Kaelan Bedford finished his high school baseball career at Excelsior Springs as a Class 4 state champion.

He’s about to begin his college baseball career with a national champion.

Bedford confirmed June 4 following the Tigers’ championship rally that he plans to play for Johnson County Community College (JCCC). The Overland Park, Kan.-based school won the NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series this spring – JCCC’s firstever World Series title. The Cavaliers cruised to the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference-East Division title as well, finishing with an eight-game lead over runner-up Kansas City, Kan., Community College. Bedford, who got the pitching win in Excelsior Springs’ state semifinal victory over Springfield Catholic, said JCCC was among many community colleges that recruited him. Others included State Fair in Sedalia and Iowa Western, he said.

“But Johnson County was the best fit for me,” Bedford said.

One reason it was a good fit was its proximity to Excelsior Springs. With t…