NJCAA baseball teams across the country opened their 2019 season Thursday (Jan.10) on the diamond with opening day practice.
The Columbia State Chargers was one of those squads who fought the chilly weather to get a start into the 2019 season.
The Chargers finished the 2018 season with a record of 33-20-1 (.620), 18-9 in the TCCAA (.667) which was good for third place behind #1 Walters State (23-3) and #2 Motlow State (18-8). CSCC finished out the 2018 campaign on a four-game losing streak, losing to Volunteer State and Motlow State in the TCCAA tournament, which ended their season.
The Chargers compiled a 19-8 record at home, 13-9-1 on the road. CSCC had major wins over #8 preseason ranked, at the time WaBash Valley College at home with a 13-3 walkoff win. The Warriors did get to number 2 in the NJCAA Top 20 poll on 3-6-18 just behind #1 San Jacinto-North.
The Chargers lose 17 players from the 2018 team who have gone to the next level in their lives. Of those players Coach Corn adds several to the NCAA ranks. Most notable Elliot Curtis to the Wildcats of Kentucky and Wil Dalton the year before to the Florida Gators where he has made a name for himself.
Charger skipper Mike Corn returns for his 9th season at Columbia State with a major list of accomplishments. Coach Corn was at the controls back in 2012 when the team achieved several milestones, including a 38-game home winning streak and up to that time a program best 43 wins which was broken in 2014 when the Chargers won 46 games. They also enjoyed a fourth place ranking in the NJCAA Top 20 and a TCCAA 2012 title.
In 2012 Corn also was named Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association, marking the second consecutive year Corn received the honor.
The Columbia State Chargers baseball team will open the season Wednesday February 6 at Wallace State 3:00 pm eastern. They’ll make the trip once again Feb. 17th to Marianna, Fl. where CSCC will face several great NJCAA teams, including the reigning NJCAA 2018 National Champions and 2019 preseason #1 Chipola, Florida.
NJCAA 2019 Div. 1 Pre-Season Poll
Chipola (FL) No. 1 In
Collegiate Baseball’s
2019 Pre-SeasonNJCAA Div. I Poll
(Dec. 19, 2018)
| Rank | Team (State) |
| 1. | Chipola (FL) |
| 2. | Walters St. (TN) |
| 3. | San Jacinto (TX) |
| 4. | Southern Idaho (ID) |
| 5. | Iowa Western (IA) |
| 6. | Cisco (TX) |
| 7. | Jefferson (MO) |
| 8. | Chattahoochee Valley (AL) |
| 9. | Monroe College (NY) |
| 10. | McLennan (TX) |
| 11. | Cowley (KS) |
| 12. | Crowder (MO) |
| 13. | State College Of Florida (FL) |
| 14. | Wallace St.-Hanceville (AL) |
| 15. | Connors St. (OK) |
| 16. | Barton (KS) |
| 17. | Wabash Valley (IL) |
| 18. | Central Arizona (AZ) |
| 19. | Hutchinson (KS) |
| 20. | Seminole St. (OK) |
NJCAA Baseball Coaches Assn.