At the conclusion of the 2020-2021 regular season, Western Oklahoma State College entered into the NJCAA Division II Plains District Tournament at 6th in the nation. After a loss during their second game against UA Rich Mountain, the Pioneers won five straight games to come through the loser's bracket and win the title of Plains District Champions.
Juan Pimentel earned the victory in the championships game over UA Rich Mountain allowing only four hits and one run over nine innings, striking out nine. With this win, the Pioneers will advance to their 8th NJCAA Division II World Series, which will be held at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma from May 29- June 5. The Pioneers enter the competition as the 3rd seed and will face Kirkwood Community College on Saturday, May 29th at 1 P.M.
Following the championship game, several Pioneers were recognized for their talent on the field. Juan Pimentel was named the NJCAA DII Region 2 Player of the Year and Coach Kurt Russell was named the NJCAA DII Region 2 Coach of the Year. Jhonny Felix, Jose Torrealba, and Jose Vargas were selected for the NJCAA DII Region 2 All-Conference team. Jhonny Felix, Juan Pimentel, Rodrigo Montenegro, and John Urena were selected for the NJCAA DII Plains District All-Tournament team.
"This is a special team. Not only are they extremely talented but they have a ton of heart and play for each other and not themselves. Coach Russell and his staff have done an amazing job preparing them for this moment and we are excited to watch them shine on the national stage," stated Dr. Chad Wiginton, Western president.
