NASHVILLE,
Tenn. - Coming off of record breaking 2004 campaign, the 2005 edition
of the Trevecca Trojan baseball team came into the season with high
expectations, and with good reason. The ball club had set numerous
records in 2004 and returned two Honorable mention All-Americans in
Brad Coon and Todd Dunlap, and the opening day starting line-up
featured seven seniors. Despite this, the Trojans got off to a rocky
2-6 start, but that's when things turned around. Starting with the
second game of a double-header against Campbellsville University, the
Trojans won 25 of their next 28 games.
The TranSouth Athletic Conference schedule opened with the
Freed-Hardeman Lions and the Trojans took two in the three game series.
After a midweek home win over NAIA No. 16 Spalding University, The
Trojans traveled to Jackson, Tennessee to take on the Bulldogs of Union
University. Due to rain the teams played three games on Saturday with
Trevecca taking the win in two of the three games.
Martin Methodist pushed Trevecca to 15 innings in the first game in
their series. Bubba Norris won that game with a RBI walk-off single and
Trevecca took all three from the RedHawks. Trevecca found themselves a
game back of Lyon College in the TranSouth standings as the Scots
visited Nashville for a weekend series.
Trevecca came out firing on all cylinders, taking all three games from
the then conference leading Scots. The sweep of Lyon gave the Trojans a
two game lead with three games to play in the conference season. The
final three games were to be played at the home of the defending
national champion, Cumberland University.
In the series with Cumberland, Trevecca played well on Friday and
claimed their first regular season conference title since 1989 with a
6-2 win. Trevecca took control of the game early as Cody Willoughby
homered, then Bubba Norris sealed the win with a two-run blast. The
Trojans ended TranSouth play with a 11-4 record and the 2005
Championship Banner.
The Trojans hosted the 2005 TranSouth tournament at Jackson Field and
Shelby Park. Trevecca handled Martin Methodist in the first round 12-0
and eased by Lyon College 9-1 on Day Two, and then Trevecca dampened
Union's upset hopes 15-2 in the Semi-finals setting up a rematch with
Cumberland for the title. The Trojans trailed for much of the game, but
Shaun Cozart came through with a two-run single in the eight inning,
giving the Trojans the lead for good as the Trojans held on for a 5-3
victory and the tournament title.
For the first time ever (region play began in 1997), the Trojans
advanced to the NAIA Region XI tournament. The Trojans were upset by
the Patriots of Cumberland College 5-6, setting up a rematch with Lyon
College in the second round. For the fifth time this season, the
Trojans beat the Scots, knocking them from the tournament 12-3, but the
following day, the Trojans season came to an end at the hands of the
Lambuth Eagles, 9-5
During the course of the season, the Trojans dominated the conference
weekly awards, taking Player of the Week honors six times and Pitcher
of the Week five times. Stipe Miocic (twice), Kyle Jackson (twice),
Brad Coon and Bubba Norris took Player of the week honors for the
Trojans, while Todd Dunlap (twice), Dean Mitchell, Barrett Brown, and
Michael McGee were recognized as Pitchers of the Week this season.
Norris, Jackson, Miocic, Brown, and McGee also earned Region XI Player
of the Week honors.
Five Trojans made the TranSouth all-conference teams. Craig Ballentine
was a first team all-conference catcher, Todd Dunlap and Barrett Brown
were both first team all-conference pitchers, and Brad Coon (First
Team) and Kyle Jackson (Second Team) were all-conference outfielders.
Coon was named the 2005 TranSouth and Region XI Player of the Year.
Joining Coon on the NAIA All-Region XI team were Barrett Brown and
Craig Ballentine. Coon topped the season off with being named NAIA
First Team All-American. Craig Ballentine and Barrett Brown were named
Honorable Mention NAIA All-American. Trojans Head Coach Jeff Forehand
received TranSouth Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive
season.
With a 27-9 the Trojan baseball team was ranked No. 17 in the first
regular season poll on March 24, 2005. The team was 18th in the second
poll then began to rise reaching the top 10 with the fourth poll of the
season and staying in the top 10 for five consecutive weeks. The team
would peak at No. 6 on May 11, 2005. The team finished No. 13 in the
final poll on May 18, 2005.
With the final overall record of 46-17, the Trojans set 12 team records
this year, seven of them offensive. Trevecca recorded new single season
bench marks in Wins (46), Runs Scored (458), Hits (634), Runs Batted In
(417), Doubles (127), Triples (34), Stolen Bases (143), Stolen Base
Attempts (171), Innings Pitched (484), Putouts (1450), Assists (658),
and Double Plays Turned (60). Individually, Brad Coon set six new
records this year, three single season and three career marks. Coon now
holds the single season and career records for Stolen Bases (51, 96
Career), Stolen Base Attempts (55, 106 Career), and Triples (8, 15
Career).