In the past few years Iowa Western has been the face of the NJCAA D1 World Series, winning it all last year. Coming into the 2015 tournament the Reivers are the #1 team and defending champions. Every team placing a target on Iowa Western’s back to beat them twice and knock them out of the tournament. Saying that is one thing actually doing it is another. The first team facing the Reivers in the 2015 tournament the USC-Sumter Fire Ants, newcomers to the NJCAA D1 World Series.
Iowa Western Head Coach Mark Rardin the seasoned veteran to the tournament taking on the rookies to the tournament. If the rookies, USC-Sumter, were going to knock of the Reivers they needed a stellar clean performance on the field. Unfortunately the top dog Reivers got out to an 8-0 lead scoring in all, but three innings of the game. Winning just as they did when they left the tournament last year swinging the bats well and shutting down the opposition on defense.
Iowa Western in a comfortable game and an 8-0 lead their pitcher Devon Perez threw a lights out game. Perez went seven full innings with two walks and seven strikeouts on the mound for the Reivers. Iowa Western and their dominant performance face North West Florida State in the next round up in the winners bracket. For USC-Sumter they drop into the loser bracket and take on Dodge City in the second elimination game.
Click here to view the JUCO World Series photo gallery.