No. 2 Pearl River Walks it Off to Send Wildcats to World Series Semifinal

The second-seeded Pearl River Wildcats punched their ticket to the NJCAA Division II World Series Semifinal after converting a walk-off winner against in-state foe and No. 6 East Central.

Topher Jones prepared for the biggest at-bat of his collegiate career as he stepped up to the plate with the game tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch count, Jones chopped a ball down the right field line to score the winning run from first base, converting the RBI double and a monumental 7-6 win.

The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Caston Thompson batted an RBI single. However, the Warriors of East Central responded with a four-run second frame, causing Pearl River to change pitchers early. Max Miller took control and closed out the inning before striking out five batters in the third and fourth frames.

PRCC struck in the bottom of the fourth when Topher Jones hammered a two-run bomb to cut the Warrior lead to 4-3. Jackson Hood would later score Jaxon Milam on an RBI-single to tie the game at 4-4.

The two foes traded runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to lead to a 6-6 game leading into the ninth. After Carson Fair did his job pitching in the top of the frame, Jones stepped up and became the hero with his walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.

“That was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me,” Jones said. “I was nervous, but the person I always hear from the dugout is Max Miller. He told me he believed in me, and that’s all I needed – if these guys believe in me, then I believe in myself.”

The Wildcats are now in the semifinal and will face East Central once again for a spot in the NJCAA Championship game.

Author administrator Kellen Walker