水果派AV

But it wasn鈥檛 the Doubledays or one of Cayuga County鈥檚 school teams playing. It was a pair of community college teams from outside New York state taking the turf.

They were the last two teams standing in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series 鈥� playing with a national championship on the line.聽

The Roadrunners of New Jersey鈥檚 Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester took an early lead and never looked back, going on to defeat the Wood Ducks of Minnesota鈥檚 Century College in a 16-1 rout to capture their third straight national title. But even with the lopsided result, and the rain, those in attendance felt an excitement for witnessing a World Series that couldn't be dampened.

鈥業 had the room booked for months鈥�

Joe Ruffino, who wore the blue and gold of the Rowan College Roadrunners, was huddled under an umbrella next to his wife behind the team鈥檚 dugout. His son, Joey, is the team's southpaw pitcher.

Ruffino told 水果派AV he was also in Auburn for last year鈥檚 World Series, which came as a surprise. This year, given the dominance of his son's team, he was more prepared.聽

鈥淚 had the room booked for months in advance because I figured they were going,鈥� he said.

Ruffino added that he has enjoyed his time visiting Auburn.聽

鈥淲e hit up the wineries, and the (Finger Lakes Premium Outlets in Waterloo), and everywhere that we鈥檝e been going to everyone鈥檚 very nice. It鈥檚 very hospitable.鈥澛�

鈥業 was basically flying by the seat of my pants鈥�

While the Roadrunners had the second-best seed and were widely expected to make a deep run, Century College had to go on a Cinderella run to reach the finals Wednesday.

Darrin Brownlee sat near his wife, Ann, on the opposite side of Falcon Park from Ruffino, right behind the dugout of his son Coby鈥檚 Wood Ducks, and also under the steady fall of raindrops.聽

Unlike Ruffino, Brownlee said his trip to central New York was a bit more spontaneous.聽

鈥淚 was basically flying by the seat of my pants,鈥� Brownlee told 水果派AV, 鈥渏ust navigating through where to stay. But it鈥檚 been a really awesome time for us.鈥�

Even though his son doesn鈥檛 start for the team, Brownlee said it鈥檚 in his DNA to come and cheer him on.聽

He added that he likes the Auburn area because聽it reminds him of northern Minnesota.聽

The only downside, Brownlee joked, was that he felt 鈥渓ike (he) should be doing something more than just kind of watching ball and eating.鈥澛�

鈥楶eople were literally cheering for just balls and outs鈥�

The World Series, which started on Saturday, featured eight teams from seven different states 鈥� the nearest being the top-seeded Thunderwolves of SUNY Niagara in Sanborn.聽

Over the course of the week, more than 2,000 people made their way to Auburn to see their teams play.聽

Jonathan Pericak, who lives in the Erie County town of Brant, made the trip to watch his nephew play for the Thunderwolves with what he estimated to be around 150 other western New Yorkers.聽

鈥淚t probably helped that regionals were here the week before,鈥� Pericak told 水果派AV. 鈥淚t was so loud. People were literally cheering for just balls and outs.鈥�

But Wednesday, the crowd wasn鈥檛 just parents and fans 鈥� there were also about 20 players from teams that lost in earlier rounds packing a section of the stands.

Brendan Bell, an outfielder who made it to the semifinals with the Dallas College Richland Thunderducks, was one of them.聽

Bell told 水果派AV he enjoyed checking out Owasco Lake with his teammates, and appreciated Auburn鈥檚 limited-distraction environment 鈥� but he also made a promise.聽

鈥淚t was a hard loss for us,鈥� Bell said, 鈥渂ut I know for sure next year we鈥檒l be back. We鈥檒l make a deeper run.鈥澛�

While this is the second year in a row that Auburn has hosted the championship, it will not be returning to Auburn next year.

The 2026 World Series is heading south to Johnson City, Tennessee 鈥� but it will return to Falcon Park in 2027.

鈥楾hank God we have a city that鈥檚 willing to maintain the ballpark鈥�

Bringing the World Series to Auburn took a group effort between NJCAA administrators, staff and coaches at Cayuga Community College, and the city itself.聽

Dan Blair, chair of the NJCAA Division III Baseball Committee, said聽the size and location of Falcon Park, along with the field鈥檚 ability to handle rainy conditions,聽made it perfect for the championship.

鈥淚t always allows us to play through some weather,鈥� Blair told 水果派AV, 鈥渁nd the location is great because a lot of these teams are coming from around the Northeast.鈥澛�

Doug Mason, an Auburn native with a love for America鈥檚 pastime, was happy the city's appreciation for baseball has allowed the community to聽watch so many good games.聽

鈥淭hank God we have a city that鈥檚 willing to maintain the ballpark,鈥� he said. "And at this level it gives younger fans the chance to see somebody play that鈥檚 a lot closer to their age that they can look up to.鈥澛�

The Cayuga Community College Spartans, who call Falcon Park their home field, also played a role in setting up the World Series.

鈥淎uburn's got a rich history in baseball for a smaller town,鈥� head coach John Rizzo told 水果派AV.

鈥淭o be able to bring a national championship here, to Falcon Park that has its own rich history, is great for the community and great for the sport.鈥�

Rizzo said that after last year's World Series, he got more help around the park and that the city was more involved in spreading the word of the games.

There are just two things he hopes are different when the World Series comes back in 2027.

鈥淚 hope there鈥檚 no rain on the last day,鈥� Rizzo said, 鈥渁nd that the Cayuga Spartans are playing.鈥�