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

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X 1 -1 I 4 First baseman Vyrl Harris rtuichz-s for thf- hall during one of the Colonvls' afternoon pmctics-s. The first team they met was Delta State, riding a 13-game winning streak, which Nicholls broke by taking three games. The third game was described as a slugfest as '10 home runs and 26 hits were made by both teams, tying a GSC record. In the middle of the divisional race. the Colonels played a four-game series with the University of New Orleans, a team which had moved into NCAA Division I competition. The Colonels came away with two wins and two losses to a team which would finish sixth in the nation in Division I with a 30-5 record. A solid defense balanced out the inexperience of the pitching staff, as the Colonels compiled a 9-3 record by the middle of the race. Colonel centerfielder Gary McDonnell scores the winning run on a close call in the second game of a double header with McNeese State University. . , t If if YY ,A 'fi AW Uv'-1. fm 'iii W sq, I 1 A 'E , 515 .r ' 3' . 1.23-l'iT'-'fs 'Q . . f. 1 . its , -. qi? V I ' Ax Its., sf H C l , V 1 A 'K ,. . t - - - H -P' 4 , , . 1. , -- Q .. K ' 'W - fa K 'wht' ...Q 48 know' ' A .- t M . -wb fs i f wma' 'Alma ' ,-. 4 ' V 1 ..y,., . 5 . I ,r 1-. h , 'S A i . ls., Am n .,, wiv nf -'43 . -'UW up ' .. bv' git., Q X5 twin' I W' V T Q in . , U K, -- v- up ,gh he , - vm 3, .. T 'A' w - QQ A - t . Q- -- M atm. Q X5 ,swf i'-, f- 3' A' A ' 1 an-. ' f ,. T. . Wad . Baseb ll

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Pitcher Keil North tries to send in a strike over home plate. It was an odd ear by Kevin Fambrough It wasn't a joke anymore. It could be called chance, but after six years, the joke had gone out of the situation. Since 1971, Nicholls has met Iackson- ville State University, six-time winner of the Gulf South Conference Eastern Division, and has won only in the even- numbered years. The Gamecocks have won each odd- numbered year, and they won again this year. No one has been able to come up with an answer. In the past six years Coach Ted Calmes' baseball teams have compiled a record unmatched by other college teams in the state: Western Division champion six times, Gulf South Confer- ence champion three times and runner- up three times, and three NCAA playoff invitations in the past four years. But the 1977 season was to be a rebuilding year. On a 30-man roster there were 11 freshmen and 7 sopho- mores. The pitching staff showed only 2 seniors, a junior and 6 freshmen. But the experience of the 7 seniors and 5 juniors, along with the ability and enthusiasm of the entire team, helped Nicholls finish with a 28-22 record, its 16th winning season in the past 18 years. The Colonels opened the season with two doubleheaders against the Louisi- ana State Tigers and Houston Cougars in Texas, coming out with a 1-3 record. Their lone win was a marathon 2-hour and 46-minute 13-9 win over Louisiana State University. It wasn't until the eighth game of the season, when freshman Briant Dozar gave up only two hits for a 5-4 win over McNeese State, that the Colonels man- aged to even their season record at 4-4. Senior outfielder Cary McDonnell, dubbed the Big Mack Attack, began a hitting streak which gave him a .500 batting average 14 games into the sea- son. I-Ie got 22 hits in 44 times at bat. The Colonels won five of their last six non-conference games for a 10-8 record before they began play against Culf South Conference teams. Robert joseph is welcomed home by teammates down the third base line following one of his home runs

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'wa Q., A e M O.. ..- . N. Gary McDonnell cheers as another Colonel run- Catch:-r Robe-rt Dunsmorv gc-ls rvudy lo send the bull to sc-rzond Imsv during il prurztirzv sos- sion. Randy Hlunuhnrci from Baton Ruuggm- svmls il pihth whixzimg .uzrnmss hmmm' plzlhu