baseball Williams Baptist Freed-Hardeman Williams Baptist East Central Ozarks (Mo.) Crichton Missouri-Rolla Lyon Northeaste tate Ozarks (Ark.) Christian Brothers Freed-Hardeman Arkansas-Monticello Southern Arkansas Henderson State Ozarks (Mo.) Arkansas-Monticello Arkansas Tech Ouachita Baptist Crichton Central Arkansas Lyon Delta State Loss 5-6, Win 3-2 Win 5-4 Win 16-5 Win 4-2, Win 4-3 Win 10-4 Win 8-2 Win 5-3 Loss 5-10 Win 8-1, Win 10-7 Win 13-2 Win 5-4, Win12-7, Win13-8 J!.oss 'l-S,Win 6-2 Win 15-5, Loss 3-5, Loss 2-19 Loss 3-10, Loss 6-7 Win 7-6, Win 4-3, Win 7-4 Loss 5-8, Win 7-6 Loss 1-7, Win 13-2 Win 6-2, Loss 2-5, Win 6-5 Win 16-7, Win 9-5, Win 7-5 Win 12-1 Win 1 -0, Loss 0-1, Win 8-3 Loss 2-16, W' ';\-6 Gulf South Conference Tournament North Alabama Win 13-6 Alabama-Huntsville. Win 4-2 Valdosta State Loss 4-7 Southern Arkansas Loss 1-6 (Photo by Lindsey Taliaferro) Junior Aaron Gurley, rifles the ball to the plate in a game versus the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys April 6. Gurley led the team to a win, improving his record to 6-2 for the year. (Photo by Lindsey Taliaferro) The 2002 season was the most successful baseball season in school history. TheBoons finished the year 32-17 and earned their first national ranking since joining NCAA Division II in 1997. The team, led by coach Shane Fullerton, won two games at the Gulf South Conference Tournament, despite being ranked last. "We saw a lot of our goals realized during the season," Fullerton said. "From making the tourna– ment tc gaining a national ranking, the season was an exciting, breakthrough season for us." The last week of the season, the hardballers were voted 27th in the national poll. At the same time, the Bisonsweremakingprogressat theGSC tournament, beating two ranked teams, Alabama-Huntsville and North Alabama. Seniors Gary Albritton, Ben James, RyanLee and Kenny Sprenger led the team on the diamond. "Gary, Ben, Ryan and KeIU1Y were inuneasurable as leaders," Fullerton said. "They started the tradition of the senior class leading by hard work" Junior center fielder Stephen Smith, hitting .333 with eight home runs, earned the Bisons' only first– teamall GSC spot. Freshmanleft fielder SeanCamilleri and junior pitcher Aaron Gurley were named to the All-Conference Second Team. Freshmen also made an impact for the Bisons. Camilleri and designated hitter/pitcher Justin Cone set several school records for freshmen. Cone led the team in batting average, hitting .378 and tied the school home run record, blasting 11. Cone also led the team in earned run average (2.00) and compiled a 52 record. He took home the GSC tournament MVP award by going 6-for-15, hitting three home runs, earning a win and striking out seven in eight and two– thirds innings pitched. "Coach helped me out quite a bit," Cone said. "Ifs totally different from playing in high school. In college, you have to change the way you do some things." Sophomores Morgan Trotter andBenNeely helped pulltheinfieldtogether.Trotter,athirdbaseman,crushed the school RBI record, knocking in54. Neely seta school recordformostatbatsinoneseasonwith187andalsoled the teamwith 47 nms scored. SophomoresMattWalterandBrandonDension,and Gurleycombined fora 19-1Orecord and started36 ofthe Boons' games. "We worked hard," Walter said. "The mindset and attitude was always positive." -CodyUsher baseball 239 ~Im •
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