Indians open NJCAA Region 23 play on Thursday

The Itawamba Community College baseball team will hit the road for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 Tournament Wednesday morning to make the nearly ten-hour journey to Eunice, Louisiana

"It's going to be a long trip to Eunice, but these guys are ready to get back to playing baseball," said ICC head coach Rick Collier. "Hopefully last week helped make the guys hungry again and refocused on playing the kind of baseball we know we can play."

The No. 7 Indians (38-11) will open the tournament against No. 20 and state champion Hinds Community College Eagles (33-16) at 3:00 p.m. Thursday in the double-elimination tournament that well feature three of the nation's Top 20 teams.

"It's going to be a tough tournament," said Collier. "You don't get to this part of the season by accident and last week's tournament proved you've got to be ready to play each time you step on the field."

The second game of the opening day will feature host and the top-ranked LSU-Eunice (49-4) taking on Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (29-18) at 7:00 p.m.

The losers from Game 1 and Game 2 will square off in an elimination game at 3:00 p.m. on Friday with the winners advancing to the 7:00 semifinal game. The winner from the elimination game will take on the semifinal game loser at 3:00 Saturday with the winner advancing to the 7:00 championship game. If necessary, the second championship game is scheduled for 1:00 Sunday.

The winner of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament will advance to the NJCAA D-II National Championship Tournament to be held May 26 through June 2 in Enid, Oklahoma.