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Win or Go Home: JCCC’s Postseason Path Narrows After Upset

The photo captures a moment during a baseball game, focused tightly on home plate just before a pitch or swing. In the foreground, a right-handed batter wearing a white uniform with navy and gold accents is set in his stance. He has a dark helmet on, his bat lifted over his shoulder, and his eyes locked forward, suggesting he’s tracking the incoming pitch. His posture is coiled and ready, showing concentration and anticipation. Behind him, a catcher in bright orange and gray gear is crouched low, glove extended toward the plate, prepared to receive the ball. Just behind the catcher, the umpire, dressed in black protective gear, leans forward attentively to judge the pitch. The field is a modern artificial turf stadium with dark brown base paths and bright green grass. A chain-link fence and bleachers are visible in the background, along with a few players and spectators, and leafless trees suggest the game is taking place in early spring. Overall, the image conveys tension and focus at a critical moment in the game—seconds before the pitch crosses the plate.
Ryan Bradford steps into the box, locked in and ready to swing as the pitch comes home.

Pitching

Win: Lucas Weaver (1-1)
Loss: Lance Alexander (1-3)
Save: Hudson Roberts (1)

Batting

Cowley County Community College
2B: Drake Fittro; Easton Green 2; Hudson Roberts; Jace Patton
3B: none
HR: Jace Patton; Quinn Groebl
Johnson County Community College
2B: Ryan Bradford; Jack Jones
3B: none
HR: Ryan Bradford
full stats
Posted: May 15, 2026

WICHITA, Kan. — For 41 games, top-seeded Johnson County Community College had been untouchable. Thursday night, that magic ran out.

No. 5 seed Cowley County stunned the Cavaliers 11-5 in the second round of the Region 6 Tournament at Eck Stadium, snapping JCCC's program-record 41-game winning streak and sending the nation's No. 1 seed into the loser's bracket.

JCCC (57-3) looked poised early to extend the run. The Cavaliers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning and added another run in the third behind a solo home run from Ryan Bradford, who finished with two hits and three runs scored.

But Cowley never flinched.

The Tigers chipped away with a pair of runs to tie the game, then flipped the script in the middle innings. A three-run surge and continued pressure at the plate helped erase JCCC's early control before the floodgates opened late.

Cowley racked up 13 hits and drew five walks, using patience and timely power to pull away. Jace Patton delivered the biggest blow with a home run and three RBIs, while Easton Green matched him with three RBIs of his own.

The decisive stretch came after JCCC briefly tied the game at 5-5. Cowley answered immediately, scoring six unanswered runs over the final innings to put the game out of reach.

On the mound, JCCC struggled to slow Cowley's momentum. Starter Ashton Nance allowed five runs, while the bullpen couldn't contain the Tigers down the stretch as Cowley piled up 11 total runs.

Meanwhile, Cowley's bullpen settled in after a shaky start. Reliever Lucas Weaver earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings, helping shut down a JCCC offense that had dominated opponents all season.

For a team that hadn't lost in nearly two months, the defeat was a jolt — and a reminder of how unforgiving postseason baseball can be.

Now, the path to a championship has become dramatically tougher.

The Cavaliers drop into the loser's bracket where every game is an elimination game moving forward. Their postseason continues Friday at 1 p.m. against No. 2 seed Cloud County.

With a win, JCCC would turn right back around to play again Friday night at 7 p.m. in another must-win contest. A loss at any point ends the season.

For a team that spent weeks rewriting the record books, the mission is suddenly simple: survive and keep playing.

The streak is over. The margin for error is gone.

And the road to a championship now runs the hard way.

Note: Bradford's home run was the 189th of the season for the Cavaliers, setting a new college baseball record for a season. The previous record was 188, set by the LSU Tigers in 1997.