Grambling State University - Tiger Yearbook (Grambling, LA)

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Florida State Defeated By Grambling The Tigers drew national attention in mid-February when they whipped No. 2 ranked Florida State 3-1 in Tallahassee. Palfrey Polk belted a two-run double and Gerald Williams and Juan Watkins combined on a four-hitter to lead Grambling’s attack. GSU had lost twice earlier against Oe FSU, causing head coach Wilbert Ellis to Members of team await their turns at bat. note that “we didn’t play well in the first two games, but looked like a super team on Friday.” ‘ Polk broke open a scoreless tie with a Th | rd ad { a ce two-out double in the sixth inning and Grambling made it 3-0 on a two base er- ror and an RBI infield single by Tim (continued from page 174) Hookfin. The Seminoles’ Bien Figueroa drew a In the fielding department, Polk led in put outs with 282 while Lofton was the assist bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the king with 96. Grambling completed 25 double plays. eighth, but Watkins got Paul Sorrentino Once again pitcher Martin Foley led the way. The senior hurler ended his GSU on a popout to end the rally. career with a 6-2 record and .750 winning percentage. Foley hurled 65 innings and Polk had the team’s only base hit as was credited with a 4.57 earned-run average. His 46 strike outs were a team best. FSU’s Chris Pollack made his debut with Gerald Williams was another outstanding pitcher and he finished with a 5-2 record, a 10 strikeout performance in seven and .714 winning percentage and .429 earned-run average. He fanned 31 batters. two-thirds innings. Other notable pitching performances were turned in by Bryant Hurks, 3-1; Roger Williams won his first decision. FSU Washington, 3-3; Sherman Catalon, 3-3; John Samples, 1-0. Samples garnered the best fell to 2-1. earned-run average with his 2.22 mark for 24.1 innings. PITCHERS—(L-R) Roger Washington, Cedric Shaw, John Hurks, Sherman Catalon, Juan Watkins, Gerald Williams. Samples, Tony Bailey, Martin Foley, Glen Stevenson, Brian 176 Baseball

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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

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a te Jones, Dennis Walker, James Mattox, Palfrey Polk. INFIELDERS—(L-R) Timothy Hookfin, Glenn Stevenson, Olen Parker, Antonio Williams, Rodney Lofton, Patrick Vital, R. G-Men Score 58 Runs In 4 Games It could only be defined as a slugfest, an explosion, a hitting rampage. | Yes, this was GSU’s first encounter with Prairie View during 1 || the 1986 season. In the four-game series, Tiger batters lashed out an incredible 55 hits and scored 58 runs. Seven different players had five or more hits during the series. For the record, Grambling beat PV 24-3, 9-7, 14-2 and 11-8. Martin Foley P. Polk (2nd) J. Watkins (2nd) | A “Those wins put us back in the thick of things,’”’ said head All-SWAC Tigers | | coach Wilbert Ellis. “We needed those wins to get back in the Le ee | fj race.” ¢ Leading the hit parade were outfielder-pitcher Juan Watkins and shortstop Rodney Lofton, who each collected eight hits. Watkins also won the first game on the mound and drove in a total of six runs while Lofton accounted for two RBIs. Nine runs were driven in by third baseman Dennis Walker, who had seven hits. Outfielder-pitcher Gerald Williams had nine RBIs with his six hits. Second baseman Antonio Williams drove in eight runs with five hits and catcher Jimmy Floyd knocked in eight runs with five hits. Outfielder Danny Jackson collected seven hits and four tallies batted in. (L-R) A. Williams (Frosh), P. Vital (1st), T. Hookfin (2nd), G. Williams (1st). CATCHERS—(L-R) Lamont Jones, Darren Martin, Jimmy Floyd. Rg Baseball 177