Iowa Western’s walk-off home run sends CSN home for season

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- It was a moment Gabe Weidenaar expected to remember for years. It was about the most dramatic home run he could have imagined.

Weidenaar's three-run shot in the top of the ninth inning appeared to be a game winner for the College of Southern Nevada on Thursday.

"That situation is what you dream about," he said. "It's pretty special to be able to do that for my team."

Moments later, the Coyotes were stunned and eliminated from the Junior College World Series, after Brent Seifert's two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth lifted Iowa Western to a 9-8 victory at Suplizio Field.

While witnessing a wild celebration on the other side of the field, Weidenaar said, "I still don't believe it. It's like a (expletive) nightmare."

With star slugger Bryce Harper suspended and sitting in a hotel room, CSN (52-16) saw its national championship dreams die in the most painful way.

"I hate for it to end that way for him, and I hate for it to end that way for us," Coyotes coach Tim Chambers said.

CSN was one pitch from ending a come-from-behind win. After left fielder Marvin Campbell dropped a fly ball that he lost in the sun, Tanner Moore doubled in a run to pull the Reivers within 8-7 with two outs.

Chambers pulled Joe Robinson, who allowed three hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief, and called in right-handed closer Aaron Kurcz.

The count was 2-0 when Kurcz threw a fastball that the right-handed hitting Seifert drove to center, and the wind carried the ball just over the wall 400 feet away. Kurcz slowly walked off the mound as Seifert rounded the bases and was mobbed by teammates.

"I was looking for a hit to tie it up, and it went over the fence," Seifert said. "It's the first time I've had a walk-off home run."

The Coyotes, who trailed 6-3 after seven innings, got a two-run homer from Daniel Higa in the eighth, then went ahead in the ninth. Tomo Delp led off with a single, and Scott Dysinger followed with a bunt hit, bringing up Weidenaar.

"(Chambers) asked me if I wanted to lay down a (sacrifice) bunt or swing it," said Weidenaar, who chose to swing away against Iowa Western right-hander Scot Donner.

Weidenaar pulled Donner's 1-1 pitch into the parking lot behind the right-field wall, and the Coyotes had an 8-6 lead.

Robinson, deemed "fantastic" in relief by Chambers, had two strikes on Moore before allowing a double, and Chambers switched to Kurcz.

The Coyotes, seeking their first World Series title since 2003, finished 3-2 and in fourth place in the double-elimination tournament.

"You can second-guess everything. But I managed the game the way I thought I should. It didn't work out," Chambers said. "We had an opportunity to win.

"The bottom line is you can't take away from what these kids accomplished with a lot of attention and pressure on them. I felt like they accomplished a ton. I'm proud of them. But I wanted this thing to go for a little longer."

Chambers started sophomore left-hander Bryan Harper on two days' rest, and he struggled while allowing four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. His younger brother, Bryce, was controversially ejected from Wednesday night's loss -- and suspended for two games -- for disputing a called third strike.

"I'm sure that Bryan had his brother on his mind," Chambers said. "He was up late last night. Everybody was hanging out with Bryce and consoling him, trying to keep his spirits up."

Bryan Harper, who said he "thought it was over" after Weidenaar's homer, indicated emotions and fatigue affected him.

"We had a really intense game (Wednesday) night. I tried to go home and get some sleep. I was thinking about Bryce. I love the kid to death," Bryan Harper said.

"I was trying to put everything on my shoulders, and it took a toll on me a little bit. I thought I could come out and do it, and I gave it everything I got. It looked like it was going to work out. It ended the wrong way."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.