LC State Warriors Enter Cascade Conference Baseball Tournament as No. 1 Seed in Lewiston, Idaho
The Lewis-Clark State College Warriors baseball team opens postseason play Friday as the Cascade Conference Championship tournament gets underway in Lewiston, beginning a three-day run that could earn the program an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament.
The Warriors enter the tournament with a 38-7 overall record and a No. 4 ranking in the most recent NAIA national poll — a standing that continues to climb as the program puts together one of its most dominant regular seasons in recent memory. As the No. 1 seed in the five-team field, LC State has earned the right to host every remaining game of their season at Harris Field in the Lewis-Clark Valley.
Warriors Ride Historic Home-Field Advantage Into Postseason
One of the most remarkable aspects of LC State’s regular season was its performance at Harris Field. Of the Warriors’ seven losses this season, only two came at home — a record that underscores just how difficult it is for visiting teams to win in Lewiston.
“It’s huge — the crowds have been phenomenal, and I have six years before this to compare, and I think our crowds are better,” head coach Robbins said. “It’s been great. Our players see it and talk about it, and they love playing here.”
With the entire postseason scheduled to remain in the Lewis-Clark Valley, that home environment figures to be a significant factor. The Warriors will not have to travel for any game between now and a potential NAIA tournament berth.
Tournament action opens Friday, May 1, with No. 4 seed Bushnell University facing No. 5 seed Oregon Tech at 11:00 a.m. LC State then takes the field at 6:00 p.m. against the winner of that first game. Regardless of Friday’s outcome, the Warriors are guaranteed to play Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, with the tournament champion earning an automatic NAIA tournament bid.
During the regular season, LC State won its series against Bushnell 4-3 and swept Oregon Tech 4-0, giving the Warriors favorable history against both potential opening-round opponents.
Individual Standouts Power a Team Built on Depth and Selflessness
The Warriors’ run to the top seed has been built on a combination of elite individual performance and unselfish team play — qualities coach Robbins has repeatedly highlighted as central to the program’s identity.
Leading the offensive charge is outfielder Jackson Jaha, who ranked first in the Cascade Conference in batting average at .429, on-base percentage at .535, and slugging percentage at .762. Those numbers place Jaha among the elite hitters not just in the CCC but in NAIA baseball nationally.
Infielder Brandon Nguyen has also been a force, ranking fifth in the conference in home runs with 12 on the year. Coach Robbins believes neither player is finished improving.
“Both of them are trying to get better and finding ways to advance their game, but the big piece is that they are just quality student athletes here at LC State and they just go after it,” coach Robbins said.
Beyond the statistical leaders, coach Robbins pointed to utility player Sam Webber as a key contributor whose flexibility has been invaluable. Webber has played shortstop, centerfield, first base, and third base over the course of the season — filling whatever role the team needed.
“One guy I want to note is Sam Webber — he started as our shortstop, switched to centerfield, moved to first base, played third base and now back at centerfield,” coach Robbins said. “Those guys are so crucial to the team because they are just selfless.”
As the Warriors prepare for the postseason push, coach Robbins framed the opportunity simply: more baseball. “That’s what I am excited about with this conference tournament — to play more baseball,” he said.
For Lewiston sports fans looking for local athletic action this weekend, the CCC Championship at Harris Field offers a front-row seat to one of the area’s most successful college programs. Fans interested in other upcoming local athletic events can also check out coverage of local fighters preparing for the Clearwater Combat MMA event in Lewiston.
What Comes Next
The Cascade Conference Championship tournament runs Friday through Sunday at Harris Field in Lewiston. LC State’s first game tips off Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. The tournament winner earns an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament, where the Warriors’ No. 4 national ranking would place them among the contenders. Tickets for the CCC tournament are available through LC State Athletics. Follow Idaho News for continued coverage of NAIA baseball and Lewis-Clark Valley athletics throughout the postseason.