Nicholls State University - La Pirogue Yearbook (Thibodaux, LA)

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Cuenca l '-mmf - 'Li lUnl 'PF' 1 mn: 4 -5 - -vf '-1 ' ' ' , , .n ?-M u g , . Q f W f H . wwf-f' - I u.:iY , '- ' Q' . O 1 4 J N., 4, , ' -2 -I , .' , ,V .4-0. I I , ,, all-v.,,g If ,,..e Richard laid down a perfect bunt to allow Steve Stropolo to score the winning run in the bottom ofthe ninth inning. Ricky Simmons walked, moved to third on Gary McDonnell's single and scored the game's only run on Carl Zornes' sacrifice fly in the first inning. Nicholls had qualified for the championship series by winning the Western Division of the GSC as Jacksonville had won the Eastern Division. After the conference championship, Nicholls was selected to host the NCAA College Division Southern Regional Playoffs. Joining the Colonels were three other GSC teams, Jacksonville, Southeastern Louisiana and Livingston State. After taking a 4-3 lead in their opener against the Living- ston Tigers, the Colonels saw two eighth inning home runs by Kent l-lollifield and Norris Langston send the Tigers to a 7-4 win, Roger Purter and Tom Snell also had homers for Living- -. ,-,1-,Til iff . . . . v r k 4, .waz :,,,Q'f .,i,'?TK.-'32 ston, the Eastern Division runner-up, who collected 14 ' 4 5, 4,-+2 A . t. r V 'YM ,V If . . . ...,ji -tfs- Q jj ' hits off pitchers Champagne and Monty. I . 4 ln the next day's losers bracket, Nicholls again met 72.2 'Q 4 ' 'wr' 'f.r.fybff,,E.. .: Jacksonville. But this time the Gamecocks had the good Ji' W' . . . . . . - M pitching as Mike Lamb threw a five-hitter to shut out Nic- ' ' holls 6-O. pa, .Q-,D -' Letting the third strike go by means an out, as a ' J - ,, North Park College batter watches the umpire give M I - . 0 ,H E -,,,,,,, 'Dj the call. Mike Mulligan returns the ball to Mark 14... . f-'n.? fL- 1- ffL- ALL . .L,.A3i.1.Q 1 'J: VA'- 51eifM'f'LfgZ44?l:.f1 Alfred, f0r his first Win, 'cv ,gr g J . nk .. , I w,,W-- ',M'vA ? '1uf ,..,i... ,..,, me ,,,.. - ,,,,... 4 1 L - M t 0851 L 5, M M J X1 A I f X at is gi .4 'l'f1'fi' V P1 -,. S Kwik Fambrough l BW! -adv 1' Mike Owens is lifted off the ground after scoring the winning run against Delta State, while Ricky Sim- mons watches the umpire throw the Statemen's pitcher out of the game for pushing him. Umpires don't have to move a muscle, as one calls Ricky Simmons safe at third base. Nicholls split a doubleheader with Southern University of Baton Rouge. , i, 35 A . A' Q,fl. ffvsQ 'i',,,fff1 f in - ' ' ' ' i 1 V 1 ' f u My U . :la-ii! -1,-v.,1:,,fC5,:,A 'J ' . f-Qt. 1 ,IM . 4 ,, , 'fy S-1 if , 4 ' J 1 - . ' w-, l f ' - , - A ,fa ' , A -H '2 fy 'V4' A 'P 1 ,, , . f .,, wx at 'fy '- rf' 4 -.f.:4 ,Q11 .f ' ,,.,-ff-qi, , 5 w as -' ,gag Q, A ' t Q A Cuenca Baseballs Even-Year Hex 127

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With the loss, Nicholls was eliminated and had to watch Livingston defeat Southeastern in the finals. On May 15, after 43 games and four months, Nicholls had ended its season with a 27-16 won-loss record. Although the season was over, the players had proved they could come back, with their elimination from the regional tournament the only time they hadn't come back. In early February, the season started badly for the Colonels as they lost 8 of their first 12 games, including the first 3. During the shaky beginning, mental and physical errors hurt the Colonels more than the play of their opponents. After the dismal showing, the players assessed their abilities against their opponents and realized the potential of winning was there. lt was up to them to make the most of their opportunities. With that in mind the Colonels began their quest for a champi- onship. Coach T. C. Calmes turned his team around as the Colonels won eight of their next ten, including seven conference wins in eight tries. As the regular season drew to a close, the Colonels began to play steadilyand solidly. Over this stretch the Big Red Machine staged many late inning dra- matics to take conference doubleheaders from Delta State and Mississippi College. Against Delta State, left fielder Carl Zornes ran into the fence, breaking it to come up with a spectacular catch to pre- serve a 4-3 win. Pinch hitter Craig Molaison knocked a seventh inning grand slam against Missis- sippi College to give the Colonels a 9-8 win. However, the Colonels saved the best for rival Southeastern Louisiana as the Lions came to Thibodaux for an April doubleheader to determine the Western Division champion. The Lions needed to sweep the doub- leheader to win. Mike Mulligan's double, triple and home run from four times at bat helped Eric Champagne get a 4-2 win in the opener. A pitching duel between Jeff Fay and Greg Renton developed in the second game, as Nicholls managed a 2-1 win. After these wins, came the title series Touching the chin, rubbing the pants and other moves are used to pass signals as both first base coach Rocko Fiuiz C225 and Livingston's Terry Saenz appear lost in thought. against Jacksonville and the NCAA play- off invitation. Through the conference race, the Colonels finished ahead of the pack with a 14-4 record. Senior outfielder Carl Zornes and jun- ior catcher Mike Mulligan were named to the All-Gulf South Conference team. Mulligan had been named as a sopho- more last year, while Zornes had been named to the All-GSC Western Division last year. Zornes was also named the most valu- able player of the 1976 Nicholls team and best defensive player. l-le made only three errors, while lead- ing the team in several batting categories, including singles and home runs. In the offensive department, the Colo- nels utilized both speed and power to go with good hitting as the team's batting average was .288. Gary McDonnell, who started the sea- son in the outfield and was moved to shortstop, led the team in hitting with a .398 average. The Metairie junior was named the most valuable offensive player, l-le also hiewf '-wllf' i ' 'W -f 2,- sf'9: 'aifii2raZf 115' P l Baseballs l'Even-Year Hex A I