The Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) baseball team is headed to the Region 18 Tournament with energy, purpose, and nothing to lose. The Spartans earned the No. 4 seed in the Scenic West Athletic Conference and will travel to Salt Lake City for a best-of-three opening round series against the top-seeded—and nationally ranked No. 16—Salt Lake Community College Bruins.

The series will take place at Cate Field, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM on both Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2. If a third and deciding game is necessary, it will be played Saturday, May 3 at 12:00 PM.

While the matchup is a tall task, the Spartans aren't backing down.

"This is what you play for," said Head Coach Lou McCollum. "We've had our ups and downs, but this group has shown they can compete. Our guys are prepared, and we need to be locked in pitch-by-pitch. Salt Lake is a really talented team, but we're going to show up and play our brand of baseball."

CNCC enters the tournament having played their best baseball down the stretch. The Spartans are coming off a wild series split with the College of Southern Idaho that included a dramatic walk-off grand slam from sophomore Michael Deitz on Sophomore Day and multiple late-inning comebacks throughout the weekend. CNCC also opened conference play earlier this season by splitting on the road at Southern Idaho and stunned Salt Lake in game one of their home series, proving they can compete with the best in the region.

Several players have stepped up in big ways this spring. Deitz has provided power and leadership in the middle of the lineup, while Jake Cook has been a consistent presence both behind the plate and at the plate. Brent Holdren has delivered timely hits and competitive starts on the mound, and freshmen Raul Zapata and Javier Gaeta have brought energy and production on both sides of the ball.

Salt Lake, the No. 1 seed and regular season champion, boasts one of the most complete rosters in the NJCAA, but the Spartans believe they're capable of making noise. With a resilient mindset and nothing to lose, CNCC heads into postseason play with belief and momentum.

"This time of year, it's all about who competes better for 27 outs," McCollum added. "We've got guys who are hungry, who care about each other, and who want to keep playing. That's a dangerous combination."

Fans can follow live coverage of the Region 18 Tournament on the Scenic West Network and CNCC Athletics social media platforms throughout the week.