Senate Resolution 2

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY "BRAVES" BASEBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH BARRET REY FOR ALCORN'S FIRST-EVER BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SWAC) AND FOR THEIR EXCELLENT 2011 REGULAR SEASON AND FIRST NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCE.

'0 ALCORN DEAR !!!

WHEREAS, the Alcorn State University "Braves" Baseball Team, led by Coach Barret Rey and MVP Kilby Perdomo, conducted an offensive and defensive clinic from start to finish, as the Braves took advantage of home runs en route to a dominating 12-6 victory against the Southern University Baton Rouge "Jaguars" on May 22, 2011, in the 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference "SWAC" Baseball Tournament at Fair Park Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, the 2011 SWAC Baseball Tournament was Alcorn's first-ever Conference Baseball Championship and first NCAA Baseball Regional appearance in the university's history dating back to the institution's first team in 1882. Alcorn State finished the season 27-26 and a SWAC record of 19-4; and

WHEREAS, Outfielder Kilby Perdomo, a senior from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, serving as designated hitter, hit his third home run in four games to give Alcorn a 1-0 lead before the Jaguars had even a chance at bat. Alcorn State carded four-run innings in the fourth and sixth, and then added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to keep the Jaguars at arm's length all day. Eduardo Gonzalez's double down the left field line scored on a plated run and was followed by a two-run single by Antolin Morales to key four-run fourth for the Braves. Another run scored on a wild pitch, and ASU led for good, 5-1. The bottom of the fourth proved to be a turning point if Southern was to make a comeback. After a run scored while Alcorn was trying to turn a routine double play, the throw to first base got away. Dio Gonzalez attempted to score on the error, but was out at the plate, halting a Jaguar rally. Gonzalez and SU Assistant Coach Fernando Puebla were ejected from the game for arguing the call at home plate. Kenny Rowan's two-run homer in the sixth gave the Braves a 7-2 lead before adding two more runs in the inning to make it 9-2. Southern was able to chase Alcorn starter Brent Blaum in the sixth as McGriff added another RBI, and the Jaguars scored three times. Rowan knocked in another run with a double in the ninth to highlight a three-run rally in the final two innings that let the Braves be on cruise control for their first SWAC Title; and

WHEREAS, Alcorn Pitcher Steve Easter worked 3.2 innings of solid relief, giving up just one unearned run to earn the save. Blaum (2-5) earned the tournament victory. Alcorn scored 49 runs in the tournament in going 4-0 and earning the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament; and

WHEREAS, "I am so proud of the players and my coaching staff," stated second-year Alcorn Coach Barret Rey after the SWAC Championship Game, "as this was our goal before the season started, to win the SWAC. The guys never gave up, gave it their best, and I could not be more proud than I am today. I would also like to thank all of our fans who supported us during the season. Now, it's on to the NCAA"; and

WHEREAS, the SWAC Champion Braves went on the road to face 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference "MEAC" Champions Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Saturday, May 28, 2011, at Bethune-Point Park in Daytona Beach, Florida, in an unscheduled doubleheader battle for the Title of 2011 Black College Baseball National Champions. The Braves split the doubleheader, losing to Bethune-Cookman 1-3 in the first game and taking the second game 4-3 as Alcorn's Ryan Fuentes was the winning pitcher. In the final BlackCollegeBaseball.com poll, Bethune-Cookman claimed the #1 ranking while the Braves finished #2 in the Nation; and

WHEREAS, the Alcorn Braves drew the #8 overall seed in the NCAA Rice Owls hosts of the Houston Regional at Reckling Park in Houston, Texas, along with Baylor University and University of California. Rice proved that it was one of the top offensive teams in the country in the Regional opener as the Owls pounded out 22 hits and scored 14 runs against the Braves; and

WHEREAS, the Alcorn State Baseball Season came to an end on Saturday, June 4, 2011, as the Braves fell 10-6 to California in the consolation bracket of the Houston Regional in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Alcorn opened up an early 4-0 lead over California, but the Golden Bears capitalized on Alcorn miscues and scored six runs in the third inning to lead 6-4 until adding another run in the eighth and three more in the ninth. The Braves answered with a couple of runs in the bottom of the ninth and came within a batter of sending the tying run to the plate; and

WHEREAS, the 2011 Braves roster is as follows: Brandon Hollins; Kilby Perdomo; Antolin Morales; Alvin Jackson; Angel Rosa; Troy Williams; Ryant Piper; Chris Garza; Ryan Akins; Kenny Rowan; Cole Vicars; Mundo Sanchez; Justin Barney; Darryl Parks; Harrison Gary; Edgardo Salas; Jann Butler; Joshua Powell; Gabriel LeBron; Joseph Camp; Ryan Fuentes; Jordan Boston; Eduardo Gonzalez; Karlos Ferbos; Terence Stubbs; Steve Easter; Jonathan Dorsey; Cedric Pomerlee; Stephen Loupe; Harry Ferguson; Brent Blaum; Rodney Warren; and Darien Hardaway; Coach Barret Rey; and Assistant Coaches David Gomez and Kevin Vital; and

WHEREAS, the Nation witnessed a Mississippi university defeat a program with great national tradition, and it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes, their parents and coaches, who have brought honor to their university, 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 Alcorn State University "Braves" Baseball Team and second-year Head Coach Barret Rey for their impressive victory against the Southern University Baton Rouge "Jaguars" in the 2011 SWAC Baseball Tournament Championship Game on May 22, 2011, and for their outstanding 2011 Regular Season, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches and administration on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Alcorn "Braves" Baseball Team and Coach Barret Rey, forwarded to Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.