House Resolution 7

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS BASEBALL TEAM UPON A REMARKABLE SEASON AND FOR REACHING THE FINALS IN THE 2013 COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi State Bulldogs Baseball Team's best baseball season in the program's rich history came to a close Tuesday, June 25, 2013, after falling to the UCLA Bruins in a remarkable run in pursuit of the National Baseball Championship Pennant in the 2013 College World Series held in Omaha, Nebraska; and

WHEREAS, playing before a record crowd of 27,127 baseball enthusiasts at TD Ameritrade Park, the 51-20 Bulldogs, who matched a school record by playing a total of 71 games during the 2013 season, battled hard pulling off some nail-clenching, emotional, late inning comeback wins during the season, winning the second most games in program history to advance to play for the national championship for the first time; and

WHEREAS, nationally ranked No. 7, MSU, in its rise to collegiate baseball superstardom, won its first three games in Omaha by knocking off Oregon State twice and Indiana to breeze to the Bracket One championship; and

WHEREAS, despite a fifth place finish in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular season standings, the Bulldogs won the Starkville Regional and Charlottesville Super Regional to advance to the College World Series for the ninth time ever and first time in Cohen's five seasons as coach, having last played in the College World Series in 2007; and

WHEREAS, the "Diamond Dogs" appearance in the title match does not only bring great honor and esteem to the State of Mississippi, but also runs consistent with the exceptional caliber of athletes in the Southeastern Conference, which has had a participant in the finals for six consecutive seasons now, including two National Championship titles clenched by South Carolina and one by LSU; and

WHEREAS, full of belief, the Bulldogs waited for the chance to play for the national title, and full of belief, a mass exodus of Mississippi State fans left the Magnolia State to head to Omaha, where upon arrival, they owned the town; and

WHEREAS, much of the team's success stemmed from the camaraderie, personality and insurmountable levels of optimism that energized the bullpen of extraordinarily talented players, such as: the towering Wes Rea, who pounded out clutch hits; the "Bench Mobb", Slim Hossy (Ross Mitchell), Eazy E (Evan Mitchell) and Chunky (Jacob Lindgren), making music videos and tossing a fellow teammate on the field before first pitch; Holder, the closer with the long hair and the Johnny Cash music; Trevor Fitts, the man who used power point to grow a beard; Hunter Renfroe, the first round Major League Baseball draft pick; Luis Pollorena, the pitcher who played with guts that MSU fans love; Adam Frazier, the All-American; Girodo, the unlikely hero out of the bullpen; and Ross Mitchell, who used what he had to win games; and

WHEREAS, the "Dawgs" have been superbly coached and inspired by Head Coach John Cohen and Assistant Coaches, Butch Thompson, Tyler Bratton, Nick Mingione, Greg Drye and Jake Wells, who have broadened the players' knowledge of the game and refined their skills in execution; and

WHEREAS, the Bulldogs have developed a winning and cooperative spirit and high degree of sportsmanship, and their activities and attitude reflect great credit upon the individual players and their coaches and bring honor to MSU and the entire State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence, especially when evidenced by the youth of our state, who are its future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Mississippi State Bulldogs Baseball Team upon a remarkable season and for reaching the finals in the 2013 College Baseball World Series, and extend best wishes for success in all of their future academic and athletic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Mississippi State University Bulldogs Baseball Team Head Coach John Cohen, on behalf of the team and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.