Family Ties: Grambling draws past players home

Grambling, La. - Grambling's rich history once again will be on display when the Grambling Legends Hall of Fame inducts its third class of stellar athletes, coaches and contributors at a 6 p.m. Saturday ceremony at the Fred C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

Much like the previous two classes, the inductees always come back to the same subject: the family atmosphere at GSU.

"My ties to Grambling are so very, very deep," said inductee Douglas Porter, who was an assistant coach under Eddie Robinson and has been a close adviser for the coaches who succeeded Robinson. "The people who I come in contact with, they say, 'Why did you come back to Grambling?' I say, 'It's because I'm a Gramblingite. It's because I've got friends here that are the greatest friends you could ever have, and when you've got friends it's priceless."

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MEET THE NEW HALL OF FAMERS (From http://www.gramblinglegends.net/)

More on this year's Grambling Sports Legends Hall of Fame class of inductees ...

FRANK GARNETT (baseball) – A New Orleans native, Garnett was a three-sport letterman and a state champion in both baseball and basketball at St. Augustine High. He then served as a team captain on the 1962-63 Grambling baseball teams, as the Tigers advanced to the national NAIA baseball tournament for the third of what would be four times between 1961-67. He was named all-conference in each of his four years on campus – once at first base, twice at third base and once a shortstop – and earned first-team All-America honors in 1963. Garnett, later a longtime Los Angeles area educator, then signed a baseball contract with the Washington Senators, and played seven seasons of minor league baseball.

JAMES “SHACK” HARRIS (football) – A senior personnel executive for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, the Monroe, Louisiana, native led Grambling to SWAC championships in each of his four years as quarterback and was named MVP of the 1967 Orange Blossom Classic. Drafted by the AFL’s Buffalo Bills, he would become the first black player to start a season at quarterback, the first to start a conference championship game and the first to be named MVP of the Pro Bowl over the course of a career that also included stops with the Rams and Chargers.

TASHA HOLLIS (women’s basketball) – A standout at Grambling from 1988-91, the Mobile, Alabama, native scored a total of 2,058 points. She boasted a career shot percentage of 58 percent, and a free-throw average of 64 percent. That included scoring in double figures 75 times in 85 games played. The Lady Tigers, under fellow Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame coach Pat Bibbs, claimed the SWAC regular-season and tournament titles in 1988-89. Hollis also notched double figures in rebounds in 69 career games, and had 140 blocked shots and 142 steals.

DELLES HOWELL (football) – Famously started at Grambling as a freshman cornerback, then in the NFL as a rookie. The Monroe, Louisiana, native starred on a trio of Southwestern Athletic Conference title teams for fellow Grambling Legends Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson, then for the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets in a six-season NFL career – collecting 17 career interceptions. He has found a second calling in the ministry, serving as pastor of New Light Baptist Church in northeastern Louisiana.

JAMES “HOUND” HUNTER (football) – Drafted 10th overall out of Grambling, where the two-time All-SWAC corner claimed a league championship in 1974, Hunter led the NFL’s Detroit Lions in interceptions in 1976-77 and in 1980, eventually logging 27 career picks. Hunter was runner-up for NFL defensive rookie of the year before a neck injury in the early 1980s shortened a promising pro career. He died of an apparent heart attack in 2010; Hunter was just 56.


Grambling State (QB Kendrick Nord)  vs. Alcorn State (QB Steve McNair) Sept. 3,1994; This was the largest attended game in Robinson Stadium history at 25,347. The two teams combined for 1,318 yards total offense, as Grambling rolled up 612 and Alcorn gained 706. Grambling wingback Tyrone Jones caught six passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns, and Curtis"Hail" Ceasar had five catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

GARY “BIG HANDS” JOHNSON (football) – A three-time All-SWAC defensive tackle, the Shreveport, Louisiana, native helped Grambling to a trio of conference titles before becoming the first pick of the 1975 draft for San Diego, playing for the Chargers until a 1984 trade to San Francisco – where he won a Super Bowl. Johnson made the Pro Bowl in each of the 1980-83 campaign, setting a 17 ½ sack season record for San Diego that still stands. Johnson died in August 2010 at age 57, having never recovered from a stroke he suffered the previous July.

JAMES JONES (basketball) – Averaged 20 points and 8 rebounds a night over 104 career games, as fellow Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame coach Fred Hobdy led the Tigers to three SWAC championships, then was selected 13th overall by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1967 NBA Draft. He finished as one of the old ABA’s all-time leaders in every category, becoming just the second in league history to score more than 2,000 points in one season. Jones played seven years in the ABA and then three with the NBA’s Washington Bullets.

FRANK LEWIS (football) – Part of the Pittsburgh Steelers first two Super Bowl-winning squads, Lewis helped Grambling to a SWAC crown and then led the league in scoring over his final two seasons. A two-time all-conference wingback, he finished with 42 career touchdowns at Grambling, then had nearly 400 receptions and 40 touchdowns in the NFL. Later an all-pro with the Buffalo Bills, Lewis was the first player in league history to gain 100 yards in receiving in postseason games for two different clubs. He is employed in workforce development in south Louisiana.

ALEX PERO (baseball) – In 1962-63, Pero had a staggering 0.00 ERA to help Grambling to the national NAIA baseball tournament. Grambling led the nation in ERA that season, and the team would earn NAIA berths four times between 1961-67 under fellow Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame coach R.W.E. Jones. In 1965, Pero set a Division II mark for strikeouts per nine innings amongst 50-game starters that to this day remains second all time. He played for three seasons in the minor leagues. Pero passed in 2009 at age 65.

EVERSON WALLS (football) – An all-conference selection for the SWAC champion Tigers, Walls led the nation in interceptions in 1980 – setting a school record that still stands. He then played 14 NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, leading the league in picks in both 1982 and 1985, earning All-Pro honors three times and a Super Bowl after the 1990 season with the Giants. The Texas native works as a businessman in Dallas.

ROBERT WOODS (track and field; football) – A two-sport star, Woods left Grambling in 1978 with a SWAC championship and all-conference honors as an undersized but unstoppable wingback for fellow Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson. He was the Bayou Classic MVP of 1977, then was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in ’78. Woods played two seasons in the NFL. Now executive director of a residential treatment center for adolescents in Houston, Texas, he has worked in the mental health field for more than 20 years.

LARRY WRIGHT (basketball) – Wright, of Richwood, Louisiana, helped Grambling to the 1976 league tournament championship and then led the Washington Bullets to an NBA title in 1978. A former head basketball coach for the Tigers, Wright was a two-time all-conference selection, a two time NCAA small college All-American and the SWAC player of the year in 1975-76. Later, Wright was a celebrated player overseas, earning MVP honors as Roma claimed its first-ever European title. He currently serves as an associate high school principal in northeastern Louisiana.

AL DENNIS JR. (pre-1960 honoree) – A New Orleans native and World War II veteran, the late Dennis was one of Grambling’s most celebrated early football captains. Playing from 1946-49, he was a two-time All-America blocker for future College Hall of Famer Paul “Tank” Younger. In 1968, he would become the first African-American to receive a master’s degree in health and physical education from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. He coached and taught for more than 45 years, notably at Brown High in Springhill, Louisiana.

DOUGLAS PORTER (contributor) – A former assistant at Grambling under Eddie Robinson, Porter was a head coach at FCS programs Mississippi Valley State (1961-65) and Howard (1974-78) and finally at Division II Fort Valley State (1979-94), earning induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. He has remained a trusted advisor for every coach to have succeeded Robinson, and was instrumental in the efforts to construct a museum in Robinson’s honor on the Grambling campus.

Florida A&M Baseball Continues Fall Practice and Announces 2016 Schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The Florida A&M baseball team, which is coming off its' first MEAC Baseball Championship since 1994, continues to work through its' fall practice schedule as the Rattlers are in the second week of practice that will conclude at the end of October.  FAMU will wrap up fall practice with five games against junior college opponents over the final two weeks of October, in Tallahassee.

"We broke the fall up into two segments," said head coach Jamey Shouppe. "The first segment will be a three week segement in which we go six days a week to get our 20 hours a week in. We do that to get our system in place and because it mirrors what we'll do when we come back in January to get ready for our 2016 season. When we come back, we'll have six weeks to prepare for our first game. We will play five games our last three weeks of our fall."

2016 FAMU Baseball Schedule

Florida A&M will face Darton College (Oct. 13), Chipola State College (Oct. 15), Gulf Coast State College (Oct. 19), and NW Florida State College (Oct. 21) all at Moore-Kittles Field before wrapping up the fall schedule at Tallahassee Community College on October 27. All games are scheduled for a 5:00 PM first pitch.

OCT      

13                Tues        Darton College (JC)                               Tallahassee, FL   5:00 pm

15                Thurs       Chipola State College (JC)                   Tallahassee, FL   5:00 pm

19                Mon         Gulf Coast State College (JC)               Tallahassee, FL   5:00 pm

21                Wed         NW Florida State College (JC)              Tallahassee, FL   5:00 pm

27                Tues        at Tallahassee Community College (JC)  Tallahassee, FL   5:00 pm

FAMU returns 21 players, including nine pitchers, from a 2015 team that was a part of a historic season that saw the Rattlers advance to the programs first-ever NCAA Regional as Florida A&M reached the Gainesville Regional.

"Been impressed with the talent that's there, Shouppe continued." "There's very good competition behind the plate between Brian Davis and Jacky Miles, Jr., a transfer from Chipola. We feel like offensively we're going to be better. At first base, we brought in a fifth year transfer from Jacksonville University in Dylan Dillard, who we think is going to be a good asset to us offensively. We've just been very pleased so far in how the fall has gone."

Florida A&M’s roster will have 13 newcomers, including six freshmen, five junior college transfers and one collegiate transfer.

Of those 13 newcomers, five are additions to the pitching staff that only lost one senior from 2015. Last year's staff posted the first-ever sub-5.00 team ERA in program history.

"We've got a lot of new guys in the system and the guys returning have done a good job of helping them out and guiding them to the things that we do on a consistent basis," said pitching coach Bryan Henry. "The scrimmages have been great so far and has given me a chance to learn their stuff. It's also a chance to see what pitches they like to throw in certain situations and how hitters react to them. The best part about it is the competition we have going on between the pitching staff. It's a little deeper than it was last year with us only losing one senior and we brought in a few guys. It's no secret that there's some great competition for those innings and it will bring out the best in everybody. We've got some guys that can throw secondary pitches for strikes and anytime you can throw an off-speed pitch in a fast ball count, you're going to have success. We've got multiple guys who know how to pitch and when you combine that with the guys coming back from last year, and returning your whole weekend rotation, that's always a good thing. The depth is there we may not have had last year."

Shouppe also announced the 2016 Florida A&M baseball schedule as the Rattlers will see 16 games against in-state opponents. On top of the home MEAC schedule, FAMU will host games against Marshall, Western Michigan, Toledo, Florida Gulf Coast, North Florida, Jacksonville, Alabama State and Mercer. Florida A&M also has a mid-week game at Auburn (Feb. 24) and a three-game weekend series at Miami (April 29-May 1) for a very strong 51-game schedule.

Under head coach Jamey Shouppe the Rattlers have won 29 regular season games against MEAC opponents (29-19), which is the most conference wins over any two-year period in program history.

The 2016 season will open on Friday, February 19 against Marshall for a three-game series at Moore-Kittles Field.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and the 2016 baseball schedule is now available on www.FAMUAthletics.com.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Fifty-Eight Student-Athletes Graduate From St. Augustine's

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Fifty-eight student-athletes and cheerleaders graduated from Saint Augustine's University this past weekend at the school's 2013 Commencement, held on the lawn of the campus Quadrangle.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of the graduating class were student-athletes and cheerleaders. The total number of graduates was 228. The percentage surpasses last year's percent number (22%).

Among the graduates were All-American football player Tyron Laughinghouse (Greenville, N.C.), who received numerous national, regional and conference awards including Beyond Sports Network Division II Special Teams Football Player of the Year and CIAA Special Teams Football Player of the Year. CIAA Baseball Player of the Year Ariel Polanco (Harlem, N.Y.) and football player Franklin James (Hampton, Va.) also were in the graduating class. James received The Fannie Glovenia Carter Baker Scholarship, given each year in honor of President Dianne Boardley Suber's grandmother, Mrs. Glovenia Carter Baker, to a graduating senior.

Cynthia Marshall, the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for AT&T Services, Inc., delivered the commencement address at the event on Sunday, May 5, 2013. The class of 2013 made history as the first graduating class of Saint Augustine's University. On Aug. 1, 2012, the school changed its name from Saint Augustine's College to Saint Augustine's University.

The ceremony capped another successful academic year for the school's athletic program. St. Aug won CIAA championships in five sports this season including men's cross country, women's cross country, men's indoor track and field, women's indoor track and field and men's outdoor track and field. The men's track & field team won the NCAA Division II indoor championship, and the women's basketball team won the CIAA team highest grade point average award in its sport.

Below is a list of the 2013 student-athletes who graduated from St. Aug and their respective sports:

Bachelor of Science (School of Applied Health and Medical Sciences)
Cum Laude (3.40-3.59 GPA)
Abeje Carrington – Volleyball, Softball

Romeo Deloatch – Football
Franklin James – Football
Ja'Nia Jones – Bowling, Softball
Katelyn Parson – Cheerleading
Gerkenz Senesca – Men's Track & Field
Najah Watson – Bowling
Julius West – Men's Track & Field
Jeremy Wilkins – Baseball

Bachelor of Science (School of Business, Technology and Sport Management)
Summa Cum Laude (3.80-4.00 GPA)
Keisha Parris – Volleyball

Magna Cum Laude (3.60-3.79 GPA)
Rory Nixon – Football, Men's Track & Field

Cum Laude (3.40-3.59 GPA)
Theodore Bacote – Football
Mallory Felder – Men's Tennis
Scharlawn Hubbard – Women's Basketball

Hilberto Ayala – Football
Anthony Boone – Track & Field
Nicholas Chamblee – Basketball
Stedman Gardner – Football
Anthony Holloway – Baseball
Derek Johnson – Golf
Jonathan Kindred – Men's Basketball
Tyron Laughinghouse – Football, Basketball
Ariel Polanco – Baseball
Christopher Rogers – Baseball
Amber Thomas –Cheerleader
Gerald Marshall – Football
Steven Woods – Men's Basketball

Bachelor of Arts (School of Liberal Arts and Education)
Cum Laude (3.40-3.59 GPA)
Daniel Pittman – Golf
Aisha Taylor – Cheerleading

Charles Clark – Cheerleading
Lakesha Fowler – Women's Tennis
Christopher Grant – Men's Basketball
Brandon Houston – Football
Tawanna Lynn – Bowling
Tiana Morris – Women's Basketball, Volleyball, Women's Tennis
Christian Pride – Football
ShRhonda Ross – Cheerleading
Keaven Russell – Football
Claude Simeus – Men's Track & Field

Bachelor of Science (School of Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering)
Jermaine Browne – Football
Jone' Harris – Football
Kharea Roseboro – Football
Deonte Toliver – Football
Alejandro Crisostomo – Baseball

Bachelor of Arts and Science (School of Social and Behavior Sciences)
Cum Laude (3.40-3.59 GPA)
Ramadana Simmons – Softball

Nicketa Bernard – Women's Track & Field
Che Brown – Football
Jasmine Cobbs – Women's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country
Christopher Dalton – Football, Men's Track & Field
Keianna Evans – Women's Basketball
Brittany Hicks – Volleyball
Christopher Johnson – Men's Basketball
Cory Landrum-Smith – Golf
William Martin – Golf
Chantel Floyd – Softball
Vaniecia Reaves – Cheerleading
Shane Russell – Football
Darnea Sayles – Cheerleading

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

2014 UAPB Lions Baseball Schedule Released

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  -- Following a 2013 campaign which saw UAPB improve their win total by 13 games, plus make their first SWAC Tournament appearance since 2009, UAPB Head Coach Carlos James unveiled the program's 2014 schedule on Thursday.

2014 UAPB BASEBALL SCHEDULE

This year's schedule is highlighted by 24 games at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex, which include non-conference matchups against Incarnate Word, Arkansas-Little Rock, Central Arkansas. The schedule also includes an away series at perennial powers Oklahoma and Tulane plus the Tiger Classic at Auburn against AU, California, and East Tennessee State.

"I am very excited about our schedule this upcoming season," said James. "It continues with our goal and tradition of playing the best out-of-conference competition we can, and I especially like that our fans will have the opportunity to see our team at home more than years past."

"As always, we will be challenged by our competition right from the start with Tulane then having to travel to Oklahoma for a two-game series before heading to the Tigers Classic to play Auburn, Cal, and East Tennessee State," James continued. "Following our Opening Week, we get into conference play against a competitive Western Division and follow it up throughout the year against the likes of UALR, UCA, Ole Miss, and Texas Tech to name a few."

"We will also be challenged by our two home series with the University of Incarnate Word and ACC addition Pittsburgh visiting Pine Bluff," noted James.

The Golden Lions open their fourth season under James with a 9-game road trip before hosting their first conference series against Prairie View A&M the weekend of February 28.

After playing their lone home series in the month of February, the Golden Lions will hit the road again traveling to Southeast Missouri for a two-game series (March 4-5) then head to Southern (Mar. 7-9) and UALR (Mar. 12).

Beginning the weekend of March 14, UAPB will play eight out of their next nine games at home against opponents Grambling, UCA, and Incarnate Word.

Over Spring Break, the Golden Lions will make their first trip to Lubbock, TX to take on Big 12 member Texas Tech (Mar. 25-26) before returning home to play Texas Southern (Mar. 29-30).

After the completion of the first-half of conference play, the Golden Lions will visit Oxford, MS and play SEC member Ole Miss (Apr. 2) then head to Prairie View A&M to kick-off the second-half of conference play. Following a mid-week game at home versus Lyon College (Apr. 8), Southern University will visit the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex the weekend of Apr. 11.

The Golden Lions travel to Ruston (LA) to take on Grambling (Apr. 19-20), before hosting UALR for a single game on April 22. Later that week, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member Pittsburgh will make its first trip to Pine Bluff with a doubleheader on Sunday, April 27, followed by a single-game on Monday, April 28, at Taylor Field.

Bookending the series with Pitt, UAPB and Alcorn will play a home-and-home with the Golden Lions concluding their regular season play at Texas Southern in Houston from May 2-4.

The 2014 SWAC Tournament, which features the league's top eight finishers in the regular season, is set for May 14-18 at LeGrave Field in Fort Worth, Texas. NCAA Regional action takes place, May 30-June 2, followed by NCAA Super Regional play, June 6-9.

The NCAA College World Series returns to TD Ameritrade Park in downtown Omaha, Neb., for the fourth time, June 14-25.

Home game times at Delta Natural Kraft Field at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex are tentatively set, but subject to change. Season ticket information and the full slate of game times will be released at a later date.

Fall practice for the Golden Lions concludes this weekend with Saturday's intrasquad open to the public for viewing.

For more information about UAPB Baseball, follow @UAPB_Baseball on Twitter and goldenlionsbsb on Instagram.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Countdown to Football: 86 Days -- Alabama State off probation

This season, Alabama State will finally be free from the NCAA sanctions placed on the program in 2008.

The probation included a ban on postseason play in 2009 and a reduction in recruiting activities and scholarships in addition to the elimination of victories in the 2000 and 2001 seasons, including the 2001 SWAC championship.

"You can tell the student-athletes we're free and can get on with the business at hand," said fifth-year ASU coach Reggie Barlow.

Photo Galleries:
The Week in Pictures at ASU
May 15-21, 2011

The Week in Pictures at ASU
May 22-28, 2011

The Week in Pictures at ASU
May 29-June 4, 2011



Watkins Steps Down as Baseball Coach; Hornets Make Coaching Changes

Longtime Head Baseball Coach Larry Watkins has stepped down to take an administrative position within the Athletic Department, Athletic Director Stacy Danley announced Tuesday.

In other coaching moves, Head Volleyball Coach Sonia Price and Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach Bernard Sewell were relieved of their duties.

Assistant Coach Anthony Macon has been named Interim Head Baseball Coach, and Assistant Coach Frederick Whitt has been named Interim Head Volleyball Coach.

Watkins served as head baseball coach for 30 seasons and was just the third baseball coach in the school's history. A 1974 ASU graduate who played centerfield, Watkins became assistant coach upon graduation and was named head coach in 1982. This past season, the Hornets went 14-29 overall, 6-18 in conference play and were eliminated in the first round of Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.

"To be associated with a program for more than 40 years takes a special individual," Danley said. "Coach Watkins is truly that person, one who has been tremendously dedicated to ASU and the baseball program. In this day and time, serving as head coach for 30 consecutive years at one school speaks of Coach Watkins' devotion and is a milestone that will be difficult to match. I am looking forward to working with him in this new capacity."



Price had served as head volleyball coach for 16 seasons (1995-2010), while Sewell led the tennis programs for 14 seasons (1997-2011).

“After careful evaluation of the past history of each program, we are not receiving the needed results and will go in a different direction,” Danley said. “We will conduct a national search for whom we believe is the best candidate to lead these respective programs to a championship level.”

Last season, ASU Volleyball posted a 12-21 overall record and 3-5 in conference play as the Lady Hornets were eliminated in the second round of the SWAC Tournament. Price came to Alabama State in 1992 as an assistant coach in volleyball and women's basketball. She was named interim head volleyball coach in 1995 and became the permanent head coach one year later after relinquishing her role with women's basketball. Price also was Interim Athletic Director from August 2003-April 2004.

Sewell led the Lady Hornets to the 1999 SWAC Tennis Championship. This past season, the men's team was eliminated in the first round of the SWAC Tournament, while the women's team failed to qualify for postseason play.

By Alabama State University Sports Information

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B-CU's Rodriguez, Maldonado Named Preseason Player, Pitcher of the Year

NORFOLK, Virginia  —  Bethune-Cookman junior Danny Rodriguez was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Preseason Player of the Year and teammate Anthony Maldonado was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year, the conference announced today.

All awards were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Rodriguez was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 MEAC Baseball Championships and a First Team All-MEAC selection at first base. He led the MEAC in slugging percentage at .555, home runs with 11 and total bases with 126, while his 75 hits were second-most in the conference and his 46 RBIs ranked third. Rodriguez was also second in the MEAC last season in doubles with 18, and his .988 fielding percentage ranked eighth in the MEAC.

Maldonado was a First Team All-MEAC selection as a freshman last season, going 8-4 on the mound with a 3.02 ERA. Opponents hit just .222 off Maldonado last year, and he struck out 61 batters in 86.1 innings pitched. A Collegiate Baseball News Freshman All-American in 2017, Maldonado ranked third in the conference in wins, opponents’ batting average and innings pitched, fourth in ERA and tied for fourth in strikeouts. He was also named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team.

Joining Rodriguez and Maldonado on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are Bethune-Cookman’s Tyler Norris (SP), Ivan Coutinho (RP), Jameel Edney (3B) and Adonis Lao (OF), Florida A&M’s Willis McDaniel (OF) and Garrett Wilkinson (UTL), North Carolina A&T State’s Adan Ordonez (C), Brandon Melendez (SS) and Myles Sowell (OF) and North Carolina Central’s Corey Joyce (2B).

The 2018 MEAC baseball season begins on Friday, Feb. 16, when seven of the conference’s nine baseball schools are in action.

2018 MEAC Baseball Preseason All-Conference Teams
As voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors

Preseason Player of the Year: Danny Rodriguez, Bethune-Cookman
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Anthony Maldonado, Bethune-Cookman

FIRST TEAM

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Class	School	Hometown
Anthony Maldonado	SP	6-4	So.	Bethune-Cookman	West Palm Beach, Fla.
Tyler Norris	SP	6-1	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Coral Springs, Fla.
Ivan Coutinho	RP	6-1	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Winter Park, Fla.
Adan Ordonez	C	5-7	Sr.	N.C. A&T State	Clermont, Fla.
Danny Rodriguez	1B	6-3	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Corey Joyce	2B	6-1	So.	N.C. Central	Lexington, N.C.
Jameel Edney	3B	5-8	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	West Palm Beach, Fla.
Brandon Melendez	SS	5-9	Sr.	N.C. A&T State	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Adonis Lao	OF	6-0	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Elmhurst, N.Y.
Myles Sowell	OF	6-2	Sr.	N.C. A&T State	Greensboro, N.C.
Willis McDaniel	OF	5-9	Jr.	Florida A&M	Tallahassee, Fla.
Garrett Wilkinson	UTL	5-8	Sr.	Florida A&M	Evans, Ga.

SECOND TEAM

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Class	School	Hometown
Devin Sweet	SP	5-10	Sr.	N.C. Central	Greensboro, N.C.
Chase Anderson	SP	5-9	Jr.	Norfolk State	Norfolk, Va.
Justice Sampson	RP	6-0	Sr.	N.C. Central	Lumberton, N.C.
Jacky Miles, Jr.	C	6-0	r-Sr.	Florida A&M	Graceville, Fla.
Brian Davis	1B	5-10	Sr.	Florida A&M	Pensacola, Fla.
Nate Sterijevski	2B	5-10	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Clermont, Fla.
Justin Burrell	3B	6-3	r-Sr.	Norfolk State	Newport News, Va.
Dominic Cuevas	SS	6-0	Sr.	N.C. Central	Gurnee, Ill.
Greg White	OF	6-1	Sr.	N.C. A&T State	Greensboro, N.C.
Kyle Corbin	OF	6-1	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Orlando, Fla.
Carter Williams	OF	6-3	So.	N.C. Central	Brown Summit, N.C.
Perry "AJ" Hunt	UTL	5-11	Sr.	N.C. A&T State	Chesapeake, Va.

 MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERECE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

East Coast Conference to Add Lincoln University as Associate Member for Baseball and Women's Soccer

WEST BABYLON, New York -- The East Coast Conference announced the addition of Lincoln University as an associate member in the sports of baseball and women’s soccer on Thursday afternoon. The Lions will start conference play in the two sports beginning in the 2018-19 season.

Lincoln, located in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania (southeast Pa.), is the first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the United States. The Lions, Division II members since 2010, are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). However, the CIAA does not sponsor championships in the sports of baseball and women’s soccer, allowing the Lions to join the ECC in those select sports.

“We are pleased to bring on Lincoln University as an associate member for 2018-19,” said ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff. “The opportunity to help provide to this historic institution and its baseball and women's soccer student-athletes a conference affiliation was important for our ECC institutions and we look forward to working alongside President Brenda A. Allen and Director of Athletics Harry Stinson to offer a great experience for all involved.”

Lincoln’s Athletic Director, Harry Stinson III, added, “We are excited to join the ECC and join a great conference with institutions who excel academically and athletically. Our goal is to always provide great opportunities for our athletic teams to compete for conference championships and joining the ECC strategically positions our women's soccer and baseball teams with a great opportunity. We look forward to working with Dr. Dranoff, his staff, and the fellow institutions of the ECC.”

The addition of Lincoln will increase the number of schools participating in the ECC to eight in baseball and 10 in women’s soccer. With both sports previously having an odd number of teams competing, the Lions will fit seamlessly into scheduled byes on e
ach team's conference schedule.

Lincoln also becomes the 10th associate member in the ECC. The Lions join Adelphi University, Chestnut Hill College, Felician University, Franklin Pierce University, Kutztown University, Lincoln Memorial University, and Wilmington University, all of whom compete in women’s bowling, as well as indoor track & field participants, Holy Family University and Georgian Court University.

EAST COAST CONFERENCE ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

The Grambling State Tigers are your 2024 SWAC Baseball Champions! 🏆

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 ⚾️🏆

The Grambling State Tigers are your 2024 SWAC Baseball Champions! 🏆#SWACBSB | #BuildingChampionsForLife pic.twitter.com/0OMwGziSN4

— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) May 26, 2024

𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌-𝐕-𝐏 ‼️⚾

Congratulations to @gsu_tigers , Cameron Bufford for being named the 2024 SWAC Baseball MVP!#SWACBSB | #BuildingChampionsForLife pic.twitter.com/iHriiemhOU

— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) May 27, 2024

Congratulations to the 2024 SWAC Baseball All-Tournament Team.@Chevrolet
#SWACBSB | #BuildingChampionsForLife pic.twitter.com/yBXQagbgSB

— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) May 27, 2024

YOUR 2024 SWAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONS‼️‼️⚾️🏆#SWACBSB | #BuildingChampionsForLife pic.twitter.com/bVHh92GDkA

— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) May 26, 2024

.@theswac Champs 🤝 Grambling State 💍#NCAABaseball #RoadToOmaha x 🎥 @GramSt_Bsb pic.twitter.com/hShhgTsizF

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 26, 2024

Alabama State RHP Angel Alicea Drafted by Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO, Canada -- Alabama State RHP Angel Alicea was selected in the 20th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Alicea (6-1, 200; Jr., Santa Isabel, PR) played one season for the Hornets. After beginning the season as the starting shortstop, he focused on pitching full time in early March. He posted a 3-0 record with a 1.47 ERA with two saves in 17 appearances with three starts.

Alicea becomes the sixth Hornet baseball player drafted in the past three seasons and the eighth since 2014 to sign a professional contract.

Alicea, the 612th overall selection, recorded two of the biggest wins of the season in his first two career starts. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing six hits and walking one while striking out seven in a 3-0 win at Tennessee on April 25.

In the SWAC Championship game, Alicea allowed only four hits and two runs in six innings, striking out a career-high nine in a 7-5 win over Texas Southern on May 22, as the Hornets won their first ever league championship, posting their school record 38th win.

Alicea earned a no-decision in the Hornets' NCAA Tournament game against South Alabama, allowing only three runs and striking out five in seven innings.

In 2014, Alabama State baseball had four players sign professional baseball contracts, with three players selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, the most in one draft in school history. SS Emmanuel Marrero (7th round, Philadelphia) became the highest drafted baseball player ever at ASU. OF Richard Amion (19th round, San Francisco) and C Richard Gonzalez (29th round, Houston) were also selected in the draft, while P/1B Dexter Price signed a free agent contract with Arizona.

In 2015, relief pitchers Armando Ruiz (29th round, Oakland) and Jorge Pantoja (30th round, Washington) were drafted, while a third pitcher, Michael Estevez (FA, Toronto) signed a contract.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU's MLB Hall of Famer Andre "The Hawk" Dawson Named Franchise Four for Washington Nationals

Washington, D.C. -- The MLB All Star Game is always going to be more about pageantry than the actual baseball game. For one three (or four, in this year's case) day stretch, the entire baseball world comes together in one city. While part of the reason that they do that is to showcase some of the most talented players in today's game, it's also an opportunity for baseball to celebrate its rich history. This season, MLB decided that their celebration of history was going to focus on each franchise's four most iconic players.... a Mount Rushmore of sorts.

At the All Star Game, the four players chosen to represent the Washington franchise were announced. Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Vladimir Guerrero, and Tim Raines were honored. All four were Montreal Expos. While I would have liked to see Zimmerman on there to represent the current incarnation of the franchise, it's difficult to argue with any of the choices.



Andre Dawson - .279/.323/.482, 438 HR, 1373 Runs, 1591 RBI, 314 SB, 59.5 fWAR

The Hawk was the Expos second Hall of Famer, despite his stated preference to go into the Hall donning a Chicago Cubs cap. Dawson was an eight time All Star. He also won eight Gold Gloves, four Silver Slugger Awards, and the 1987 MVP as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Despite winning the MVP when he was with the Cubs, Dawson's four best seasons (by far) in terms of fWAR came when he was still a member of the Expos (1980-83). He spent his first ten full seasons in Montreal, bashing 225 HR and stealing 252 bases in that time. As a Montreal Expo, Andre Dawson averaged a 20/20 season for a decade.

*While Dawson is a product of Southwest Miami High School and Florida A&M University, Tim Raines built a potential hall of fame skill-set 250 miles north in Sanford, Florida.  Raines went straight from Seminole High School (drafted in the 5th Round of the 1977 MLB amateur draft) to the Montreal Expos.  He made his major league debut in September 1979.  Known as the "Rock," Raines was a 3-sports super-star in high school track, football and baseball.  In football, the Rock averaged 10.5 yards per carry as a running back for the Sanford Seminoles. 

*Tim also has a son (Timothy Raines, Jr.) that graduated from the same high school and played in the major leagues 2001-2004 for Baltimore, Washington, Arizona and Kansas City.  Sanford Seminole High School has produced four MLB players with the 5'-8/160 Rock at the top of the heap.  The connection to this story is the Rock, the Hawk and I share the same alma maters, and that I had the good fortune to see each play baseball long before MLB became a reality for them.  In fact, the Hawk became a legend for knocking home runs across  traffic on Wahnish Way on the FAMU campus.  What a headache he created for all SIAC pitchers.

Tim Raines - .294/.385/.425, 170 HR, 1571 Runs, 980 RBI, 808 SB, 66.4 fWAR

The Rock has a couple of shots left at the Hall of Fame, but he's not there yet. Raines was a seven time All Star, a one time Silver Slugger, the 1986 NL Batting Champ, and led the NL in Stolen Bases four times. With his ability to hit for average, his patience at the plate, and his speed, there's actually not a bad argument that Tim Raines was the second best leadoff man of all-time. Unfortunately, he played in the same era as the greatest leadoff man ever. Solely as an Expo, Raines ranks second to Gary Carter in all-time WAR by both Baseball Reference (48.9) and Fangraphs (49.3). His career WAR total (69.1 rWAR, 66.4 fWAR) by both sites ranks well ahead of former teammate and Hall of Famer Andre Dawson as well. Raines played his first ten full seasons with the Expos organization.



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*Input from beepbeep

NSU Spartans, Suffolk native to play vs. Norfolk Tides‎

Head Coach Claudell Clark and the Norfolk State Spartans will play an exhibition game against the Norfolk Tides, the triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, on Tuesday, April 6 at 7:15 pm at Harbor Park. Tickets for the event are $5.00, ($3.00 for students) with all proceeds from the contest going towards the NSU Spartans baseball program.

When Norfolk State’s baseball team gets to play the Norfolk Tides in an exhibition game at Harbor Park Tuesday night, it’ll be just one more reason why Suffolk native John Rasberry’s happy he’s worked and played his way to Norfolk State and the Spartan baseball squad. Rasberry was a standout outfielder and pitcher at Lakeland until transferring to Greenbrier Christian in Chesapeake as a junior.

With the Gators, Rasberry was a two-time all-Tidewater Conference and All-State (Virginia Independent Schools) player and on a state-championship Greenbrier club while hitting .475 in his senior season. Rasberry went to college and played ball for two years at Delaware Tech Community College before being recruited and coming to Norfolk State. Getting the chance to play Division I baseball was certainly one goal. Coming back close to home is a huge bonus.

“I’ve been away the past couple years. It’s great now playing in front of faces I know basically every home game. People who, for my whole life, have been cheering me on, are able to watch me play. It’s really fun,” Rasberry said. As the starting leftfielder and leadoff hitter for the Spartans, Rasberry’s hitting .371 (26-for-70) with 18 runs, three doubles, two homers, six stolen bases and 12 RBI.

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"We are really excited to welcome Norfolk State to Harbor Park for this exhibition game" said Tides President Ken Young. "This is a great opportunity for fans to catch their first glimpse of the 2010 Tides in action, and hopefully this is the start of a long-term relationship with an institution that is very important in the Hampton Roads community."

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to compete against the Norfolk Tides," Norfolk State head baseball coach Claudell Clark said. "The game will give our baseball program greater exposure in the Tidewater area as well as serving as a key fundraiser for us. We look forward to making the event a success each year."

This game supplants the annual exhibition game the Tides had played against the Old Dominion University Monarchs.

Southern University's Frazier Hall and Cody Hall get drafted by Major League Baseball

Baton Rouge, LA --When the big day began, Frazier Hall had a few phone conversations with baseball people — scouts, advisors and the like — who gave him encouraging news. They told the Southern first baseman that when the second day of the Major League Baseball draft got under way, he might go as early as the seventh round.

Then the waiting began. And continued. And continued. Frazier Hall was about to leave for an afternoon workout when the 16th round began. He took a few more phone calls, then checked his computer. The wait was over. The Los Angeles Angels took Frazier Hall in the 16th round Tuesday, giving him the shot at pro baseball he’s always dreamed of.


Videographer: MLB, SU's Frazier Hall

Less than an hour later, the San Francisco Giants took his teammate, right-hander Cody Hall, in the 19th round. The celebration began.

Frazier Hall, Cody Hall get a shot at pro ball

Frazier Hall and Cody Hall are both off the board.

Southern’s top two baseball prospects were selected within an hour of each other Tuesday during the Major League Baseball draft — first baseman Frazier Hall going in the 16th round to the Los Angeles Angels; right-hander Cody Hall going in the 19th round to the San Francisco Giants.

Frazier Hall earned his second straight Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year award this season, thanks mostly to his sparkling offensive numbers.

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Incredible history of North Carolina A&T Aggie Baseball dates back to 1902. Over 100 years of baseball excellence.. you can't fake this tradition

Incredible history of Aggie Baseball dates back to 1902. Over 100 years of baseball excellence.. you can't fake this tradition!!! #AggiesDo pic.twitter.com/x6GqLz90Q0

— Aggie Baseball (@NCATSUbaseball) February 2, 2019

What a night at the @NCATSUbaseball 1st pitch banquet! 1 day after Jackie Robinson’s 100th Birthday we celebrate 117 years of Baseball on the campus of @ncatsuaggies @NCATAGGIES #SoldOut #2019season @CB_Daily @d1baseball pic.twitter.com/3y1T7QR3fz

— Ben Hall (@BenHallbsb16) February 2, 2019

Melendez makes ASU believe: New Hornets baseball coach inspires higher expectations

It's a resume that is among the best in small college baseball.

Mervyl Melendez has transformed Bethune-Cookman into a baseball powerhouse, not only making the Wildcats the envy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities programs everywhere but even those small college programs that dare to dream the impossible dream.

And when Melendez stepped to the podium on Tuesday to entertain questions as the new baseball coach at Alabama State, there were plenty of optimistic observers who believe the Hornets' baseball program has stepped into a new era as well. Daring to dream can be contagious.

"It was never about money with him," said ASU athletic director Stacy Danley. "He's all about vision and the direction of the university and the baseball program. He was sold on Alabama State University. This is a clear message to everyone that we are taking our program to the next level. He understood that, could see it and knew we were not just talking."

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NCCU Baseball Adds Two Assistant Coaches

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University baseball head coach Jim Koerner has announced two additions to the coaching staff, A.J. Battisto and Neal Henry.

Koerner says he is looking forward to the impact the new assistant coaches can have on the program.

"We are very excited to have both Neal Henry and A.J. Battisto as a part of our coaching staff," Koerner said.  "Not only do they both bring great baseball experience to our program but they are both first class individuals.  In making these hires I wanted to ensure there was an emphasis on the teaching and player development aspects of coaching, and I believe we have accomplished that.

"Coach Battisto will handle the pitching coach responsibilities as well as being involved with our recruiting efforts, while Coach Henry will primarily be working with the outfielders while handling the bulk of our recruiting coordination responsibilities."

Battisto joins NCCU from the University of New Orleans where he was an assistant coach beginning in August 2014.  During his time there he worked as a pitching and catching coach responsible for coaching techniques, skills and continual arm care, and also served as the head recruiting coordinator.

Prior to coaching at New Orleans, Battisto was a professional baseball player in the Miami Marlins organization from 2007 to 2013.  He was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, and was named to the 2008 Minor League All-Star game and was Team Pitcher of the Year that season in Low-A.  He progressed as high as Triple-A in the 2013 season.

Battisto is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in secondary education.

Henry comes to NCCU after serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Palm Beach State College beginning in August 2013.  Along with being the recruiting coordinator, he coached catchers and hitters and served as the third base coach.

Before coaching at Palm Beach State College, Henry was the head coach at Starkville Academy in Starkville, Mississippi from 2009 to 2013.  He was able to lead that team to the championship series of the Mississippi Private School AAA Division 2 conference during his time there, and was named AAA South Baseball Coach of the Year in 2012.  He began his coaching career as an assistant at Madison Ridgeland Academy in Madison, Mississippi in November 2008.

Henry is a graduate of Delta State University.

Corey Gross remains with the staff, and Troy Marrow joins as a student assistant.

"I am also pleased to announce that Troy Marrow will be staying on as part of the Eagle family as a student assistant coach," Koerner said.  "This has been something that we have talked about since I came to campus four years ago, when Troy was just a sophomore.  Troy has all the qualities and attributes that will make for a very successful coaching career.  He will be assisting me with the infielders as well as helping with the hitters and base running.

"Along with the return of Corey Gross for his fourth year, I believe we have all the pieces in place to help our student-athletes reach their personal and team goals."

For more information, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION