Showing posts sorted by relevance for query baseball. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query baseball. Sort by date Show all posts

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

WATCH | THREE STRAIGHT K'S FOR THE W!

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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Mike DeMilia Named Next Lincoln Baseball Coach

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  --  Mike DeMilia, who helped lead Truman State to the postseason last spring, is the next head coach of the Lincoln baseball program. Lincoln Athletic Director Betty Kemna announced the hiring on Tuesday (July 1).

"We are very excited to welcome Mike to Lincoln University," Kemna said. "Mike is a high-energy guy who brings tremendous enthusiasm to our program. We believe his passion for the game of baseball, his understanding of the sport and his knowledge of the MIAA will take Lincoln to the next level."

DeMilia spent the past three seasons as the assistant coach at Truman, including helping the Bulldogs transition from the MIAA into the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2014 season. This past spring, DeMilia helped lead Truman to a program-record 26 wins and a berth in the GLVC postseason tournament, where the Bulldogs won two extra-inning games against higher-ranked teams. One of those wins was a 13-12 come-from-behind victory that eliminated eventual NCAA Midwest Regional-qualifier Indianapolis from the GLVC tourney.

DeMilia becomes the eighth head coach in Lincoln baseball history.



"I've coached for 21 years, the last three at Truman State, and we've played Lincoln 11 times [in that span], and I've always kind of seen it as a program with some promise," DeMilia said. "I see some talent, and a facility that I think can be really good. I believe Lincoln is a place where you can be successful."

Prior to becoming the assistant at Truman, DeMilia was the assistant coach at Millard North High, where he coached two all-state position players and three All-Omaha Metro Area players. That season, DeMilia helped Millard North finish third in the Legion season and fourth at the state tournament. DeMilia was also the head coach at Omaha Bryan High from 2006-2010, winning 184 games overall between the high school and American Legion seasons.

DeMilia has coached baseball on some level since 1994, when he started his professional career as a junior varsity assistant coach with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team. DeMilia was promoted to head coach of that squad in 1996, and held that position until taking over as head coach of the varsity squad in 2000. In six seasons with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team, DeMilia won 126 games with players who had been cut from their high school squads.

DeMilia also concurrently coached as an assistant at Millard West High in 1999 and at Omaha Central High from 2004-2005. DeMilia helped both programs set school records for wins in a season.

In addition to his coaching, DeMilia has also organized, coordinated and instructed at a variety of youth baseball camps and clinics. At Truman State, DeMilia was responsible for scouting opponents and coaching defensive positioning as well as all aspects of the Bulldogs' offensive system. In 2014, the Bulldogs set five offensive records, including runs scored (292), total hits (482), RBI (248) and stolen bases (118). DeMilia coached eight position players that earned All-GLVC recognition and one that was named the Midwest Regional Player of the Week.

DeMilia expects to bring an aggressive offensive approach to the Blue Tigers.

"We want to make pitchers uncomfortable, we want to make the defense uncomfortable," DeMilia said. "At some point, I want to bring speed to our team and steal bases, hit-and-run, things like that. The biggest thing is, I want a group of guys that will compete. You're going to see kids fighting hard, playing as a team, playing with enthusiasm."

DeMilia earned his bachelor's degree in Physical and Health Education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1999 and later received a master's degree in Health and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2001. While at Oklahoma State, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the Cowboy baseball team.

DeMilia and his wife Mendy have three children: Easton, Nolan and Claire.
Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Former MLB manager Dusty Baker visits FAMU and talks with Rattlers baseball squad. Stay tuned for full recap.

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Roger Cador All-Star Baseball Camp set for July 16

SU HEAD BASEBALL COACH ROGER CADOR
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Southern University Baseball will host the Rodger Cador All Star Youth Baseball Camp July 16-19 from 9 a.m to noon at Lee Hines Field on the Southern campus.

Campers, ranging from age 6-16, will learn baseball fundamentals geared towards raising baseball IQ in all areas of the sport.

"We are going to enhance the baseball experience for young people and they will have an appreciation for it," said head coach Roger Cador. "We try to teach them how to play the game the right way."

Drills of baserunning, hitting, catching, throwing and various throwing techniques will be conducted during the camp. The coaches will also be assisted by some of the active players on Southern's roster. Campers can expect to receive an all around learning experience.

Campers are asked to dress weather friendly. Equipment will be provided but campers are asked to provide their own personal material.

"We are truly excited for the kids to come out. They are in for a great experience that will last a lifetime," said assistant coach Fernando Puebla.

Camp fee costs $150, which will cover liability insurance, camp cost and t-shirt can be mailed to Coach Roger Cador, Southern University, P.O. Box 10850, Baton Rouge, LA 70813 or can be delivered upon arrival.

For more information, contact Coach Cador 225-771-3712 or Coach Puebla 225-505-6734.

2012 Roger Cador All-Star Camp app (.pdf)

COURTESY: JaMarlan Peoples, Athletics Media Relations Student Asst., SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

NJ Mourns Loss of Hall of Fame Baseball Star Monte Irvin (Lincoln University Star)

ORANGE, New Jersey - The baseball world stopped Tuesday for a moment to give homage to one of the sport’s great contributors, Monte Irvin from Orange, NJ.

Before the Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson and made him Major League Baseball's first African-American player, the team owners in the Negro League believed that one day Monte Irvin would be the one to break baseball's color barrier. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. After his playing career, Irvin was a baseball scout and held an administrative role with the MLB commissioner's office.

At the time of his death, Irvin was the oldest living former Negro Leagues player, New York Giant and Chicago Cub.

Born Monford Merrill Irvin in February 25, 1919 and nicknamed Monte, Irvin was an American left fielderand right fielder in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB). Irvin was born in Haleburg, Alabama and raised in Orange, NJ.

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Sunday, July 10, 2016

Stillman will retain baseball and softball

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- After what was thought to be the final seasons for the Stillman College baseball and softball programs, Stillman athletic director Donte Jackson has announced that the school will retain both programs and continue play next season.

“We looked at softball and baseball as two of the traditional sports that have always been here at Stillman College, and two of the traditional sports that we’ve had a lot of success with,” Jackson said. “So in our efforts to boost enrollment, it was a good to retain softball and baseball.”

In December, Stillman announced the move from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in NCAA division II to the Gulf South Athletic Conference in the NAIA. Stillman made the move to drop all of its athletic programs except men’s and women’s basketball following the 2015-2016 school year. With the new addition of junior varsity teams for both the softball and baseball teams, Stillman will have the financial capabilities to keep both varsity teams.

Rumblings of both the baseball and softball programs being retained began in the late spring, especially after both finished well in the SIAC conference with limited rosters. The softball team finished 14-10 in the conference, while the baseball team finished with 16-5 conference record and made it to the conference championship game.

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Thursday, August 23, 2018

Alabama A&M Elevates Lora to Head Baseball Coach

Manny Lora
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — The search for Alabama A&M's baseball coach is complete.

Alabama A&M announced on Thursday that Manny Lora has been hired as the Bulldogs' new head baseball coach.

"We are really excited to have Manny Lora as our new baseball coach," Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks said. "Manny is a bright up-and-coming coach in collegiate baseball. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and a high baseball IQ to our program, and he will serve our baseball program and student-athletes well.

"He is an asset to our program."

Lora, a Miami native, spent the past three seasons at Alabama A&M working under former coach Mitch Hill as the team's pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

Before making the transition to coaching, Lora played for Alabama A&M as a relief pitcher from 2010-14, recording 151 strikeouts in 54 appearances.

"I want to thank our president, Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr., and our Athletic Director, Bryan Hicks, for trusting me to lead our program," Lora said. "Being a former player, this program here at A&M is important to me.

"I have always envisioned myself leading young men to achieve and dominate both in the classroom and on the field."

The foundation of Lora's strategic plan for Alabama A&M's future focuses on recruiting and player development. He also plans to continue Alabama A&M's recent trend of playing a strong non-conference schedule to help prepare the Bulldogs for anything they might face during league play.

"There's a lot of potential here," Lora said. "Right now, we're focused on recruiting and bringing in players who can build on the foundation we've established.

"I'm excited about what's ahead — establishing a program with a vision that's ultimate goal is to win championships."

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Florida A&M Assistant Coach Bryan Henry Named Head Baseball Coach at Tallahassee Community College

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Thursday, October 29, 2015

SU Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement set for Friday

The Southern University Sports Hall of Fame (SUSHOF) will hold its 28th Annual Enshrinement and Banquet Ceremony Friday, October 30, 2015 at the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium at 7 p.m.

The (SUSHOF) will induct 26 members into the 2015 class. The new members will also be recognized during pre-game activities at the Alcorn State game Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

The 2015 Class includes current Southern University assistant athletic director Earl Hill, who is also a member of the Ashland University Sports Hall of Fame as a player. As head coach of the Southern University-New Orleans men's basketball program, Hill led the Knights to the NAIA Division I National Basketball Tournament during 1994-95, 1997-98 and 1999-2000 seasons.

The Knights became the first team to win the GCAC Tournament in 1994-95. Hill earned GCAC coach of the year honors three times and his innovative, no-nonsense coaching style produced the league's player of the year seven times, including Willie Quinn, father of current SU football star wide receiver Willie Quinn.

Former women's basketball head coach Herman Hartman, Sr., men's basketball star Kevin Florent and baseball star Leroy Boyd.

Southern's 1958-59 baseball team that won the NAIA Tournament will also be enshrined during Friday's ceremony.

The Jaguars claimed the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Baseball Championship, finishing 4-1. MLB Hall of Famer Lou C. Brock unloaded a three-run-homer, with the score tied 2-2 to start the Jaguars to a 10-2 victory and the championship over Omaha University.

Southern University Jaguars were the first Negro team to participate in the Annual NAIA Championship Tournament. The tournament was held in Alpine, Texas at Sul Ross State College June 2-5, 1959.

This year’s inductee’s class includes the following:

BASEBALL
Henry C. Baker, Jr.
Leroy Boyd
Raymond Duplechain

BASKETBALL
Yolanda Y. Brown
Kevin R. Florent
Herman L. Hartman, Sr.
Earl R. Hill
Dervynn F. Johnson
Gwendolyn Wilson-Gene

FOOTBALL
Fredrick Bailey
Ezra J. Landry

GOLF
Paul A. Moore
Brian E. Washington

TENNIS
Charles Ketchum
Melvin C. McCurley
Karen K. Scott

 TRACK & FIELD
Renan A. Gilkes
Willie C. Owens
1958-1959 BASEBALL TEAM
1958-1959 SWAC/NAIA CHAMPIONS
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Paul Lewis, Jr.
Herman Rhodes
Alvin Woods

Southern University took the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Baseball Championship, taking four games while losing only one. Lou C. Brock unloaded a three-run-homer, with the score tied 2-2 to start the Jaguars to a 10-2 victory and the Championship over Omaha University.

Southern University Jaguars were the first Negro team to participate in the Annual NAIA Championship Tournament. The tournament was held in Alpine, Texas at Sul Ross State College June 2-5, 1959.

1959 -1960 SWAC CHAMPIONS
BASEBALL ROSTER
Sanford Isom Harry Levy
Paul Lewis William Stoudeamire
Wiley MacMillan James L. Dickerson
McVea Griffin Charles East
Seargeant Douglas Herman Rhodes
Alvin Woods Charlie Grey
Henry Triplett Earvin Sams
T. Ashery Gerald Kimble
James Maryland Lee Otis Green
Julius Smith Quincy Mason
Kyle Wells William Sautens
Roy MacGriff Herman James!

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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Friday, March 25, 2011

Stillman faces Albany State in SIAC series

TUSCALOOSA | The Stillman College baseball team, riding a six-game conference winning streak, will take on Albany State in a key Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series this weekend at historic Eagle Stadium in Ozark.

The teams will play a nine-inning game tonight at 7, then wrap up the series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The doubleheader will consist of two, seven-inning games.

Stillman (12-13, 6-0 SIAC) will serve as the home team for the three-game series to be played in one of the state’s oldest minor league ballparks.

Ozark stadium to host its first four-year college baseball game

OZARK, AL – Several baseball fans and players from Tuscaloosa and Albany, Ga., are expected to be in Ozark this weekend for the city’s first baseball game with four-year, Division 2 college players.

Baseball teams from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa and Albany State University are playing a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Eagle Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday and will have a double-header at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Department of Leisure Services Director Steve Sherrill said Auburn University in Montgomery will play at the stadium against Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga., on April 12.

The stadium, which seats 800, was built in 1946 for the Ozark Cardinals Class D Minor League Baseball team. Sherrill said renovations to the facility have since drawn several junior college and high school baseball teams to the city for regional and state tournaments.

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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Fitzgerald hopes to fit baseball into his schedule

Winston-Salem State University Interim Head Baseball Coach Kevin Ritsche.

Dominique Fitzgerald chuckled when asked if he might be the best baseball player at Winston-Salem State. Fitzgerald is a rising junior wide receiver on the WSSU football team. But he's also very interested in playing baseball next spring, when the Rams will field a team for the first time since 1973. "I've already talked to Coach (Kevin) Ritsche, so we'll just have to see what happens," Fitzgerald said in a telephone interview.

Ritsche, named the interim coach of the fledging baseball program last week, is trying to find players for a team that will play in the CIAA next spring. He'll have to do that without the benefit of a large recruiting budget, so any talent he can find that's already on campus can only help.

Fitzgerald, who played football and baseball at George Washington High School in Danville, Va., is playing summer baseball with the Virginia Marlins, a traveling team of college players based in Danville. He's plays the outfield, and he also pitched some in high school.

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Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Fourteen Savannah State Athletes Graduate With Honors



SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Several former Savannah State athletes were awarded their degrees during the university's 180th commencement ceremony in Tiger Arena on May 5.

Michael King (baseball) earned his master of business administration degree.

Receiving undergraduate degrees were Julius Green (baseball), Dexter Kelley (baseball), Rod Mitchell (basketball), Derek Williams (football), Ashley Roper (women's basketball), Cheick Diop (football), Darren Hunter (football), Cordarian Robertson (baseball), AJ DeFilippis (football), Ivy Smith (women's basketball), Courtrevez McTier (baseball), Treasure Monroe (women's basketball), Chris Herans (football), Brittany Lewis (volleyball), Matthew Nowacki (baseball), Channing Welch (football), Courtney Long (women's basketball), Alisha Nelson (women's basketball, track), Thelmore Jackson (football), Amara Jones (women's track), William Edwards (football), Damon McKinney (football), Eric Ransom (baseball), Calvin Leonard (football), Vince Cochran (football), Brandon Miller (football), Angela Palmer (tennis), Patrice Rogers (softball), Jarvis Thomas (football), Rodney McDowell-Turner (track), Shamyra Adama (softball), Craig Huling (football) and Devin Stowers.

A total of 14 athletes graduated with honors.

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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

N.C. A&T Aggies Removes Interim Tag, Name Hall Head Coach

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – Ben Hall, who held the position of interim head coach this past season, has been selected as North Carolina A&T’s new head baseball coach, director of athletics Earl M. Hilton III announced Tuesday.

“Coach Hall played under (longtime college baseball coach) Jack Leggett like (former A&T baseball coach) Keith Shumate. I see a lot of similarities between coach Hall and coach Shumate in terms of their approaches and philosophies to the game,” said Hilton. “Coach Shumate was a very successful coach for A&T, and I think coach Hall can be as well. I had a chance to observe him throughout the season, and I was impressed with what I saw from him in terms of paying attention to detail, preparation and overall leadership. While our win-loss record was not what we hoped it would be, coach Hall effectively guided the program through a difficult transition period.”

Hall was announced as an assistant coach under then head coach Joel Sanchez on October 1, 2014. Three weeks later Hall was named interim head coach after Sanchez’s dismissal. In Hall’s first season as a head coach, the Aggies finished 10-36 overall and 7-17 in the MEAC. But in the Aggies last 12 games, they went 6-6 including a win over arch-rival N.C. Central in the regular-season finale that prevented the Eagles from qualifying for the MEAC tournament.

Hall discusses the importance of pitching

“I am truly blessed and thankful for the opportunity to lead the North Carolina A&T State University baseball program forward,” Hall said. “First I want to thank Chancellor Harold L. Martin, and athletics director Earl Hilton for this opportunity and the confidence they have displayed in me through this appointment. In addition, I definitely want to thank all of the A&T staff and faculty I have had the pleasure to work with this past year. A&T is an amazing place that displays all the characteristics of a destination for student-athletes to come and chase their dreams.”

Hall’s first season saw three players earn first-team All-MEAC honors including conference rookie of the year Adan Ordonez. Ordonez was also named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American under Hall.

“Our program’s first priority is to lead our student-athletes as they develop into men while striving for success on and off the field. Secondly, our daily work will honor the rich tradition of Aggie baseball, yet push for new heights,” said Hall. “I am excited about the new staff we have in place. Their talent, energy for the game and consistency in their work ethic will directly benefit this program going forward. We are excited for the future of Aggie baseball.”

Before he came to A&T, Hall spent three seasons as assistant with the Winthrop Eagles baseball program. During his time with the Eagles he assisted with infielders, hitters and all aspects of recruiting, which included 2014 first-team All-Big South outfielder TJ Olesczuk who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and 2013 all-conference third baseman Chad Smith.

Before accepting the post at Winthrop, Hall worked at Division II Wingate for four seasons. He started there as a graduate assistant before being promoted to an assistant coach in 2010, where he worked with hitters and infielders. In 2011, the Bulldogs finished in the top-10 in hits, doubles, home runs and slugging percentage nationally. The Bulldogs finished 34-22, won the South Atlantic Conference Tournament and earned a bid to the Southeast Regional. The Bulldogs won the SAC regular-season title in 2010.

As a player, Hall spent one season each at Stetson and Daytona Beach Community College before transferring to Clemson University where he played under Leggett. At Stetson he hit .321 and was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman team. His best season at Clemson came in 2005 when he hit .319 with five doubles and nine RBI.

Hall received his undergraduate degree in sports management from Clemson in 2007 and his master’s degree in business administration from Wingate in 2009.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

ASU Hornets Release 2014 Baseball Schedule

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez and the Alabama State University baseball team has released its 2014 baseball schedule.

The Hornets have a 55-game regular season, which includes 26 home dates to be played at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Alabama State will open the 2014 season with a three- game home series against Eastern Kentucky University (Feb. 14-16). This season, the Hornets will also travel to the University of Pacific for a weekend series (Feb 21-23), and will culminate this year's schedule with a three-game road series against the University of Miami (May2-4). Also on this year's slate are home-and-home match-ups against UAB, South Alabama, Troy, Samford, Jacksonville State, and Mercer. The Hornets will also play a pair of contests at Auburn.

"Every year we try to play a very competitive schedule to get our guys ready for the conference play. With the schedule we have I believe we will face a lot of quality teams", head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. "We have a lot of home games on the schedule that our fans will get to enjoy. We're very excited about the season. It will be challenging and our team will be ready to go."

ASU will open Southwestern Athletic Conference play March 1-2, with a home weekend series against Mississippi Valley State. The Hornets will close-out conference play with two weekend series against archrival Alabama A&M, April 19-20, and eastern division foe Jackson State April 26-27.

Alabama State will host North Carolina Central University for a three-game home series that will kick-off a mid-season stretch that will have the Hornets playing five games in six nights, March 28-April 2, wrapping up with games against Mercer and Jacksonville State.

This year's SWAC tournament is set for May 14-18 and will be held in Fort Worth, Texas at LaGrave Field.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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Saturday, February 18, 2017

Four HBCUs to compete in the 10th annual Urban Invitational at the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy

NEW ORLEANS -- Four Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) will compete at the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy (MLBYA) in the 10th annual Urban Invitational, which is being hosted in New Orleans for the fourth consecutive year from Friday, February 17th to Sunday, February 19th.

Alcorn State University (Alcorn, Mississippi), Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana), Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas), and Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) are returning to Major League Baseball's round-robin collegiate baseball tournament designed to highlight HBCUs and their baseball programs. This will be Southern University's 10th Urban Invitational, making them the only school to have participated in every tournament. Grambling State will make its sixth appearance, with both Prairie View A&M and Alcorn State University making their third appearance each.

The four HBCU teams will be joined by teams from the University of New Orleans and the University Illinois at Chicago, which will be making its tournament debut, with additional games throughout the weekend being played at Maestri Field at Privateer Park, the home of the University of New Orleans baseball team.

The games played by the four HBCU teams on Saturday, February 18th will air LIVE from the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy on MLB Network and MLB.com, with play-by-play from Scott Braun and analysis from former All-Star Outfielder Cliff Floyd. Southern University will wear Negro League uniforms in commemoration of Black History Month. Below is the tournament schedule:

 Date, Time, Teams, Location
Feb. 17, 11:00a.m., UIC vs. Prairie View A&M, New Orleans MLBYA
Feb. 17, 2:00p.m., UIC vs. Prairie View A&M, New Orleans MLBYA
Feb. 17, 5:00p.m., Grambling State vs. Alcorn State, New Orleans MLBYA
Feb. 17, 6:00p.m., Southern vs. UNO, University of New Orleans

 Date, Time, Teams, Location
Feb. 18, 1:00p.m., UIC vs. UNO, University of New Orleans
Feb. 18, 2:00p.m.*, Alcorn State vs. Prairie View A&M, New Orleans MLBYA
Feb. 18, 6:00p.m.*, Grambling State vs. Southern, New Orleans MLBYA

Date, Time, Teams, Location
Feb. 19, 12:00p.m., UIC vs. Grambling State, New Orleans MLBYA
Feb. 19, 1:00p.m., Prairie View A&M vs. UNO, University of New Orleans
Feb. 19, 3:00p.m., Alcorn State vs. Southern, New Orleans MLBYA

*These games will air LIVE on MLB Network and MLB.com.

In addition to tournament play, the New Orleans MLBYA will host youth-focused events before games on Saturday, February 18th. A PLAY BALL event will take place at 11:30 a.m., followed by regional trials for the Scotts MLB Pitch, Hit and Run and the Jr. Home Run Derby skills competitions beginning at approximately 3:00 p.m. The PLAY BALL initiative is proudly supported by MLB sponsors Chevrolet and Scotts.

Former Major Leaguers, including pitcher Marvin Freeman, catcher Lenny Webster and manager Jerry Manuel, as well as Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims, will attend various portions of the Urban Invitational, particularly the youth events throughout Saturday. Freeman (Jackson State) and Webster (Grambling State) are both HBCU alums. Manuel is a Youth Programs Consultant for MLB.

HBCUs have long offered quality educational and athletic programs and have a proud tradition of attracting outstanding baseball players. Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Brock (Southern University) and Andre Dawson (Florida A&M) played in HBCU baseball programs. In 2015, Earl Burl III, who played for Alcorn State University and was the first player to be drafted out of the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy, was selected. During the 2016 Draft, Tyree Thompson, became the second player to be drafted out of the New Orleans Academy.

MLB's youth initiatives will be well-represented at the 2017 Urban Invitational as 12 players on this year's rosters are alumni of MLB Youth Academies, RBI programs or MLB Development Camps, such as the Breakthrough Series. At least one White Sox A.C.E and RBI program alumni will be represented on each HBCU team in the tournament, six of whom have participated in the Breakthrough Series (BTS): Tyler Laux (BTS), Tyler Gordon (BTS), and Andrew Garcia (BTS) from Prairie View A&M; Reggie Johnson (BTS) and Robert Fletcher II (BTS) from Alcorn State; Marshawn Taylor (BTS) and Nick Wheeler from Grambling State; and Justin Freeman, son of Marvin Freeman, from Southern University. Southern University has two other RBI alumni in J'Markus George (Atlanta Metro RBI) and Niko Hayes-Saltare (Miami Marlins RBI). The Breakthrough Series will have eight total alumni, with three coming out of Southern University, three out of Prairie View, one out of Alcorn State and one player out of Grambling State.

MLB PRESS RELEASE
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Sunday, June 24, 2018

Legendary MEAC Commissioner Ken Free Sr. inducted into South Atlantic League Hall of Fame (Video)

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- When you play baseball, it's a dream come true to be elected into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame and Ken Free was one of those inductees.
  • Ken Free inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame
  • Began playing semi-professional baseball at age 15
  • Played in the Negro Leagues with the Raleigh Tigers
At the age of 15, the Greensboro native played semi-professional baseball, later joined the Army and then played professionally in the Negro Leagues with the Raleigh Tigers in 1959. He got his time to shine playing in the All-Star game at the famous Comiskey Park in Chicago.

"We were out drawing some of the major league places," he said. "Comiskey Park drew 60,000 people."

The following year he played with Hall of Famer Satchel Paige. The next season, Free would play for Hickory in the Western Carolina league where he took lessons from Paige.

"I learned how to be patient, wait until your time [and] to hustle at all times. I learned how to make sure you didn't get upset with the abuse," he said. "Satchel would teach us that type of stuff."

After his playing career, the North Carolina A&T grad was named the first full-time commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1978. Free helped expand the MEAC to 12 teams and lead them into Division I.

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South Atlantic League

 Kenneth A. “Ken” Free’s professional baseball career began in 1952 when he played for the semi-pro Greensboro Redbirds at the age of 15. 

Free was a star baseball player and graduate of both Greensboro’s Dudley High School and North Carolina A&T State University and has always been devoted to athletics and recreation. Professionally, he played in the Negro League for The Raleigh Tigers during the 1959 season and played in the East/West All-Star game in Chicago’s famous Comiskey Park. That game highlighted the Negro League season and drew 45-50 thousand people and all the Major League scouts. He started the 1960 season traveling with Negro League icon Satchell Paige who is a member of the Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame. Free finished the 1960 season by signing a pro contract with Hickory of the Western Carolina League. In 1961 the NY Mets were approved as a MLB expansion team, bought the contract and assigned Free to their farm team, The Raleigh Caps of the Carolina League.



He began his venture into athletics management as a community center director at Windsor for the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. He then moved up to become a regional Parks/Recreation consultant for the state of North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources. Through his professional administrative prowess and deep concern for youth and intercollegiate athletics, Free became the first full-time commissioner of the MEAC in 1978 and reigned until June 1996. He made Greensboro the conference headquarters early in his tenure. Free was instrumental in the drive for MEAC institutions to attain NCAA Division I status, which became a reality in 1980. In 1987, he was named to the powerful NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, becoming the first African-American appointed to that group.

After his MEAC run, Free served as Commissioner of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (EIAC) from 1996-2006.

In 1986, Free received the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Society prestigious FELLOW AWARD, the highest honor in that association. Also, during his eight years with the state of NC, he received the ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE from the late Governor James Holshouser.

 Most recently, he served on the Greensboro Parks and Recreation committee.

 Since 2006, Free has served on the board of the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL), which started in Richmond, Virginia and provides opportunities for African-American children to participate in America’s pastime. Ken was instrumental in bringing the MJBL’s Annual Inner-City Classic to Greensboro, which will be held from July 17-22.

 Ken Free, Sr. was inducted into the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

 MEAC MEDIA COMMUNICATION
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Sunday, March 10, 2013

2013 SWAC Baseball Tournament Moves to Texas

LaGrave Field, Fort Worth, Texas
(Courtesy SWAC.org)
Birmingham, Ala. – The 2013 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Championship is headed to Fort Worth, Texas. The tournament, which is slated for May 15-19, will be held at the historic 5,100-seat LaGrave Field.

LaGrave Field opened in 1926. During its existence, LaGrave Field has hosted nearly 50 members of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. That list includes Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Sparky Anderson, Yogi Bera, Roy Campanella, Joe DiMaggio, Larry Doby, Willie Mayes, Willie McCovey, Stan Musial, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams, just to name a few.

LaGrave Field is the present-day home of the Fort Worth Cats minor league baseball team. The Cats are members of the United Baseball League.

The Fort Worth area is home to over 758,000 residents. The nation’s 16th-largest city recorded the 12th-largest numeric increase in new residents adding over 16,000 between April 2010 and July 2011 according to new population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more information about the 2013 SWAC Baseball Tournament, visit www.SWAC.org.

2013 SWAC Baseball Tournament Schedule

Wednesday, May 15
Game 1 – 9:00 a.m. – West #3 vs. East #2
Game 2 – 12:00 p.m. – East #3 vs. West #2
Game 3 – 3:00 p.m. – East #4 vs. West #1
Game 4 – 6:00 p.m. – West #4 vs. East #1

Thursday, May 16
Game 5 – 9:00 a.m. – Loser G1 vs. Loser G3
Game 6 – 12:00 p.m. – Loser G2 vs. Loser G4
Game 7 – 3:00 p.m. – Winner G1 vs. Winner G3
Game 8 – 6:00 p.m. – Winner G2 vs. Winner G4

Friday, May 17
Game 9 – 9:00 a.m. – Loser G7 vs. Winner G5
Game 10 – 12:00 p.m. – Winner G6 vs. Loser G8
Game 11 – 3:00 p.m. – Winner G7 vs. Winner G9
Game 12 – 6:00 p.m. – Winner G10 vs. Winner G8

Saturday, May 18
Game 11a (If Necessary) – 12:00 p.m.
Winner G11 vs. Loser G11
Game 12a (If Necessary) – 12:00 p.m. or 3 p.m.
Loser G12 vs. Winner G12

Sunday, May 19
Game 15 – SWAC Championship - 2:00 p.m.
Bracket A Winner vs. Bracket B Winner

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Thursday, August 19, 2010

FAMU narrows choice on baseball coach

The Tallahassee Democrat has confirmed that Florida A&M University has hired former University of Illinois head men's track and field coach Wayne Angel, as the Rattlers next men's track coach. Angel's bio can be read at: Player Bio: Wayne Angel - FIGHTINGILLINI.COM // THE OFFICIAL HOME ...

Florida A&M could make its next athletic department personnel hire out of the state of Mississippi.

On Tuesday, when FAMU signed former University of Mississippi associate athletic director Derek Horne to run its athletic department, President James Ammons said he would interview his final choice for the vacant head baseball coach on Wednesday. Ammons didn't name the finalist, and while it wasn't immediately confirmed that Ammons conducted the interview, sources have said Jackson State's baseball coach Omar Johnson visited the campus Wednesday.

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From the Beep...

Dang! FAMU's President Ammons is knocking the ball out to I-10 with the hiring of new athletic director Derek Horne, former Illinois world-class track and field coach Wayne Angel, and now an attempt to hire the highly successful Jackson State University baseball coach, Omar Johnson.

The 411 on Johnson.... He's a Winner... a Miami (Florida) native who is the first JSU baseball coach to reach the 100-win plateau(106-62) within his first three seasons. He has coached the German national team in the 2009 Baseball World Cup and 2010 European Championship (when they won the Bronze Medal for the first time in 35 years). Johnson also coached current major leaguer Josh Willingham of the Florida Marlins. He is a University of North Alabama graduate.

These personnel moves are a major step in Dr. Ammons changing the status quo culture of the FAMU athletic department. Now, if the Rattlers men's basketball problem can be addressed, please.... Yes, I like these hires! Go Rattlers! (beepbeep)

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
FAMU defensive front shines
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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Albany State University survives long, long day

ALBANY, GA — Albany State interim baseball coach Kenyan Conner was momentarily speechless following Friday night’s SIAC Tournament game against Miles. Then he aptly described his team’s 18-12 win. “Long,” he said about the four-hour game where his team nearly blew a 15-0 lead.

The sixth-seeded Rams hung on and are still alive in the SIAC Tournament, but now they have no room for error entering the final two days of the event.

After committing five errors in a 5-3 quarterfinal loss to the No. 2 seed Stillman College Tigers, the Rams avoided bowing out of the double elimination tournament Friday at Paul Eames Sports Complex by knocking off Miles.

'Bama athletes think about home

ALBANY, GA - Some people who survived those storms in Alabama are in Albany this week at the SIAC Baseball Tournament. While they're playing ball or rooting for their teams, all of them said their hearts are back home.

The Stillman College baseball Tigers from Tuscaloosa had a former teammate killed in the tornadoes that flattened their town. Three members of the Miles College baseball Bears from Birmingham lost their rental homes at school, while two players' families lost their homes.

Many of the fans at today's games lived through the killer storms. Katie Watkins' fiance is one of the coaches for Stillman College's baseball team. She was in her apartment in Northport during the tornadoes. "He had gone to be with a girl, to protect her...

Defending champion Rams open 2011 SIAC tourney today at home

ALBANY, GA — When Albany State junior shortstop William Smalls talks, interim baseball coach Kenyon Conner said his team listens. That was clear during Wednesday afternoon’s practice when Smalls spoke about preparing for this week’s SIAC baseball tournament, which starts today at Paul Eames Park.

“We are ready to play, man,” the SIAC Player of the Year candidate said. “Just like in the military, get your soldiers up and get ready to go to war.” “War” starts today at 10 a.m. when the No. 6 Rams (25-23 overall, 10-5 SIAC) host No. 3 Tuskegee (16-15, 11-4) in the opener of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.

The Rams, who have won 11 of their last 18 games, hosted and won last year’s SIAC Tournament. Conner said pressure to repeat lingers in the back of his players’ minds.

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READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Stillman College student killed by tornado
The Crimson White confirms 8 student deaths

VISIT: ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: ASURAMS
VISIT: MILES COLLEGE
VISIT: MILESGOLDENBEARS
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Friday, September 7, 2018

SU's Roger Cador Elected to Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame



NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana – Southern University Roger Cador has been named to the 2019 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class. Cador is the nineteenth member from Southern University and the first since the induction of Otis Washington and Avery Johnson in 2015. Cador will be joined by Peyton Manning, LSU Les Miles, Danielle Scott-Arruda, Charles Smith, Matt Dunigan, Max Fluger, And T. Barrett Porter.

The Class of 2019 will be enshrined Saturday, June 8, in Natchitoches to culminate the 60th Anniversary Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration June 6-8.

The 2019 Induction Class will be showcased in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum, operated by the Louisiana State Museum system in a partnership with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. The striking two-story, 27,500-square foot structure faces Cane River Lake in the National Historic Landmark District of Natchitoches and has garnered worldwide architectural acclaim and rave reviews for its contents since its grand opening during the 2013 Hall of Fame induction weekend.

A 35-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association committee selected the 2019 inductees. The panel considered a record 145 nominees from 30 different sport categories on a 31-page ballot, said Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland. 

The eight new competitive ballot inductees will raise the total of Hall of Fame members to 350 competitors honored since the first induction class --  baseball’s Mel Ott, world champion boxer Tony Canzoneri and LSU football great Gaynell Tinsley -- were enshrined in 1959 after their election a year earlier.

Also to be spotlighted next summer will be three other Hall of Fame inductees, the winner of the 2019 Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award and the recipients of the 2019 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism presented by the LSWA. Those contributor ballot inductees will be announced later this year.

The complete 11-person Class of 2019 will bring the membership in the Hall of Fame to 433 men and women, including 19 Dixon Award winners and 64 sports journalists.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame already includes 18 Pro Football Hall of Fame members, 18 Olympic medalists including 11 gold medal winners, 10 members of the Basketball Hall of Fame, seven of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, six National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 37 College Football Hall of Fame members, nine National High School Hall of Fame enshrinees, jockeys with a combined 16 Triple Crown victories, six world boxing champions, seven Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees, seven College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees,  10 College Basketball Hall of Fame members, four NBA Finals MVPs, four winners of major professional golf championships, four National Museum of (Thoroughbred) Racing and Hall of Fame inductees and two Super Bowl MVPs.

Biographical information on all 422 current Hall of Fame members is available at the LaSportsHall.com website, with a steady stream of info available at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Facebook page and the @LaSportsHall twitter account.

Cador became one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top all-time coaches in any sport while leading the baseball team at his alma mater, Southern University, for 33 seasons (1985-2017). He compiled a career record of 913-597-1 (.604) in leading Southern to 14 conference titles and 11 NCAA tournaments.

In one of the milestones of his career, on May 21, 1987, Cador guided the Jaguars to a stunning 1-0 upset of No. 2-ranked Cal State Fullerton, which was the top seed for the NCAA South II Regional at UNO. It was the first time an HBCU school won an NCAA tournament game.

Cador added two more NCAA tournament victories en route to posting a dozen 30-win seasons. He coached 10 All-Americans and had 62 players chosen in the Major League Baseball draft. Under Cador'ss tutelage, second baseman Rickie Weeks, a two-time NCAA batting champion, won the 2003 Golden Spikes Award as college baseball’s top player and was the second overall pick in the draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.

"I would like to congratulate Coach [Roger] Cador. His body of work speaks volumes," said Southern University Athletic Director Roman Banks. "Southen's family thanks Coach Cador, in the way he enhanced Baseball, Southern's Athletic Department, and Southern University as a whole."

The 2019 Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, June 6, with a press conference and reception. The three-day festivities include two receptions, a youth sports clinic, a bowling party, and a Friday night riverbank concert in Natchitoches. Tickets for the Induction Dinner and Ceremony, along with congratulatory advertising and sponsorship opportunities, will be available early in 2019 through the LaSportsHall.com website.

Anyone can receive quarterly e-mails about the 2019 Induction Celebration and other Hall of Fame news by signing up on the LaSportsHall.com website.

Adding to the 342 sports competitors currently enshrined, 18 winners of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership award and 62 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism,  there are 422 current members of the Hall of Fame before next summer’s inductions.

The 2019 Induction Celebration weekend will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame.  The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.  For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com.  Standard and customized sponsorships are available.  

COURTESY: LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
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