FAMU welcomes new head baseball coach Willie Brown

Tallahassee, Florida -- In front of a conference room full of people Tuesday evening, Willie Brown vowed to take the Florida A&M baseball program where it was when he played for the Rattlers during an era when repeat MEAC titles were the norm.

"If I don't get a MEAC ring it's a failure and your coach isn't a failure at anything," Brown said, addressing his players in the room. "I know that I'm going to win. I know we are going to compete. I know that we are going to return to the glory of the past."



Brown made his prediction in his first public appearance as the Rattlers' new baseball coach. Both athletic director Derek Horne and FAMU president James Ammons told the audience they hired Brown because of his understanding of FAMU tradition and his commitment to turning the program around.

"He knows how to win here," Horne said. "He knows what it takes to wear that uniform and be successful. That's half of the battle."

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FAMU's New Baseball Coach Hopes to Take MEAC

 Head Baseball Coach Willie Brown

Tallahassee, FL - With just a few months under his belt, the newly acquired Florida A&M baseball coach, Willie Brown, is ready to get his team on track and bring the Rattler nation a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

"I am just excited. Yesterday was my first day of really getting to teach, and see what I have to work with," Brown said. "I almost got chills putting on a Florida A&M University uniform again. It was just so surreal."

After months of searching for a new coach, Athletic Director Derek Horne announced that Brown would become the next coach of the Rattler baseball team.

Brown resigned as Maclay High School's baseball coach at the end of last season. He coached ten years the Maruders, four years as the team's head coach.

Brown attended FAMU, and was a star player from 1989 to 1992. Brown led the Rattlers in home runs with seven his sophomore year in just 27 games and five his junior season. He also led in total at bats with 169, as well as total hits, with 48 in 48 games.

The Florida Marlins then drafted him as a junior. He spent four years in the minor leagues.

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North Carolina A&T Names Sanchez Head Baseball Coach

Head Baseball Coach Joel Sanchez
(Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information)

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina A&T Director of Athletics Earl Hilton announced the appointment of Joel Sanchez to be the new head baseball coach. Sanchez joins the Aggie family with extensive coaching and playing experience on the collegiate and professional levels.

"Coach Sanchez has what I call 'championship experience,'" said Hilton. "He spent numerous years learning what it takes to win championships on a consistent basis. We are excited about blending his winning knowhow with what we believe is already an outstanding baseball program."

Prior to joining N.C.A&T, Sanchez held the assistant baseball coaching position at Daytona State College for one season in 2011.

The bulk of Sanchez's coaching success came during his eight seasons (2001-08) at Bethune-Cookman University, where he served as the head assistant under ­Mervyl Melendez. During his stint at B-CU, the Wildcats earned seven MEAC Championships, and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional each time.

Sanchez's coaching experience is not limited to college baseball. He served as the minor league pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League Nationals, the rookie-level minor league affiliate of the Washington Nationals in 2010; and the Vermont Lake Monsters, the short-season level-A affiliate of the Nationals in 2009. He was responsible pitching staff of each team.

As a player, Sanchez played professionally with the Ciudad Juarez of Chihuahua, Mexico from 1997-1999. He was a two-year letterman at New Mexico State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology in 1998.

Sanchez replaces Keith Shumate, who resigned in July after 15 seasons with the Aggies. Austin Love will remain as an assistant for the program.

Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information

Former N.C. A&T Aggie Playing in the Pros

Burlington, Vermont - Xavier Macklin, former A&T outfielder and hitting machine, is slowly but surely beginning to prove he belongs in the big leagues.

The new professional was drafted in his junior season by the Vermont Lake Monsters, a Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. He was selected 376th overall in the 12th round of the 2011 First-Year Major League Baseball Player Draft.

"Playing with the Lake Monsters has been a great experience," said Macklin. "I've been meeting new people, getting to know my teammates, and playing a bunch of baseball. I love every minute of it."

The Vermont Lake Monsters currently have a 32-28 overall record, with Macklin playing in 41 of those games. He is averaging just .233 batting, and has 12 RBI total, 8 runs total, and no homeruns, but he continues to show gradual improvement ...

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FAMU names Willie Brown new baseball head coach

Tallahassee, FL - Former minor league outfielder Willie Brown will become the next head baseball coach at Florida A&M, the Tallahassee Democrat learned late Tuesday night.

Efforts to reach FAMU athletic director Derek Horne were unsuccessful and calls to Brown's cell phone went directly to a voicemail. However, multiple sources said they've had knowledge of Brown's hiring as early as Monday.

He is expected to bring on Tonayne Brown, a former Godby (High School, Tallahassee) standout who also played professional ball, as his assistant.

Brown, who resigned as Maclay High School's (Tallahassee) baseball coach at the end of this past season, becomes the second consecutive FAMU alum hired as a head coach. Former Rattler Clemon Johnson was recently hired as men's basketball coach.

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NOTE:  The list of candidates included: former Florida A&M and minor league outfielder Willie Brown (who recently resigned as head coach at Maclay High School), Santa Fe Community College assistant Bruce Larkins, former Bethune-Cookman University assistant Joel Sanchez, Keith Shumate (who recently resigned as head coach at North Carolina A&T) and Brett Richardson, current FAMU interim baseball head coach.

Jason Beverlin to succeed Melendez at Bethune-Cookman

Daytona Beach, FL - Bethune-Cookman University Athletic Director Lynn W. Thompson announced today, July 26, that an agreement in principal has been reached with Jason Beverlin to become the Wildcats' new Head Baseball Coach.

Beverlin, 37, was the pitching coach at the University of Tennessee and played professionally with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers after being selected by the Oakland A's in the fourth round of the 1994 Major League Draft.

"We have a championship caliber team returning, and we wanted to make sure that we placed significant attention on the pitching aspects of our program." Thompson said. "New bat regulations in college baseball have made pitching and defense more important than ever, and to have a new head coach with extensive knowledge of pitching, professional experience and upper Division I recruiting savvy is the right combination for us to continue our quest to reach the College World Series."

B-CU Head Coach Jason Beverlin
 with his wife, Heather,
and sons Cole and Lucas
(Courtesy B-CU Athletics)

Beverlin replaces Mervyl Melendez, who accepted the head coaching position at Alabama State after 12 seasons with the Wildcats.

"I think it's an extreme honor to join the Bethune-Cookman Athletic Department family," said Beverlin. "Coach Melendez did an unbelievable job here; and while we hope to continue the tradition of success he started here, we want to take that to the next level in getting this program to a Super Regional and the ultimate goal of going to the college world series."

VIDEO INTRO - COACH JASON BEVERLIN

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RELATED ARTICLE: Bethune-Cookman Announces Jason Beverlin as New Head Baseball Coach

Bethune-Cookman free agent signs with Chicago Cubs

Ryan Durrence 

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Bethune-Cookman first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Durrence, who was not selected in the Major League Baseball Draft earlier this month, signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity," he said. Durrence, a three-year starter at B-CU who leaves as one of the school's league leaders in doubles and home runs, headed to Arizona to check out the Cubs' spring training facility before going to Boise, Idaho.

Durrence will play in Boise with the Rookie League Hawks, who open their season today.

"I'm extremely happy for Ryan," said longtime B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez, who left the school Thursday to take over Alabama State's program. "He definitely deserves to play in the professional ranks. The job that he was able to do for our program was invaluable, and we're happy that he's making the next step. We wish him the best and know that he's going to succeed because he's a hard worker."

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Jim Koerner named NCCU's Eagles head baseball coach

DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com) – With more 10 years of collegiate coaching experience at both the NCAA Division I and III levels, Jim Koerner has been named as the new head baseball coach at North Carolina Central University. Koerner is coming to NCCU from the University at Buffalo, where he helped build the Division I Bulls baseball program as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since 2005.

“First of all, I’m very excited to be the new head baseball coach here at NCCU,” said Koerner. “NCCU is the complete package for me and my family. The atmosphere and attitude I’ve experienced from the people I have met is exactly what I was looking for. There is a passion for athletics and in this case the baseball program in particular. There is a solid foundation in place with our current players, we are in a great location for college and high school baseball and we play in a gorgeous facility, the Durham Athletic Park.”

His previous stops include a stint at Marshall University from 2003-05 where he also served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the staff, and his first Division I job came at Monmouth University after a three-year head coaching stint at Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y., where he took a relatively brand-new baseball program and turned it into a winner in a short time. In his final season at Medaille, he improved the Mavericks win total by 15 games, one of the top turnarounds in Division III, and was named the 2003 North East Conference Coach of the Year.

“I am excited about having Coach Koerner as a part of our NCCU athletics program,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. “We pride ourselves on hiring qualified individuals who have shown passion and dedication to their careers. Coach Koerner has been able to make an indelible mark at each of the institutions he has been associated with in the past and we know that he will do the same here at NCCU.

“Coach Koerner’s career journey includes coach of the year recognition as an NCAA Division III head coach and success as a top recruiter at three NCAA Division I programs, which will definitely bring unique experiences to help take our baseball program to the next level,” said Wicker-McCree. “Most importantly, our students will benefit from his vast knowledge of the game and his great concern for student success.”

New Eagles Head Baseball Coach Jim Koerner
(Photo courtesy MEAC Media Relations)

Passion and enthusiasm are certainly two character traits that Koerner shares when it comes to the game of baseball.

“I love the game,” said Koerner. “I’ve been involved with this game for a long time. I absolutely have a passion for teaching. Nothing gives me more satisfaction then working with a player from the beginning of August and watching that player mature and get better as the year goes along. To me that’s what it’s all about. If every guy on the team can take those steps to improve and get better and has that desire, the whole team will get better and that’s how you achieve your goals.”

Koerner, who earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from St. John Fisher (N.Y.) and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Marshall, truly believes in emphasizing the student portion of student-athlete.

“I personally believe that there is a direct correlation between academic aptitude and a player’s ability to adjust and improve on the field,” said Koerner. “Excellence needs to be established in all parts of life. It’s not just a baseball thing. I don’t want student-athletes that treat excellence as a light switch. It needs to be a constant process in everything we do. That’s what I am going to stress here.”

Koerner has had 19 players move on to the next level and play professional baseball during his collegiate coaching career, and the 2009 and 2010 Bulls broke 27 all-time and single-season offensive records as he was directly in charge of hitting at the University at Buffalo.

Koerner wants to get this message out to the Eagle nation.

“Get excited about NCCU baseball,” said Koerner. “We’re going to do things the right way on and off the field and we’re going to be a lot of fun to watch. I’m especially looking forward to meeting everybody, so when February rolls around make sure to get out to the ballpark and see us in action.”

During his time at UB, the Bulls had four players earn All-Mid-American Conference, honors including the 2011 MAC Player of the Year in Tom Murphy.

Prior to Buffalo when Koerner held the same position with Marshall University, he coached one of his players to All-Conference USA honors and also helped the Thundering Herd to its first post-season appearance in 10 years. During the 2006 season, Marshall was consistently in the top 5 in most offensive categories and had two players finish in the top 10 in batting.

At Monmouth, where Koerner broke into Division I coaching as an assistant, he helped lead the team to its seventh consecutive conference tournament appearance.

Koerner has also been head coach of several U.S. teams that competed in international tournaments, including the Belgium Open and the Chianti (Italy) Baseball Challenge. Out of college in 1998, he was also signed by the Richmond Roosters of the Independent Frontier League.

A native of Hamburg, N.Y., which is a approximately 14 miles south of Buffalo, Koerner and his wife, Kylie, are the proud parents of a son, Sam, and five-month old daughter, Elizabeth.

By Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/ Broadcast Media Coordinator
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Bethune-Cookman's Peter O'Brien selected by Colorado Rockies in 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft

Daytona Beach, FL - Bethune-Cookman University catcher Peter O'Brien became the first area player selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday, chosen with the 107th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies. O'Brien, a junior catcher for the Wildcats and a Miami native, was selected in the middle of the third round. This season he helped lead Bethune-Cookman to another NCAA Regionals appearance, batting .304 with 14 home runs and 69 RBIs.

"It's awesome and I'm so excited," O'Brien said by phone, a few minutes after being chosen. "It was a hectic time but I'm glad its over." O'Brien said the Rockies were one of the most interested teams in him this spring.



Peter O'Brien, C: Rockies third round selection / 107th overall out of Bethune-Cookman University

O'Brien, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, spent three seasons at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, FL where he started all 61 games behind the plate for the Wildcats in 2011. In his junior season, O'Brien hit .304 (70-for-230) with 29 extra-base hits, including a team-high 14 home runs. O'Brien led the Wildcats with 20 home runs and a .384 batting average and picked off nine runners and catching 20 attempted base stealers during his sophomore season. He also drove in 56 RBI 2010. O'Brien was also named the MEAC Player of the Year following his sophomore season. O'Brien was rated the 13th-best prospect in the state of Florida, and the 103rd-best prospect overall in the draft by Baseball America. Additionally, he was ranked the seventh-best catcher available in the draft by Baseball America.

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Oakland Athletics select North Carolina A&T slugger Xavier Macklin in 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft

Xavier Macklin

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina A&T slugger Xavier Macklin is a member of the Oakland Athletics organization. On the second day of the First-Year Major League Baseball Player Draft, Macklin was selected in the 12th round as the 376th pick. Macklin is the first Aggie taken in the draft since the St. Louis Cardinals selected C.J. Beatty in the 26th round in 2009.

Macklin, a junior out of Rocky Mount, N.C., posted impressive power numbers throughout his Aggies career. He hit .357 with 49 home runs and 183 RBIs as he set school marks in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage. Macklin's reputation for power can be measured in his .705 career slugging percentage. He ends his collegiate career with three first-team All-MEAC honors.

Macklin said he was informed about being drafted at approximately 5 p.m. Apprehension and nervousness drove him away from following the draft hours before the Athletics selected him. Macklin received a phone call from a friend notifying him of the good news. A local A's scout who lives in Greensboro made the official call for the organization.

"I can't describe this feeling right now," said Macklin. "It's crazy. It's surreal. It's like I'm not even here right now."

The 2011 season solidified Macklin's status as a MLB prospect. He hit .355 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs. Nationally, he ranks second in home runs and home runs per game. He owns the fourth-best slugging percentage in the nation and his RBIs per game ranks him 11th.

"He really deserves this," said N.C. A&T head coach Keith Shumate. "People recognize how much talent this young man has, but I don't think people know how hard he worked to get to this point. He had a legendary career at A&T."

Macklin is one of only two MEAC players who have been selected thus far. Bethune-Cookman catcher Peter O'Brien went in the third round to the Colorado Rockies. Macklin becomes the seventh player under Shumate to be taken in the MLB Draft. He is the fourth Aggie in the last five years to be selected, and earned the second highest draft position of any Aggie selected during the Shumate era. Duron LaGrande was drafted in the 10th round by the Montreal Expos in 2004.

Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information

B-CU Pitcher's Duel Evolves into a 16-5 UCF Victory

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In a span of three-consecutive pitches in the seventh inning, No. 2 UCF scored five runs and eventually plated 13 runs in the final three innings to defeat No. 4 Bethune-Cookman, 16-5, in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional Saturday. It was the most runs scored in a game by the Knights (39-22) in their NCAA Tournament history.

UCF advances to Sunday's noon game and will await the loser of Saturday night's contest between No. 1 Florida State and No. 3 Alabama. If the Knights rumble with FSU, the game will air on Sun Sports.

"I'm very proud of the effort of our guys," said head coach Terry Rooney. "We faced an outstanding Bethune-Cookman club, a team that we played (twice) during the year and their starting pitcher did a tremendous job. But our guys continued to battle throughout the day. I thought Danny Winkler pitched fantastic. He was incredible."

A day after combining to go 1-for-15 vs. Alabama, Beau Taylor, D.J. Hicks, Jonathan Griffin and Derek Luciano all tore apart Wildcat (36-25) pitching. The quartet went 13-for-21 with 11 RBI, 11 runs and five extra-base hits. Hicks and Griffin each collected four hits, with Griffin driving in five to tie a UCF record for most RBI in a NCAA Tournament game.

Griffin crushed his 19th home run of the season as well, putting him in sole possession of second on the UCF single-season chart. He trails only Chris Duffy, who belted 21 four-baggers last year. The senior also has 32-career homers in just two seasons as a Knight to place him in a tie for sixth in UCF history.

Winkler was on his way to possibly his best outing of the season, pitching 5.2 shutout innings with just two hits against and six strikeouts. Yet two errors on a single play with nobody on base and two outs in the sixth inning led to four unearned runs to help the Wildcats eliminate a 3-0 deficit, and Winkler's day was over.

"I just stuck to my game plan like I've been doing the last couple of weeks," said Winkler. "I was getting ahead early, but I wasn't happy with (my slider). So I was trying to command my fastball. And with their starting going like he was, that kept me in it so I kept pounding the zone."

The Wildcats decided to start righty Rayan Gonzalez on the mound vs. the Knights. And the junior surrendered three-straight one-out singles in the top of the first to Taylor, Hicks and Griffin with Griffin driving in Taylor on a chopper over the head of third baseman Emmanuel Castro.

Given an early 1-0 lead, Winkler proceeded to limit Bethune-Cookman to just one hit in the first three innings, striking out five. That was highlighted by the right-hander sitting down the side on strikes in the third. Winkler then stranded a pair of runners with one out in the fourth.

UCF was unable to build its advantage on the scoreboard due to Gonzalez mowing down the Knights. They did have a two-out opportunity after Darnell Sweeney singled to center and Ronnie Richardson drew a walk, however the B-CU right-hander picked up his eighth strikeout of the game to return to the dugout.

Although Gonzalez motored through to get to the sixth inning, his pitch count was well into triple figures after UCF finally got the big hit it had been searching for all day long. As Griffin stood in the on-deck circle, he witnessed Hicks drive a 3-2 pitch into right for a leadoff single. The first baseman strode to the plate and quickly fell behind 0-2. And for some reason he did not like his mugshot on the left-field scoreboard, so he attempted to alter it by demolishing a 1-2 offering that came within a few feet of his face for a two-run homer.

Now jogging out to the hill with a 3-0 lead in the sixth, Winkler, who had thrown just 61 pitches, continued to cruise, getting the first two outs and inducing Peter O'Brien to send a lazy fly ball to left-center. That was when the state of the game changed, as there was miscommunication in the UCF outfield. Two errors on the play led to a hit by pitch and two walks to bring in the Wildcats' first run.


Videographer: flstateseminoles; FSU Baseball defeats Bethune-Cookman 6-5 in Tallahassee Regional on June 3, 2011.

Final Stats 

Winkler tried to get that crucial third out, but Brashad Johnson delivered a two-run, two-out, two-strike single into left to tie it up at 3-3. Nick Cicio entered earlier than expected from the pen, and DJ Leonard sent his second pitch to left for a RBI single.

All of a sudden down 4-3, the UCF bats were not concerned by their newly-found one-run hole. A pair of two-strike singles by Sweeney and Richardson greeted reliever Chris Anselmo in the seventh, and although Taylor failed to get a sac bunt down, he ripped a 1-2 pitch off the high fence in right for a long single to load the bases.

Similar to Bethune-Cookman taking advantage of its scoring chance in the previous inning, the Knights were not going to let this one slip away either.

Freshman Bryan Rivera was called in from the B-CU bullpen and the southpaw threw only three pitches in his appearances. All of them resulted in RBI hits, as Hicks punched a single between first and second, Griffin dropped a two-run double into left and Luciano lined a two-run single up the middle. That was it for Rivera, who gave way to Gabriel Hernandez, and the Knights tacked on three more runs highlighted by RBI from Travis Shreve and Sweeney.

With the eight-run inning complete, UCF added a four more in the eighth to stretch the lead to 15-5. Kick-started by a double out of Taylor, Hicks drove in the catcher on a single, Griffin walked on five pitches and Luciano socked a two-run double into the right-field corner. And with the sun beating down onto Dick Howser Stadium, lightning was detected which delayed play for 3:20. When play ultimately resumed, Luciano eventually scored UCF's 15th run on a wild pitch. To close out the offense, Kevin Vasquez drew a RBI walk with two outs in the ninth, and Bryan Brown tossed the final 2.0 innings to send UCF back to the hotel in a jolly mood.

Game Notes
No. 2 UCF - 39-22 Overall
No. 4 Bethune-Cookman - 36-25 Overall
-The game featured a 3:20 hour weather delay with no outs in the top of the eighth inning.
-Saturday marked the 83rd meeting between UCF and Bethune-Cookman, but the first in the NCAA Tournament.
-It was UCF's first NCAA Tournament victory since defeating Florida State, 7-5, June 6, 2004.
-UCF had not committed more than one error in a game since two miscues vs. Houston May 1 (a span of 16 games). But the Knights had two errors Saturday.
-The eight-run seventh inning was the biggest inning in an NCAA Tournament game in school history. It also matched an overall postseason record as UCF scored eight runs in an Atlantic Sun Tournament game vs. Centenary in 1996.
-UCF set a school record for most runs in an NCAA Tournament contest, and tied the school mark with 20 hits (also had 20 vs. Princeton May 25, 2001). The Knights posted at least 20 hits in a game for the second time this year (20 at UAB May 15).

By UCF Athletics

FSU Baseball Survives Bethune-Cookman in Regional Opener

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Mike McGee registered the game-winning hit in the eighth inning and the first-seeded Florida State baseball team defeated fourth-seeded Bethune-Cookman Friday night in the second game of the 2011 NCAA Tallahassee Regional.

FSU (43-17) has now won 11 consecutive NCAA Regional games and moves to the winner's bracket where it will face third-seeded Alabama (34-26) Saturday at 6 p.m. The Wildcats (36-24) take on UCF (38-22) Saturday noon in an elimination contest. McGee's RBI single to right field unlocked a 5-5 tie as his timely hit scored Taiwan Easterling for the go-ahead run.

Brian Busch (6-2) earned the win for the Seminoles while Daniel Bennett moved into a tie for second place in FSU history for saves in a season with 15. Busch wound up pitching 2 1/3 innings in relief and gave up no hits or runs and struck out four.

Starter Scott Garner took the loss for B-CU, going five innings and allowing 10 hits five earned runs before being replaced by Roman Lancara in the bottom of the sixth. Seminoles starter Hunter Scantling lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while striking out a career-high-tying seven batters.

B-CU smashes 4 homers, but FSU sneaks past

TALLAHASSSEE, FL -- Four home runs weren't enough to lift Bethune-Cookman over host Florida State in the Wildcats' opening game of the NCAA tournament, as they fell 6-5. The four homers were the most FSU has given up all year. But for the Wildcats, the effort was just another close call against a national seed in a first-round regional game.

"I don't like being the first one here," B-CU head coach Mervyl Melendez said during his postgame press conference (the winning team goes second at NCAA events). "I would have much rather followed Florida State, but I thought our guys fought hard."

First baseman Ryan Durrence led the way for B-CU going 3-for-4 with two home runs, including a solo shot to tie the game at 5-all in top of the sixth inning. Center fielder Mike McGee delivered the game-winning hit for FSU in the top of the eighth on an RBI-single to center field to put the Seminoles ahead 6-5. Closer Daniel Bennett pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close it out for his 15th save of the year.

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Face-Off of HBCU Conference Champions Ends in Split

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Saturday’s matchup at Bethune Point Park was just as billed, a tough matchup between the top two teams in HBCU baseball. Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion Alcorn State traveled to Florida in a late-addition game to face the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, who recently wrapped up their sixth straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title.

Both games of the double-header ended in a defensive battle, both a low scoring affair. The Wildcats put up runs early in both games, defeating the Braves 3-1 in the first outing. In game two, ASU made a comeback victory in the final three innings to split the series with a 4-3 win.

FINAL STATS

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Ocala Vanguard graduate has been a force at Bethune-Cookman

B-CU OF Matt Wright
Daytona State College/Ocala Vanguard

Wright stars for MEAC champion Wildcats

Matt Wright is making the most of his final collegiate season.

The Vanguard High graduate helped Bethune-Cookman University earn its sixth straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball title over the weekend.

As a result, the Wildcats (35-22) earned the MEAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Baseball Championships, with pairings to be announced at 12:30 p.m. Monday on ESPN.

The senior outfielder heads into regional play hitting .326 with six homers, 17 doubles, a team-high five triples, 32 RBIs and 40 runs scored.

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FAMU: 2011 MLB Prospect Tobi Adeyemi

Unquestionably one of the top sleepers in the upcoming draft. High character and great talent, a steal for any team looking for an impactful person in the lockerroom and on the field.


Videographer: tobiADEYEMI

Garner pitches B-CU into final

Coach Mervyl Melendez

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Scott Garner scattered eight hits in seven innings as Bethune-Cookman beat Norfolk State 8-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament Friday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The freshman from Port Orange, named MEAC Pitcher and Rookie of The Year earlier this week, helped the Wildcats (34-22) advance to the championship game against Norfolk State, which beat Delaware State 9-3. If B-CU loses at 2 p.m. today, it would play a second game at 6 p.m.

Norfolk State (23-28) scored 25 runs in its first two tournament games, but was shut down by Garner and one scoreless inning by Jordan Dailey and Chris Anselmo.

"We wanted Scott for this game," B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez said. "He's done a good job all season, and he's earned the right to pitch in an important game. Garner (8-2) escaped a bases-loaded situation in the third, and Norfolk State left 14 runners on base.

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NSU to play for MEAC baseball title today

NSU Coach Claudell Clark

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Freshman Justin Bhatti tossed a four-hitter and senior outfielder John Rasberry (Greenbrier Christian) drove in a season-high four runs to send No. 4 seed Norfolk State to today's MEAC baseball tournament championship round with a 9-3 win over No. 2 Delaware State in the losers' bracket final on Friday night.

NSU (24-28) will face top-seeded Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. The Wildcats topped the Spartans 8-0 earlier Friday. NSU must beat Bethune-Cookman twice today to capture its first MEAC baseball title. The Spartans will be making their fifth MEAC championship-round appearance, and first since 2008.

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FAMU athletic director outlines future ideas at national alumni conference

ORLANDO — Florida A&M athletic director Derek Horne outlined his strategy for improving attendance and making the Rattlers' teams more competitive, while pleading with alumni for financial support that is necessary to make the programs flourish.

Horne, who eight months ago became FAMU's athletic director, made his pitch Thursday morning during FAMU's National Alumni Association conference at the Rosen Center. He also promised "radical changes," and said he hopes to be the school's AD for the long haul.

Winning championships and improving facilities are two of the major changes he promised. But he warned that a complete turnaround won't happen overnight.


Videographer: FAMUTube1887;

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B-CU going for 6th straight MEAC crown

Daytona Beach, FL - Bethune-Cookman has a lot at stake in the first-round game of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at 2 p.m. today. When the Wildcats take the field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark vs. Florida A&M, they will begin their defense of a conference championship they have won five consecutive years.

The Cats' are going for their sixth straight MEAC title and 13th overall.

Bethune-Cookman finished the season 32-22 overall and 18-0 in conference. It is the Wildcats' second straight 18-0 season in conference and their third undefeated season since 2006 when they went 15-0. The Wildcats have only lost four conference games since 2006 and they currently have an NCAA record of 43-straight wins against conference opponents. The last time the Wildcats dropped a conference game was May 2, 2009, at home against Delaware State.


Videographer: GILVIDEO7

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Wright helps B-CU win MEAC

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- Matt Wright went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs, and Bethune-Cookman clinched the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 7-3 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday.

The Wildcats moved to 15-0 in the MEAC, 29-19 overall, and clinched the top seed for the conference tournament. UMES fell to 8-35 overall and 7-11 in the MEAC. Patrick Goelz (6-3) allowed two runs, neither earned, on six hits in seven innings. He fanned 11 and walked just one on his way to the victory.

With Late Inning Runs, Wildcats Overcome UMES to Complete Sweep

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Wildcats battled out a pitcher’s duel through the early innings of Sunday’s finale with Maryland Eastern Shore. Beginning in the sixth, the B-CU offense picked up steam while the Wildcat defense held UMES off in the 7-3 win to sweep the Hawks and remain perfect in MEAC play, clinching the MEAC regular season crown and the number one seed for the conference tournament

Matt Wright opened up the scoring for the Wildcats in game three, as the left hander hit a high drifting solo homer beyond the right field fence to take the 1-0 lead. Brashad Johnson’s fifth inning triple to right field set up designated hitter Anthony Stokes’ groundout RBI to create a little more breathing room at 2-0, as Johnson crossed home on the play.

Much like the first games of the series, UMES played tough defense and held B-CU’s hitters without any further runs through the fifth inning, but it’s difficult to keep B-CU down for long.

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VISIT: BETHUNE COOKMAN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: B-CUATHLETICS