The North Iowa Area Community College baseball team is celebrating its first region championship. The Trojans beat Iowa Central Community College 8-6 on Tuesday in Waterloo to claim the junior college region 11 championship.

NIACC coach Travis Hergert says it was a big day for the program and the school as it had never been done before. “To go through our conference, our region, and to come out there the victor is a remarkable accomplishment because it’s probably one of the best regions in junior college baseball,” Hergert says.

Hergert’s team had to overcome some adversity. After failing to lock up the title on Monday with a 7-5 loss to Iowa Central the Trojans trailed 6-2 in the seventh inning on Tuesday before rallying for the victory.

“We faces a lot of obstacles this year from weather to travel, there was a stretch where we didn’t play for two weeks, there was a stretch where we didn’t play for 8 days, the cards have been stacked up against these guys all year, but they are a resilient bunch,” Hergert says.

He says their ability to come back shows they never give up on a game and feel they can win no matter what the score is. Next up, the Trojans travel to Montana for the North Plains District Tournament.

Hergert says they are still trying to line up the pitching staff after having to use some guys in situations with short rest. NIACC will play Miles Community College out of Montana on Saturday morning.

The other team in the tournament Dakota County Technical College out of Minnesota.