Senate Concurrent Resolution 509

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL "CHARGERS" BASEBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE MHSAA CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND PITCHER WES GRILLIETTE FOR HIS SELECTION AS PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, the Oxford High School "Chargers" Baseball Team downed Petal 15-8 on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, to win the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A State Championship; and

WHEREAS, Chad Creger slugged a grand slam and Cade Hoggard smacked a two-run shot as Oxford completed a two-game sweep of the best-of-three series before an estimated 1,300 at Smith-Wills Stadium; and

WHEREAS, the fourth-ranked Chargers (36-4) finished the season on a roll, winning ten straight play-off games after their first-round defeat against Amory. Oxford's other losses were to top-ranked Madison Central, Hattiesburg and South Panola; and

WHEREAS, Oxford Coach Brian Harvey motivated his baseball team with a "one-ton rock." "We bought it at a landscaping place in Memphis, brought it down with a 20-foot trailer and unloaded it in our dugout with a forklift." After Tuesday's 15-8 victory that clinched the Class 4A championship for the Chargers, it's a safe bet nobody in Lafayette County has ever spent a more gratifying $150 for a boulder; and

WHEREAS, Oxford High School right-handed pitcher Wes Grilliette has been selected as Player of the Year in Class 4A baseball by member coaches in the Mississippi Association of Coaches. Grilliette won a school single-season record 14 games in helping lead Oxford High School to its first state baseball title. In addition to a 14-1 record, Grilliette sported a 1.88 earned run average and 109 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He picked up wins in Oxford's final five play-off games en route to the 4A title; and

WHEREAS, the Chargers have proved that their team is "solid as a rock," and it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding achievement which has brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Oxford High School "Chargers" Baseball Team for winning the MHSAA Class 4A State Championship and commend Pitcher Wes Grilliette upon his selection as Player of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, and extend to this team and Coach Brian Harvey the best wishes of the Legislature for success in their future athletic and academic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Harvey and the Principal of Oxford High School and be made available to members of the Capitol Press Corps.