Grambling State University - Tiger Yearbook (Grambling, LA)

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Young Team Posts 24-20 Mark Tigers Take Third In SWAC West Sooner or later it had to end and 1986 was the year it did. For three straight years coach Wilbert Ellis’ baseball squads captured the conference championship and advanced to the NCAA regionals. This year, however, Ellis had to manage an extremely young and inexperienced unit, which finished third in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division. Actually, the playoff picture went down to the last game. Grambling had to beat Prairie View while Southern had to whip Texas Southern. Unfortunately, TSU slaugh- tered the Jags and GSU dropped its final battle with Prairie View, 2-1. One of the year’s highlights was when the Tigers surprised powerhouse Florida State 3-1 in Tallahassee. After going 4-6 in early March, Grambling got it together and reeled off six straight victories and won nine out of 11 encounters. 4) For the year, GSU won 24 games and lost 20. In the SWAC Ellis’ crew posted an 8- @ 9 mark. Six Tigers had batting averages of .300 or better. They included first baseman 4 Patrick Vital, .391; second baseman Antonio Williams, .371; out fielder-pitcher Juan Fi Watkins, .341; first baseman Palfrey Polk, .336; shortshop Landon Williams, .320; y third baseman Timothy Hookfin, .311. Home run king was outfielder-pitcher Gerald Williams who belted nine in addition to acquiring 10 doubles and two triples. Polk blasted four homers, 10 doubles and led in triples with five. Catcher Jimmy Floyd belted five home runs, five doubles and one triple. GSU sluggers posted a team batting average of .297 as compoared to their oppo- nents’ .245. tinued 176 pron tnwed Oc. Baga ) Coach Wilbert Ellis « iS (Front Row L-R)—Rico Coleman, Rodney Lofton, Lamont Jones, Juan Gerald Williams, Darren Martin, Tony Bailey, James Mattox, Palfrey Watkins, Olen Parker, Glenn Stevenson, Antonio Williams, Brian Polk, Cornelius Jeter, John Samples, Dennis Walker, Jimmy Floyd, Hurks, Roger Washington, Cedric Shaw. (Back) Patrick Vital, Timothy Sherman Catalon. Hookfin, Landon Williams, Danny Jackson, Enus Ellison, Martin Foley, 174 Baseball

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ey Wie . te Powerlifting 173

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OUTFIELDERS (L-R)—Juan Watkins, Gerald Williams, Cornelius Jeter, Ricky Coleman, Dan- ny Jackson. SEAN A Tiger winds up. ‘Coach Ellis Day’ Proclaimed February 13, 1986, was very special to The event saluted the contributions Ellis has head baseball coach Wilbert Ellis. made as baseball coach at Grambling. His That particular day was declared by the 1983, 1984 and 1985 units were SWAC Student Government Association and KGRM champions and also contestants in the NCAA radio as ‘‘Wilbert Ellis Day.” regional playoffs. There it goes. Fa $ ian Cece NIT, Nn, eed nee Baseball 175