Iowa Central Run Ends in Semifinals at NJCAA World Series
ENID, Okla. — Iowa Central made the journey to Oklahoma last week to compete at the 2026 NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series. The Tritons put together a strong performance, reaching the semifinals before falling.
After winning the Region 11 Championship and North Plains District Championship, the Tritons were tagged as the No. 7 seed.
In the opening round, Iowa Central faced No. 10 Monroe (N.Y.). The Tritons took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with a double from Will Specht that scored Ben Jones and Parker Studtmann. With the game tied 8-8 in the 10th inning, the Tritons fell 16-9 after an explosive inning from Monroe.
In the elimination round, Iowa Central was not ready to end its tournament, taking on No. 6 Jones (Miss.). The Tritons handled business, with Carter Giesen pitching eight innings and striking out six while giving up one earned run. On the offensive end, George McIntyre hit a home run for two RBIs, while Wyatt Myers went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs, with both of his hits going for doubles.
After surviving the first elimination game, Iowa Central faced No. 11 Frederick (Md.). The start could not have been much better, as the Tritons scored three runs through the first two innings on three home runs, with Sawyer Stein hitting one in each of his first two at-bats.
Stein proved to be the hero for the Tritons late as well. Stepping to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied 4-4, Stein singled to allow Mitch Seykora to score the game-winning run.
With a spot in the semifinals on the line, Iowa Central took down No. 3 Madison (Wis.) in a 15-6 win. Through the first three innings, Iowa Central went on a 10-0 run to put the WolfPack in danger of an early finish. It was a complete performance for the Tritons, with Studtmann and Jones each driving in four runs. Tate Perrin notably went 5-for-6 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in two.
With a spot in the World Series final on the line, Iowa Central faced No. 2 Pearl River (Miss.). Unlike its previous games, it was a slow start for the Tritons, who did not score until the fifth inning, when two home runs led to four runs. At the end of the game, it was the Wildcats who moved on, handing the Tritons a 14-4 loss.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Stein and McIntyre were both named to the all-tournament team after playing major roles in the Tritons' World Series run.
Despite falling in the semifinals, Iowa Central wrapped up a spectacular season with a 53-12 overall record, winning the Region 11 and North Plains District championships. The Tritons reached the semifinals for the second consecutive year at the World Series, demonstrating that they belong on the national stage.
Iowa Central:
First Round: #10 Monroe (N.Y.) def. #7 Iowa Central, 16-9 - Box Score
Elimination Round: #7 Iowa Central def. #6 Jones (Miss.), 7-1 - Box Score
Elimination Round: #7 Iowa Central def. #11 Frederick (Md.) 5-4 - Box Score
Elimination Round: #7 Iowa Central def. #3 Madison (Wisc.), 15-6 - Box Score
Semifinals: #2 Pearl River (Miss.) def. #7 Iowa Central, 14-4 - Box Score