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FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University split a home baseball doubleheader against visiting North Carolina A&T of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Saturday afternoon at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville. The Lancers (24-14) won the first game versus the Aggies (13-24) by a score of 7-6 in 10 innings before falling 2-1 in the second game. Senior captain Brant Jones|Richmond (Monacan) had three hits, including a triple and a double, with an RBI in the opener while junior Mark Montgomery| Williamsburg (Bruton) earned the pitching win with the final three innings of scoreless relief on the mound. Longwood and MEAC member North Carolina A&T will play another doubleheader on Easter Sunday, April 24, though this time in Greensboro, North Carolina beginning at 1 p.m.
In game one, Longwood allowed the Aggies to take a 4-0 lead through four innings en route to leading 5-0 in the fifth before the Lancers put three runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth to trail 5-3. The visitors made it 6-3 with a run in the sixth, but the hosts scored three runs in the seventh to tie it at 6-6 and force extra innings during the scheduled seven-inning contest. It remained tied until the bottom of the 10th when Longwood finally pushed across the winning run with two outs, unearned via a throwing error, nonetheless. Freshman Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) (2-5, rbi) reached on a separate throwing error to open the at-bat, moved to second on a single by sophomore Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) (2-5), and scored the decisive run after advancing to third on a bunt-single to the pitcher from junior Dustin Sollars|Midlothian (Cosby) (2-5) and continuing on across the plate when the pitcher threw wildly to first base on the play.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- In a nationally televised match-up between the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's first- and last-place teams, Bethune-Cookman stumbled early against cellar-dwelling Coppin State before roaring back to claim the win via the old skunk rule.
Friday's game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark was called on account of the NCAA's 10-run rule with B-CU up 16-6 after seven innings.
ESPNU cameras were watching as the Wildcats (23-19, 10-0), dressed in pink jerseys to promote breast cancer awareness, fell behind 4-0 in the first inning.
B-CU starter GabrielHernandez gave up four straight hits on his first 16 pitches against Coppin State (4-30, 1-8), allowing thre e runs to score. Wildcats coach Mervyl Melendez said Hernandez "pitches with a lot of passion" and after allowing one more hit in the inning to fall behind 4-0, Melendez said Hernandez got mad, "commanded his fastball" and turned things around.
Baseball coach Keith Shumate, who has led N.C. A&T to the MEAC championship game four of the last six seasons, resigned Tuesday effective July 31.
Shumate led the Aggies to a school-record 31 victories last season, and his 2005 team won the MEAC championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament. Shumate, now in his 15th season, has 294 victories and counting.
When Shumate took over in 1997, A&T was coming off a 4-45 season. Since then he has coached 17 All-MEAC first-teamers, 11 players who signed pro contracts, 5 major-league draft picks and 3 All-Americans.
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Injuries to the North Carolina A&T pitching staff and to its everyday lineup has made the game of baseball tough for the Aggies this season.
But on Sunday it was back to the good old days. Several North Carolina A&T batters had multiple-hit afternoons, and the Aggies didn't have to use a lot of arms to work numerous innings. The result was a 14-3 and 12-5 doubleheader sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore at War Memorial Stadium.
Marquis Riley, Xavier Macklin, Luke Tendler and Dairio Little all homered on Sunday. Little had had three RBIs in the second game, while Little had two. Carvell Copeland went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. N.C. A&T put the second game away with an eight-run fifth inning.
Savannah, GA - Savannah State University swept Florida A&M, 6-5 and 3-2, in a baseball doubleheader Saturday at Tiger Field. SSU (19-15) scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the first game. The Tigers’ Matt Nowacki was 2-for-3, including a home run and two RBIs, and Matt Oglesby was 1-for-5 with two RBIs.
SSU starter Kevin Herlihy earned the win, striking out six, walking one and allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in nine innings.
In the second game, the Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win. Kyle McGowin earned the win for SSU, striking out eight, walking three and allowing two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (April 9) - Savannah State used a pair of late inning rallies to rally past the Florida A&M University Baseball as they won game one 6-5 and game two 3-2 in a doubleheader here Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.
In the first game, the Tigers score three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for the come from behind win. FAMU (10-24) finished with nine hits, while SSU (19-15) finished with seven. The Rattlers had three players to finish with two hits each in Tobi Adeyemi, Cory Franklin and David Duncan, while Matthew Nowacki finished with two hits lead the Tigers.
Kevin Herlighy picked the win for SSU as he went the distance giving up nine hits, four earned runs and striking out six in nine innings on the mound.
Stephen Dollar (2-2) received the loss for FAMU as he gave up one hits, three earned runs, and striking out one in two-thirds innings of relief. A two-run homer by Jarryd Reid gave the Rattlers a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Videographer: GCubeVision Tiger Talk Live is Savannah State University's first live television show! Geno & Dferg claw at the issues and trending topics that affects your everyday college students. What makes this show special? You! Not only is it a talk show but it's also an interactive show between Savannah State University students & our host. You can Tweet us @SSUTigerTalk or Facebook us your ideas & comments for the show!
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (April 5) - Alabama State University held off the Florida A&M University baseball team, as they scored a run in the bottom of the 11th inning to hand the Rattlers a 12-11 loss in extra innings, here Tuesday afternoon at the ASU Baseball Complex.
Both FAMU (10-23) and ASU (11-14) finished with 14 hits each.
The Rattler were led by both Tobi Adeyemi and Jimmie Terrell as they both finished with three hits each for FAMU, while Jourdan Mott and Gerald Washington both finished with three hits apiece for the Hornets.
Ron James (1-0) picked the win for the ASU as he pitched two and one-third innings giving up two hits and striking out one in relief, while Stephen Dollar received the loss for FAMU as he gave up two hits, two earned runs and striking out two in two and two-thirds innings of relief.
The Hornets took advantage of a FAMU infielder’s error to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as both Drew Quinney and Reginald Mitchell scored on the Rattler error.
NORFOLK, VA - Sammy Serafine is a second baseman and recruiter. Raymond Morton is a pitcher and salesman. Baseball scouts seek out five-tool players, but Norfolk State coach Claudell Clark sometimes sees six or seven.
"It's no secret," Clark said, "We want local players to help us gain local exposure to help us get more local players and more fans."
The Spartans lost 1-0 to the Norfolk Tides in a seven-inning exhibition game Tuesday - a Tides pitcher threw three innings for NSU to limit the strain to the pitching staff - but for the second straight year, Norfolk State delivered a sizeable crowd to the Tides as the Triple-A team opened its home for the season.
The Tides had often played exhibition games against Old Dominion, but their first against Norfolk State drew 8,509 last season. In the game's second year, on a chilly Tuesday, the crowd totaled 8,804.
Daytona Beach, FL - Peter O’Brien left Miami three years ago unrewarded, undrafted and virtually unwanted. He returns now as a player that ESPN has called the top catching prospect in the nation — and it’s undeniably so, according to his college coach.
“He has more skill than any player I’ve ever coached, and he’s the hardest worker,” said Bethune-Cookman coach Mervyl Melendez, whose team plays FIU at 6 p.m. Tuesday. “I expect to see him in the big leagues in a year-and-a-half.”
O’Brien, a 6-4, 220-pound junior, hit .386 with 20 homers and 56 RBI last season. He also caught 29 runners either stealing or straying too far off base, showing off an arm that Melendez said can reach 94 mph on the mound.
BALTIMORE, Md. – John Lynch had five hits and six runs batted in, and Ryan Montgomery and James Taylor also had five hits apiece as Norfolk State swept a doubleheader from Coppin State Sunday at Joe Cannon Stadium, 15-2 and 9-2.
Lynch knocked in three runs in each game for the Spartans, who improved to 10-16 overall and 3-1 in the MEAC. Lynch went 5-for-11 and Montgomery 5-for-9 for NSU, which had 16 hits in both games. The 16 hits are a season high.
Game one was a completion of Saturday’s suspended game. NSU led 9-1 in the top of the fifth inning on Saturday when rain halted things. NSU picked up where it left off, adding another run in the fifth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh to end the game early due to the 10-run rule. Lynch had a two-run single in the sixth, while TiQuan Griffin had a two-run double and Taylor an RBI single in the seventh.
CollegeBaseballInsider.com recently released its 2011 Players to Watch in the MEAC List, and the North Carolina A&T baseball team was well represented.
The Aggies start the 2011 season Friday afternoon at 1 against Campbell University from War Memorial Stadium. The program is coming off of one of its best seasons ever. N.C. A&T (31-26, 15-3) won 30-plus games for the first time in school history, and set a school record for conference wins. In the process, head coach Keith Shumate advanced the Aggies to their fourth MEAC Championship Game in six years.
Baseball insiders are recognizing the outstanding job Shumate is doing with the Aggies program. CollegeBaseballInsider.com named him the best "in-game" coach in the MEAC. Other Aggies receiving top honors included junior second-baseman Marquis Riley. He was recognized as the toughest hitter in the conference to strikeout. Riley struck out only five times last season, second fewest in the nation.
Junior outfielder Xavier Macklin, who has mostly played in left field during his career, was voted as the best defensive outfielder in the league. The acknowledgement shows that he is an all-around outstanding player. Macklin was voted as one of the three best pure hitters in the conference as well as being named as one of the three best power threats.
Junior Esterlin Paulino closed out the honors for N.C. A&T. He was voted as one of the three best starting pitchers. Paulino was the 2010 MEAC Pitcher of the Year after posting a 9-2 record and a league-best 3.38 ERA.
The Aggies are picked to finish second in the MEAC behind perennial champion Bethune-Cookman. Riley, Macklin and Paulino made the MEAC's preseason all-conference team. Paulino was predicted to win MEAC Pitcher of the Year. The Aggies also return leading hitter and 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year Kelvin Freeman.
By Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information Release: 02/17/2011
Dover, Del. - It's time to "play ball" at Delaware State University, as a new baseball season gets underway this weekend.
The Hornets will open the 2011 campaign tomorrow (Feb. 18) with a three-game series against the nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. The series begins with a 4:05 p.m. (ET) contest on Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Delaware State returns 15 letter winners, including seven players who started at least 30 games, from its 2010 squad. The Hornets were 13-36 overall and 8-10 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) last season.
Arkansas is ranked 24th in two major preseason polls after posting a 43-21 overall record in 2010.
Jefferson second baseman Einar Munizhas committed to Bethune-Cookman University, Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta confirmed Thursday.
The 5-foot-3, 140-pound Muniz is small in stature, but has been one of the Dragons' top players. As a junior he hit .358 and struck out just five times in 81 at bats. He also made just three errors in the field in 28 games last year.
BCU Wildcats Pre-Season Pick to Repeat as MEAC Baseball Champs; O'Brien Named Pre-Season POTY, Four Named All-MEAC
NORFOLK, Va. - The votes are in and it's the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats getting the pre-season nod to be Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions in the 2011 season, officials from the MEAC announced. The Wildcats are seeking their sixth consecutive MEAC title in 2011 under the guidance of 2010 MEAC Coach of the Year Mervyl Melendez. The Wildcats received a unanimous decision in the vote by the league's sports information directors and head coaches.
But the pre-season honors don't end there for the defending champions; B-CU junior catcher, recently tabbed as the #18 player in America by College Baseball Today, was selected as the MEAC's pre-season Player of the Year. O'Brien won final MEAC Player of the Year award last season.
oining O'Brien in recognition on the pre-season All-MEAC team, the 'Cats filled three other spots on the team. Pitcher Ali Simpson, first baseman Ryan Durrence, and outfielder DJ Leonard all earned pre-season accolades.
Joining the Wildcats on the Preseason Team is pre-season Pitcher of the Year Esterlin Paulino (NCAT), along with Ryan Shook (NSU), Marquis Riley (NCAT), Chris Joyce (NSU), Xavier Macklin (NCAT), John Lynch (NSU) and Bryan Chaikowsky (UMES).
The Wildcats set off their season on Friday, February 18th, as Alabama A&M travels to Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The first pitch of the 2011 B-CU season is set to be thrown at 6:00 p.m.
2011 MEAC Preseason Baseball Predictions
As voted on by the conference’s Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
Team …................................. Points
1. Bethune-Cookman (14) .............. 196
2. North Carolina A&T ….................. 134
3. Norfolk State …........................... 128
4. Delaware State ........................... 100
5. Florida A&M ……........................... 60
6. Maryland Eastern Shore ................ 46
7. Coppin State .................................36
2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Preseason All-Conference Awards
As voted on by the conference’s Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
Player of the Year: Peter O’Brien, Bethune-Cookman Pitcher of the Year:Esterlin Paulino, North Carolina A&T
Pos Name School Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown
P Ali Simpson Bethune-Cookman Jr. 6-2 170 Campbell River, British Columbia
P Esterlin Paulino North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-6 147 Santo Domingo
RP Ryan Shook Norfolk State Jr. 6-2 185 Virginia Beach, Va.
C Peter O’Brien Bethune-Cookman Jr. 6-3 215 Miami Gardens, Fla.
1B Ryan Durrence Bethune-Cookman Sr. 6-2 230 Jacksonville, Fla.
2B Marquis Riley North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-10 190 Efland, N.C.
3B Chris Joyce Norfolk State Sr. 6-1 195 Chesapeake, Va.
OF DJ Leonard Bethune-Cookman Jr. 6-0 180 West Palm Beach, Fla.
OF Xavier Macklin North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-11 195 Rocky Mount, North Carolina
OF John Lynch Norfolk State Sr. 6-2 215 Newport News, Va.
DH Bryan Chaikowsky Maryland E. Shore Sr. 6-2 210 Bethlehem, Pa.
James Cooper isn't even 30 years old, and he has only been the head baseball coach at Grambling State University for one full season. But he has already experienced some of the difficulties that come with trying to recruit the best baseball talent to a small college.
Twice he has seen an athlete essentially commit to his program, only to be spurned. One of those players went instead to Louisiana State, which guaranteed the recruit a walk-on spot.
And he has seen potential recruits turn down baseball for basketball and football elsewhere. That has happened at least four times.
Grambling State University Head Baseball Coach James Cooper
URBAN INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE Date Time Game
2/25 6:30 p.m. Southern vs. UC Irvine UC Irvine
2/25 6 p.m. B-CU vs. Grambling UYA
2/26 1 p.m. UC Irvine v.s B-CU* UYA
2/26 5 p.m. Grambling vs. Southern* UYA
2/27 1:05 p.m. Grambling vs. UC Irvine UC Irvine
2/27 1 p.m. Southern vs. B-CU UYA
* Broadcast on MLB Network
All times PT
It didn't take long for T.J. Lawrence to make a decision on where he'd be going next after getting his release from University of Florida last week. Lawrence, a former Kathleen High School star receiver, made a surprising announcement Wednesday that he will be suiting up for Florida A&M's football team this season while also getting his baseball career started back up with the Rattlers.
“It's a big shocker because a lot of people wouldn't expect Florida A&M University, but I'm going there to be a two-sport athlete,” Lawrence told The Ledger in a phone interview. The redshirt sophomore said FAMU “kind of popped up” on his radar a couple of days after he got his release from UF, and he's looking forward to competing for a starting spot on the football field right away at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) level. He'll also be looked at in the return game as well.
“I think that excites me more than anything the fact that I'm going to play this year because I've been waiting like forever,” he said. “That's the biggest excitement, the fact that I get to play with players I played with in high school and players I played against in high school.” Lawrence will be reunited with former Kathleen teammate Adrian Smith, who is also a receiver at FAMU. “I'm actually moving in with him,” said Lawrence, who will be in Tallahassee on Friday.
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The T.J. Lawrence Story:
First-Team All-State Honors senior season at Kathleen H.S., Lakeland, Florida
Caught 70 passes and scored 12 touchdowns as senior
Rated Four-star prospect coming out of high school
Under Armour All-American senior season
Chose the FAMU Rattlers over South Florida, Eastern Kentucky, South Alabama, Washington State and Pearl River Community College
Requested release from Florida football scholarship due to lack of playing time.
6-2/190 WR; 4.55 in 40 yard dash - Will play both football and baseball at FAMU
Dylan Drayton signs a letter of intent to attend North Carolina Central University. He is surrounded by his mother, Dee Dee Drayton, left; sister, Taylor; grandfather, Jerry Anderson; and grandmother, Rita Anderson.
He played Shortstop for Middle Creek High School (Apex, N.C.) from 2008-2010. He started three years on the varsity team. Drayton was all conference TRI 8/9 his junior and senior years. He was academic all conference his senior year.
His 2010 batting average was .398 and his 2009 batting average was .414. He was coached by Jeremy Thompson. Career batting stats at MCHS Fourth in total hits Fifth in homeruns Fifth in triples Second in runs scored Fourth in batting average with .386 Single seasons MCHS Records Third and fifth total hits Runs scored third and fourth Third in doubles Second in runs batted in First player in MCHS history to lead off a game with a home run. He is 5’6” and weighs 140.
It appears the N.C. Central Eagles have signed a future star.
When Joe Durant found out that budget cuts would reduce travel expense for the Florida A&M baseball team, he called on Andre Dawson. Dawson helped to arrange a card show in the old Gaither Gym that raised more than $11,000 for the Rattlers about 10 years ago. Dawson had been there several other times to help Durant, a former teammate when both men played at FAMU during the 1970s.
On Sunday, Durant was in Cooperstown reciprocating as Dawson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Durant could have made an excuse for not being there. He has a very good one. He was diagnosed with the lymphoma form of cancer in February, just over two years after he'd found out that the physical changes he was experiencing was the result of having prostate cancer. The meeting between Dawson and Durant at a pre-induction reception was an emotional one, Durant said. They still found a way to laugh.
Andre Dawson joins an elite group » After eight years of waiting, Andre Dawson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, becoming the third Florida A&M athlete to be enshrined in a professional sports HOF. Dawson, just one of three players to hit more than 400 home runs, showed his prowess early in his career when he came to FAMU from Miami as a teenager. He joined a Rattlers team that was one of the winningest HBCU baseball teams during the early 1970s.
On Sunday, President James Ammons led a small contingent from FAMU that also included three of Dawson's former teammates. His induction is the second of a former FAMU athlete in the last two years, as he joined Bob Hayes in the NFL and former tennis star Althea Gibson.
Andre Dawson 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Speech and Transcript.
"So, today, I want to start by thanking Paul Como, my coach at Southwest Miami Senior High School, who moved me from the infield to the outfield, and Coach Costa Kittles, who gave me a chance at Florida A & M University as a walk-on when no other college would look at me because of a knee injury."
BUD SELIG: "Andre Nolan Dawson. The 21 Hawk. Montreal, National League, 1976 to 1986. Chicago Cubs, 1987 to 1992. Boston Red Sox, 1993 to 1994. Florida, National League, 1995-1996.
A powerful run producer, whose poise, work ethic and unsurpassed determination made him a complete player and a leader by example. Totaled 438 home runs and 2774 hits while stealing 314 bases in 21 seasons. Earned eight Gold Glove Awards, made eight All-Star teams. Was named 1977 Rookie of the Year. Revitalized by his arrival in Chicago. Won 1987 National League MVP Award with the Cubs. Leading league in home runs 49, runs batted in 137. Twice lead National League in total bases." Congratulations, Andre.
ANDRE DAWSON: Thank you, Commissioner Selig. Congratulations to my fellow inductees, Jon Miller, Bill Madden, Doug Harvey and Whitey Herzog. It's an honor to be here with you both, though I'm surprised that they let this manager and this umpire sit so close together today. It is both humbling and overwhelming to see the men sitting up here on this stage, to hear their names called before mine. Thank you, gentlemen, for welcoming this rookie to your team. (Applause)
ANDRE DAWSON: All I ever wanted growing up was to be like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays and now I get to shake their hands and be treated as a friend. It's an honor beyond words. We've got a lot of Cubs in this group. Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins. These guys had to go through a lot to fight their way here, more than you will probably ever know. I admire you all a lot and I thank you for paving the way. Ryne Sandberg, who was a teammate of mine for six years and I didn't even know the man could speak until I saw him up here five years ago. My kind of player, never whined, never complained. Showed up every day, left it all on the field.
Andre Dawson’s friends and colleagues talked about “The Hawk” on his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mel Didier (longtime scout and player development person): “I first saw Andre at Florida A&M when I came out to see some other players. When I saw him hit the ball, and I saw the way the ball bounced when he hit it and how it took off, I said to myself, ‘I have another Hank Aaron here.’ At that time, I ran the draft for the Montreal Expos. And for some reason I let him fall to the 11th round of the draft and still got him. I knew he’d be a great player, but I didn’t know at that time he was also going to be a great man.”
Dallas Green (Cubs general manager 1982-1987: “I was the happiest guy in the world when Andre and his agent Dick Moss came to me with that blank contract to sign for 1987. I was embarrassed that I didn’t have more money to give him, but I was thrilled to death that he wanted to play for the Chicago Cubs. It was a great day for the Chicago Cubs and their fans when Andre Dawson made his decision to play for less money than he deserved that season.”
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- The late Buck O'Neil played an instrumental role in sending some great players to the Cubs, including Ernie Banks, Lou Brock and Lee Smith. He could have had another huge find had then-GM John Holland and scouting director Vedie Himsl followed another of his recommendations.
Montreal scout Mel Didier spotted Andre Dawson playing in a 15-inning scrimmage game for the Florida A&M Rattlers before the 1975 season. He remembers him as a "skinny center fielder'' who hit two grounders with "overspin that chewed up the infield grass,'' and the Expos would take Dawson in the 11th round of the draft.
O'Neil regularly scouted Florida A&M and knew all about his potential. He even had the Rattlers' head coach move Dawson to shortstop at one point during the season for an audition as a middle infielder - "I hurt my arm throwing sidearm,'' Dawson said - and pushed the Cubs to selected Dawson, according to some interviews. But Himsl had used the second pick of the '75 draft on Lee Smith, another O'Neil recommendation, and decided not to give him two picks in the top 10.
O'Neil filled Dawson in on the background at a banquet in Chicago one winter. "There was the possibility of the Cubs drafting me,'' said Dawson, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Sunday. "But it never manifested itself.''
Former Expo Andre Dawson will be inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame tomorrow.
Andre Dawson stared almost in awe as he watched a brief video biography of his playing career, brushing away tears as familiar faces spoke in admiration of the intense man most still call "Hawk." "When I think back, there are so many things that flash through my mind," Dawson said. "How did I ever pull it off ? I can only say, 'Wow!' Indeed.
Despite 12 knee surgeries, Dawson was an All-Star eight times and managed to become just one of three major league players to hit 400 homers and steal more than 300 bases (Willie Mays and Barry Bonds are the others). For that and so much more, Dawson will be inducted tomorrow into the Baseball Hall of Fame, part of a class that includes former manager Whitey Herzog, umpire Doug Harvey, broadcaster Jon Miller and sports writer Bill Madden. The ceremony also will honour a musician for the first time. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty will sing his classic song "Centerfield", which he wrote 25 years ago and has been played at the start of induction Sunday for more than a decade.
Now 56, Dawson is the 203rd player elected to the Hall of Fame, making it on the ninth try. Many wondered why it took so long. An 11th-round draft pick by the Montreal Expos in 1975 (Florida A&M University), Dawson quickly made it to the big club in September 1976.
Florida A&M outfielder Derrick Shaw started his day wondering if showers in the New England area would hold off long enough for him to play his first game with the Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The rain didn't let up Wednesday, but by the time word came that the game would be washed out, Shaw still had reason to celebrate: He had been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers picked Shaw, who played baseball and football at FAMU, in the 41st round. His selection makes him the first FAMU player drafted by a major-league team since the Chicago Cubs signed outfielder Dwaine Bacon in 2001.
"Accomplishment, man," said Shaw, explaining his emotions during a telephone interview. "It's a dream come true." Shaw said he will likely spend the next week playing with Holyoke while the Brewers negotiate his contract. Once that is done, he will likely be sent to join the Brewers' rookie team in Arizona or its A-league affiliate in Helena, Montana.
Derrick Shaw, a 6-0 sophomore infielder/outfielder from Orlando, Florida was a 1,239 selection overall in the draft. He finished the season with 67 hits in 163 at-bats for a .411 batting average, scoring 45 runs, while driving in 36 runs. He had 20 hit for extra bases in 11 doubles, three triples and six homers. Shaw was a two-time First Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection (2009, 2010) and a Louisville Slugger All-American. in 2009. As a freshman, Shaw hit .366 with 9 doubles, 42 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.
