Coyotes have return to Grand Junction on their minds

After having the two best seasons in program history in back-to-back years, the Weatherford College Coyotes enter the 2025 season primed for another run at the NJCAA World Series. 

In 2023, the Coyotes made their first ever trip to Grand Junction, Colorado, finishing third in the nation with a 53-11 record. Last season, while they came up short in returning to the World Series, they posted a 45-15 record, the second best in the program's history. 

And with a host of returning talent, hopes are high for another run at glory, including a third consecutive Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference championship. 

Key returners for the Coyotes are: 

• Shortstop Uriah Walters, .363 batting average, .486 on-base percentage, first team all-conference. 

• Third baseman Trace Mazon, led team in doubles (21) and runs batted in (65), along with collecting 64 hits, scoring 51 runs, 96 total bases, 25 extra-base hits and getting hit by a pitch eight times, second team all-conference. 

• Second baseman JC Davis. 

• Outfielder Tyler Moody. 

• Right-handed pitcher Evan Brandt, 8-2, team-leading two complete games, team-best 74.2 innings, 64 strikeouts. 

• Right-handed pitcher Logan Simmons, 11.53 strikeouts per nine innings. 

• Right-handed pitcher Davin Ronquist. 

"Our guys walk around like champions," said head coach Jeff Lightfoot. "It's in the weight room, it's in the clubhouse, it's in the air over here. We expect to win." 

And, as always, the recruiting class is solid. 

"It's a talent group of freshmen," he said, referring to the likes of outfielder Cayden Byrd, left-handed pitcher Trent Collier, first baseman Brittan Urbaniak and right-handed pitcher A.J. Miera. 

Lightfoot cited the program's long history of success as being a drawing card for recruits. Being the only coach in the program's modern history and entering his 22nd season at the helm, his teams have won three conference championships, along with sending more than 150 players on to play at a higher level program, with 36 reaching the professional ranks and four getting to the major leagues. 

Of his 864 career victories, Lightfoot has amassed 721 leading the Coyotes. Prior to coming to WC he led Eastfield College in Mesquite to the 2001 NJCAA Division III national championship. 

"Everything that we do has an impact on recruiting. Certainly our continued success is attractive. Everyone wants to be a part of a winner," Lightfoot said. "If you combine our facilities, town and winning tradition it's tough for a recruit looking for a JUCO to go anywhere else." 

The preseason coaches poll from the NTJCAC has the Coyotes picked second behind McLennan, with Grayson picked third, followed by Temple, Cisco, Hill, Ranger, Vernon and North Central Texas College. 

McLennan enters the season ranked No. 2 in the nation after having reached the World Series in 2024, with the Coyotes ranked No. 11.  

The Coyotes compete in Region V, considered by most - including Lightfoot - to be the toughest junior college baseball region in the United States. Lightfoot stressed one of the reasons the region is so respected is programs such as his. 

"Our roster is good enough to compete for another conference title," he said. "The winner of our conference will be a national contender. Region V is one of the top regions in the nation once again."