MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 1st Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Little, Dearing, Clarke, Burton, Butler, Chamberlin, Gordon, Jackson (11th), Mettetal, Nunnelee, Posey, Walls
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY "STATESMEN" BASEBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH MIKE KINNISON FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST EVER NCAA DIVISION II WORLD SERIES.
WHEREAS, the Delta State University "Statesmen" Baseball Team, in their third-ever trip to the NCAA Division II Championship final game (1968, 1978, 2004), are the 2004 NCAA Division II National Champions; and
WHEREAS, in their third time to the NCAA Division II Championship game, Coach Mike Kinnison's Statesmen emerged victorious, taking a 12-8 victory over Grand Valley (Michigan) State University to clinch Delta State's first-ever baseball national championship; and
WHEREAS, Matt McAlpin (10-1) picked up the win for the Statesmen, throwing 6-1/3 innings and scattering 9 hits, allowing 6 runs, 4 earned. Scott Ellison picked up the save after 1-2/3 innings of relief. Bert Pickard was named tournament MVP, and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Craig Newton and Scott Ellison; and
WHEREAS, the Delta State University Statesmen finished the 2004 Championship season with a new record of 54 wins against 11 losses, under the leadership of Head Coach Mike Kinnison (DSU, 1978), Assistant Coach Rodney Batts, Graduate Assistants Rick McCarty, Andy Dillard, and Jeff Price, Managers Gary Hayes and Ryan Robertson and Trainer Jason Miller; and
WHEREAS, the following individual and team honors were earned by this championship squad:
· Rawlings/ABCA Division II Coach of the Year:
Mike Kinnison
Rawlings/ABCA South Central Region Coach of the Year:
Mike Kinnison
Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year:
Mike Kinnison
· Rawlings/ABCA Division II Player of the Year:
Jud Thigpen
Rawlings/ABCA South Central Region Player of the Year:
Jud Thigpen
· Rawlings/ABCA All-America (First Team): Jud Thigpen,
Chris Reed
Rawlings/ABCA All-America (Second Team): Mark Broome
· Rawlings/ABCA All-South Central Region (First Team):
Jud Thigpen, Chris Reed, Craig Newton, Mark Broome
Rawlings/ABCA All-South Central Region (Second Team):
Josh Barton
· All-Gulf South Conference (First Team):
Mark Broome, Eric Patten, Jud Thigpen, Matt McAlpin
All-Gulf South Conference (Second Team):
Craig Newton, Clay Smith, Chris Reed, Josh Barton
· NCAA Division II Championship Tournament MVP:
Bert Pickard
NCAA Division II Championship All-Tournament Team:
Bert Pickard, Scott Ellison, Craig Newton
· NCAA South Central Region Tournament MVP: Will Waldkirch
NCAA South Central Region All-Tournament Team:
Will Waldkirch, Craig Newton, Eric Patten, Jud Thigpen,
Josh Barton
· Gulf South Conference Tournament MVP: Mark Broome
Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team:
Mark Broome, Clay Smith, Chris Reed, Brad Lightsey,
Jud Thigpen
· Jud Thigpen set a DSU single-season record with his 112 hits. Thigpen became the first Statesman to rack up over 100 hits in a season. Thigpen's other record set this year is at-bats (261).
· This season marked Delta State's ninth appearance in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Tournament, and their third appearance in the Title game.
· Coach Mike Kinnison's 370-96 career record (.794) gives him the best winning percentage among NCAA baseball coaches with at least five years of head coaching experience; and
WHEREAS, forty years ago, legendary Delta State Coach Boo Ferriss carved a baseball diamond out of a Delta beanfield with a vision for a national championship; he, along with dozens of former Statesmen, watched this persistent group of student athletes bring honor to their university, the Delta State family, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Delta State University "Statesmen" Baseball Team and Head Coach Mike Kinnison for winning their first ever NCAA Division II World Series, and extend the best wishes of the Senate to the future success of this team.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Delta Statesmen Baseball Team, Coach Mike Kinnison and former Coach Boo Ferriss, be forwarded to the President of Delta State University and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.