WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT: A Tradition of Excellence... TWO National Championship Wins!

Rocky Mount, NC - The rain may have forced the cancellation of NC Wesleyan's Tournament of Champions this past weekend, but it didn't stop several alumni from returning to campus to celebrate the Bishops' two baseball NCAA Division III National Championships! The 2009 season marks the 10- and 20-year anniversaries of the championship wins, and many of the members of those teams, as well as former regional and conference champion team members, came back to campus for a golf tournament on Friday and lunch on Saturday. So in honor of those who created Wesleyan's "Tradition of Excellence," this week's spotlight focuses their two National Championship wins...

1989... WESLEYAN WINS FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Eric Jarman's third tournament home run and second of the game snapped a 7-7 tie in the top of the 13th inning as North Carolina Wesleyan won its first NCAA Division III National Baseball Championship by edging California State Stanislaus 8-7 in the finals on June 4th at Muzzy Field.

The Bishops, ranked ninth in the final Collegiate Baseball national poll, defeated Stanislaus twice on the final day to win their first national title in their fifth trip to the national tournament. Stanislaus, which moved to Division II the next year, had out-slugged Wesleyan 11-9 in a winners bracket contest June 3rd, but the Battling Bishops battled back through the losers bracket.

Jarman, a junior centerfielder from Greenville, NC, stroked an 0-1 delivery from Stanislaus lefty Robert Sapp over the right-center field fence with one out in the top of the 13th for what proved to be the game-winning run. The Warriors, who stranded 14 runners in the 4 hour, 27 minute marathon, had the tying run on second with one out in the bottom of the 13th, but winning pitcher Mark Silletti got a ground ball to second for the second out, while Jarman put away a routine fly ball to center to ignite the victory celebration.

Jarman enjoyed a brilliant tournament for Wesleyan, which became only the second team in the 14-year history of the tournament to have to win five games to win the title. In six games, Jarman batted .533 with ten runs and ten RBI. In the championship game, he collected five hits in seven at-bats, two home runs, one double, scored three runs and had four RBI. Jarman set Division III World Series records for total bases (30) in a six-team series and in a game (12 in the final) and tied marks for hits in a game (5), most homeruns in a game (2), and most homeruns in a six-team series (3).

While Jarman was leading the offensive charge, Silletti was turning in one of the most impressive performances on the mound in World Series history. A senior righty from Bethpage, NY, Silletti won three of his teams five games (23.3 of the team's 53 innings), including both games of the final afternoon. Silletti pitched a complete game four-hitter to lead the Bishops to a 3-0 win in the first game of the championship set, then was summoned in the seventh inning of the title game with the Bishops leading 6-5. Silletti got the final out of the seventh with runners on first and second and allowed only two runs over the final 6.1 innings. The Bishops completed the season with a record of 33-11-1 under head coach Mike Fox.

1999... BATTLING BISHOPS EARN SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
The Battling Bishops won the 1999 Division III National Championship by defeating St.Thomas, MN by a score of 1-0. This marked their 11th trip to the College World Series and their second national title. The Bishops put together the most successful NCAA tournament run in school history by winning eight straight games.

The Bishops entered the College World Series ranked fifth in the nation, having stayed in the top five throughout the season. Wesleyan was led by an outstanding infield that collected 306 of the school record 618 hits. The pitching staff was solid as well, striking out 482 batters. 

Wesleyan headed to Salem, VA for their third straight appearance in the Series. The Bishops opened up with a game verses Brandeis (MA). NC Wesleyan started the scoring in the second with a sacrifice fly from Nick Buonocore. Brandeis answered in the third, but a big sixth inning propelled the Bishops to the victory. The inning was highlighted by a Tim Wright  two-run triple. Sean Fleming pitched a complete game and struck out 12, including four in one inning.

Wesleyan faced California Lutheran in their second game. The Bishops jumped out to an early lead as Jeremy Stewart homered in the top of the first, but Lutheran responded to take a 5-2 lead. Wesleyan chipped away at the lead and tied it in the sixth on an RBI-single by Brian Woolston. The Bishops took the lead for good on an RBI single by Barry Blake. Senior Jon Rardin picked up the win, throwing 3.1 innings of relief. Buddy Hernandez notched his sixth save.

Game three saw the Bishops face off against St. Thomas for the right to play for the National Title. St.Thomas jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead, but the Battling Bishops' bats exploded in the bottom of the fifth with six hits in a row. After the dust had cleared, NCWC had cut the lead to 5-4. Closer Buddy Hernandez entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third with no outs. Hernandez forced a short popup to center, and after an intentional walk to load the bases, Hernandez struck out the next two hitters.

The momentum carried over as Jeremy Stewart homered in the bottom of the seventh to complete the comeback and knot the score at 5-5. The game remained tied until the bottom of the tenth. Stewart singled and David Capobianco moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Blake was intentionally walked to set the stage for sophomore Nick Buonocore. Buonocore's RBI-single to right scored Stewart and advanced NCWC to the title game.

Wesleyan would again meet St.Thomas again in the championship game. The Bishops scored what turned out to be the lone run of the game in the top of the first. Scott Robeson's lead-off single was followed by an Andy Jones' sacrifice bunt. Jeremy Stewart singled up the middle to give the Bishops the lead. Although the Bishops collected 10 hits along the way, they could not seem to get the two out hit necessary to add to their lead. The outsatnding pitching of Sean Fleming, however, made the lone run hold up as he allowed only four hits.

Buddy Hernandez entered the game in the eighth. With a runner on first and no outs, St.Thomas moved the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hernandez walked the next batter, but induced a 1-6-3 double play to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the ninth, St. Thomas threatened once again. A one-out double and a sharp single to center put runners at first and third. After a walk to load the bases, Hernandez threw the biggest pitch of his career, a sharp curve ball that was grounded to Jeremy Stewart. Stewart started the 5-4-3 double play that ended the game and gave NC Wesleyan its second National Championship. The beauty of the double play was that it featured three of the best players to ever play for the Bishops: Jeremy Stewart, Andy Jones, and David Capobianco.

The win was the first 1-0 championship game in the history of Division III baseball. NCWC placed several players on the All-Tournament team. These players included pitcher Sean Fleming, who picked up two wins in the Series, second baseman Andy Jones, and third baseman Jeremy Stewart. Shortstop Barry Blake was honored as MVP. The Bishops completed the season with a record of 42-9 under head coach Charlie Long.

BACK TO THE PRESENT...
The Battling Bishops have now won over 900 games in the past 30 seasons. The program has received 20 NCAA Tournament berths and appeared in twelve College World Series. Additionally, NCWC has produced 34 All-Americans and placed 21 players into professional baseball. This season, the program is on the brink of an incredible milestone as the Bishops go for the 1,000th win in Wesleyan baseball history!

So to all of those who have worn the Blue & Golf over the years, we offer not only a "Congratulations," but also a "Thank You" for your hard work and dedication. Because of you, our current Battling Bishops are able to enjoy a true "Tradition of Excellence!"

2008-09 SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVES
2007-08 SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVES
2006-07 SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVES
 

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