Edison State Steps Up To Plate, Joins NJCAA

The Edison Community College Athletics Department has announced that the baseball team will be joining the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in the fall of 2015. This announcement was made following the final game of the spring 2015 Charger baseball season. 

Head coach Dr. Tom Martinez was instrumental in revitalizing the college's baseball program four years ago and is ecstatic to see it progress to the next level. "Without the outstanding support from the college community, many of these players would have ended their baseball careers at the high school level. This move will change the landscape of collegiate level baseball in our area and I am proud to have been able to help get it there." 

With this announcement, Martinez hopes to add to his team of high-caliber athletes. "We have been competitive from the start, recruiting quality student-athletes. By joining the NJCAA, we hope to raise the legitimacy of our program in the eyes of high school athletes and coaches. I want as many as forty players on the roster so we can break it down to the best twenty-four man roster possible." 

"We will also be returning as many as 6 players who will be expected to not only be leaders, but trailblazers," added Martinez. "All of these players were recruited with the intent of playing on the NJCAA level. They will fight for a starting spot and it would surprise me if all of them were not significant league leaders in their respective positions." 

Transitioning from the National Club Baseball Association to a Division II NJCAA team will take some work but Martinez is up for the challenge. "The same goes with any team I have coached—patience, experience, and work will be the basis for which I develop these players." 

In addition to building the team, planning is underway to renovate the college's baseball field. To help with this revitalization, a partnership has been formed with Premier Health who will be recognized with naming rights to the field. 

"We are making a substantial investment in our current baseball field which will include new fencing, dugouts, and a scoreboard. Construction will begin as early as this summer and the end product will be a top-of-the-line baseball facility," said Nate Cole, Edison's Director of Athletics and Student Life.

All Edison Community College athletic teams now compete in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference and are Division II members of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Since 1938, the NJCAA has been the governing body of two-year college athletics, offering athletic and academic opportunities to college students. The NJCAA is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states.

Those interested in playing for the Chargers may complete an online application by clicking here. For more information, contact Nate Cole by emailing ncole@edisonohio.edu or calling 937.381.1555.