The first hurdle to landing a berth in the JUCO World Series comes Thursday, May 20 for East Central Community College’s Diamond Warriors who take on Louisiana State University-Eunice at 3 p.m. in first-round competition of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament being held May 20-22 at Joe G. Moss Field at Hinds Community College in Raymond. 

No. 3 seed East Central, which finished runner-up to Hinds for the MACJC State Baseball title last weekend, brings a 38-17 record to the double-elimination event while the No. 2 seed Bengals are 43-11.

The two teams met during the regular season and split a doubleheader on the Eunice, La., campus.  

Top-seeded Hinds (30-19) and No. 4 seed Pearl River (26-27) battle at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Competition continues through Saturday and concludes with the championship game set for 1 p.m. 

The Region 23 Tournament winner advances to the 2010 NJCAA Division II World Series scheduled May 29-June 5 in Enid, Oklahoma.

East Central’s baseball program is led by head coach Neal Holliman and assistants Michael Avalon and Hunter Vick.