Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

8/23/07
Story by Tyler Cundith

Cavaliers to face Croatian Olympic National Team in exhibition play

OVERLAND PARK, KS --The Johnson County Community College baseball team announced that it will open the 2007 fall season with an exhibition game against the Croatian Olympic National Team at JCCC’s Baseball Stadium, Thursday, August 30 at 2:10 p.m.  Team introductions and a gift exchange will begin at 1:40 p.m.

In addition to facing the Cavaliers, the Croatian National Team also has exhibition games scheduled with college teams in the area, including the University of Kansas, St. Mary College, Baker University and Kansas City Kansas Community College.  Following its exhibition tour, Team Croatia will head for the European Baseball Championships, Sept. 15-16 in Barcelona Spain, and will look to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 33-20 campaign and a third-place finish in the East Jayhawk Conference.  They are led by NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Kent Shelley, who enters his 21st season at the helm.  

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the coaches and players to get to play against international competition.”  said Shelley.  “Anytime you can spread goodwill with the game, it provides a wonderful experience for all the participants.”

Shelley, who also serves as President of the American Baseball Coaches Association, has experience coaching teams against international competition.  In the summer of 1994, Shelley served as head coach for Team USA, a select NJCAA team from the United States that played host to a select team from Japan.  In 1990, Shelley served as an assistant coach on the first NJCAA team to participate in international competition.  The USA All-Stars from the NJCAA competed in the Friendship Games in Las Tunas, Cuba.  

The Cavaliers return 10 players from last year’s squad, among them infielder Jeremy Francis of Emporia, Kan.  Francis was one of the team’s top hitters last year, batting 361 (61-for-169) with 13 doubles, two triples and home run, 28 RBI and 53 runs scored.  He was third on the team in hits, and led the squad in runs scored.