Sharks' Season Comes to a Close at JUCO World Series

Grand Junction, CO - Miami Dade College's remarkable 2026 campaign came to an end Thursday afternoon as the Sharks fell to Blinn College, 12-2, in an elimination game at the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series.

The loss closes the book on one of the most successful seasons in recent history and marks the latest chapter in the continued rise of Miami Dade under Head Coach Lazaro Llanes, who has led the Sharks to sustained success throughout his first three seasons.

Miami Dade finished with a 39-20-1 record while capturing the FCSAA Division I Baseball Championship advancing to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction for the first time since 2021.

The Sharks struck first in the second inning when William Polanco scored on a Blinn defensive miscue to give Miami Dade an early 1-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as Blinn answered with a five-run bottom half highlighted by a three-run double from Hunter Smolinski.

Miami Dade cut into the deficit in the fourth inning when Polanco delivered an RBI single to center field, scoring Jendy Gonzalez and trimming the score to 5-2. That would be as close as the Sharks would get.

Blinn pulled away with five runs in the fifth inning and added two more in the sixth, including a two-run home run by Ryley Leininger, to secure the run-rule victory.

Polanco paced the Sharks offensively, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Gonzalez added a double and crossed the plate once, while Miguel Colmenares and Israel Garcia each contributed hits.

Xavier Pelzer suffered the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, across four innings of work. TJ Socarras tossed 1.2 innings in relief.

Despite the final result, the Sharks leave Grand Junction after winning two games on the national stage, including an opening-round victory over LSU Eunice and a win over Blinn College. Miami Dade also became one of the final four teams remaining in the tournament before seeing its season conclude.

With a talented core returning and another postseason run added to the program's growing resume, the future remains bright for Miami Dade.