(Photo by: Jasmine Mills)

Led by head coach Eric Horner, the Johnson County Community College Cavalier baseball team had a tremendous amount of success this season, finishing the 2026 regular season with an unprecedented 38-game winning streak. Currently, your Cavaliers are the No. 1-ranked team in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Since losing to Iowa Western Community 11-1 on Feb. 27 in game two of a doubleheader, the Cavaliers have not lost another game.

During the course of the regular season, the team had a tremendous amount of both on-field and off-the-field success. The Cavaliers’ accomplishments this year have been driven by both a dynamic pitching staff and a powerful offense that, together, have powered the Cavaliers to achieve a 54-2 record this season. They also broke the record for the most regular-season wins in program history, surpassing the record of 50 wins set in 2014, Going undefeated in the Kansas Jayhawk conference play as well led the Cavaliers to capture the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference regular season title for the fourth straight year. These victories were driven by the players stepping up to the challenge and pushing themselves, and coaches having a vision to win and succeed. Reflecting on the team’s success this season and how they have been able to maintain it, Assistant Coach Jacob VanVacter had this to say.

“I think a lot of the success we’re having is just [from] coming to practice every day, working hard and kind of taking the day that’s happening super seriously and not worrying about what’s in front of you. Obviously, our offense has been really good. We’ve set a ton of records. One through nine, there’s not a weak spot. And then on the pitching side as well, we’ve got 10 to 12 arms that can do a lot of good things on the mound and get a lot of outs,” Vanvacter said.

VanVacter’s statements highlight that the Cavaliers’ achievements are not due to an individual player or position group. The entire roster, top to bottom, has been instrumental in the success of the season.

VanVacter emphasized the work ethic of the team, being able to put the past in the past and focusing on the current day.

The Cavaliers’ pitching staff has been another instrumental factor in the team’s achievements this season.  As a group and individually, the pitching staff has had quite an impressive regular season. On the individual side, freshman pitcher Ashton Nance was named Kansas Jayhawk Conference Pitcher of the week for week 12, while also leading the team in starting pitcher-earned run average at 2.75, and innings pitched at 59 pitched so far. With the success of the pitching staff, VanVacter reflected on what he viewed as the key to their victories and motivation.

“I think a lot of the motivation has come with competing with one another, competing with their teammates to try to break records,” VanVactor said. “Specifically on the pitching side, Liam Roche has 93 Ks, which is on pace to break 100 today.”

Having a healthy competition among teammates is a common theme among teams and programs that have a winning culture, as with the coach. This only further helps Johnson County, as having a strong pitching unit is one part of the team’s success. Another important aspect is having a strong offense and explosive players in the batting lineup.

The Cavaliers’ offense has been dynamic, explosive, and quick all season long, which has contributed immensely to the team’s accomplishments this season. JCCC’s offense as a whole leads the NJCAA  in Home runs with 176 hits and slugging percentage.

With the team leading the country in home runs, several Cavaliers have hit 20-plus home runs so far this season. Sophomore third baseman Logan Groh (#19) and infielder Briggs Roe have hit 20-plus. Freshman Ryan Bradford, along with sophomore outfielder Collin Coonradt, have each hit thirty-plus home runs.

Cavaliers third baseman Logan Groh offered some insight as to what has driven the offense’s success this season.

“Well, a lot of guys hit every single day,” Groh said. “So I think practice makes us better. And then, actually, our pitchers [too], since they’re pretty good. We actually face the pitchers. So I think that would make us better too, just facing our own guys.”

In essence, the keys to the team’s success this season have been a tremendous amount of talent, grit and competition on behalf of the pitching staff and position players. Lastly, strong leadership from Horner, who just won his 300th career game as head coach, and VanVacter has pushed players to reach a new level of accomplishment.