tigers were “chomping at the bit” to play.
* Michael Maxwell was the Tigers’ only first-team All-TCCAA player, and fellow freshman outfielder Gabe Herman made the second team. Third-teamers were Dylan Coleman, Isaac Davenport, Zack DeBord and Tyler Burstrom.
Cleveland State’s Cody Hooper was the conference player of the year and a first-teamer. The Cougars’ Gray Hutchinson, Trevor Burgess, Cody Ferrell, Ryan Casteel and Travis Tingle made the second team, and Lance Rorex was a third-team selection.