Sleuthing Series — Baseball at JCCC

JCCC Archives presents the Sleuthing Series, where every Tuesday, we bring you an image from our past and ask you to help us find out more!

March 1974 team. Row 1: Eldon Fuel (Trainer), Sid Wise, Dick Kramer, Jeff Balter, Jon Portell, Brad Beard, and Gary Goebel. Row 2: John Dow, Rick Redmond, Bernard Hinson, Mark Balderson (Captain), Greg Dowell, Paul Provas, John Shearer. Row 3: Sonny Maynard (Coach), Bob Downs, Tim Blewitt, Gary Pickert, Tim Tiermey, Greg Perleth, Jim
Brunner, Doug Williams, and Jeff Simons (Asst. Coach).

What We Know

  • Athletics records show the first JCCC Baseball team was organized in the 1972-1973 academic year with R.T. “Sonny” Maynard as head coach and Sherman Jones as assistant coach.  The season ended with a 16-6 win-loss record.
  • All-Region honors went to Mark Balderson and Bob Downs in 1973, that first year.  The following year, these men won both All-District and All-American honors.
  • Some former Kansans turned professional.  In 1977, Gary Pickert went with the San Diego Padres.  In 1978, Allan Wilkinson went with the New York Mets; Lee Ice went with the KC Royals and Kirk Aadland went with the Chicago Cubs.  In 1980, Jesse Vann went with the New York Mets.  In 1981, Mike Sims went with the Philadelphia Phillies and Antonio Triplett went with the Texas Rangers.  In 1982, Octavio “Tabby” Rojas went with the Oakland “As.”
  • In 1984 the school mascot became the Cavaliers.
  • “JCCC’s field has even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated – The July 6, 1992 issue featuring former Major League umpire Steve Palermo.”  1997-98  Media Guide, JCCC.
  • Cavaliers Baseball thrives today: https://www.jcccathletics.com/sports/bsb/index

What We Don’t Know

What are your favorite memories of JCCC Kansans or Cavaliers

If You Know More…

Contact  librarians: Anita Gordon Gilmore (agordong@jccc.edu, ext. 4369) or John Russell (jrussell@jccc.edu, ext. 3284).  You may also comment below!

For More Information…

September 1974. Ariel view of campus shows the baseball field, upper left.
April 1973. Game with Longview, perhaps.
April 1974. Game thought to be with State Fair Community College, Sedalia, MO.
April 1981, Coach Sonny Maymard watches from the dugout.
Team picture, April 1984.  The Uniforms have the former name, but they are now Cavaliers.
Baseball action, May 1984.
Baseball action, March 1988.
Baseball action, April 1989
Jamie Borel closed out his career as the schools all-time season and career leader for stolen bases. He had 63 stolen bases in 1992 and 97 for his career (1991-92). – JCCC 2000 Media Guide.
“Pitcher Mike Simmons was signed to a minor league contract in the White Sox organization in 1995.” – JCCC 2000 Media Guide.
“Kevin Jones and Warre Strickland were all-conference outfielders in 1999.” – JCCC 2000 Media Guide.
2010 aerial view shows the baseball field in the same location. Dugouts and bleachers added around 1980.