Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / April 29, 1988, edition 1 / Page 11
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April 29. 1988 Page 11 The Compass Viking niners finish 2nd in CIAA tourney In only their second season in existance, the ECSU men’s base ball team captured second place in last week-end’s CIAA Tourna ment played at Ernie Shore Field, the home field for the Winston-Salem Spirits. The Spir its are a minor league farm team for the Chicago Cubs. “For a second-year program, it says a lot about their desire to win,” said coach Chuck CuUens. Coming in to the tournament with a record of 4-26, including two wins in the last week of the jseason, the Vikings finished fifth in the regular season standings. In their first game in the tour- 'nament, ECSU took on Virginia State Friday morning. Rob Tiller started on the mound and pitched a six-hitter; however, errors Iplagued the Viking defense, and jTiller took the loss. “For a second year pro- gram, it says a lot about their desire to win. ” Chuck Cullens Moving to the losers bracket of the tournament, the Vikings next met the Bulldogs of Bowie State. Steve Craig, who had beaten Bo wie twice in the regular season, started on the hill for ECSU. Craig gave up four hits and three runs in two innings before being relieved by Steve Harrell. Har- At' iic Displaying professional form, Viking batter Mike ItVhitehurst connects for a single to right field, against 4New York’s Binghampton State. Photo by Richard Mclntire 'f Togetherness ’ "describes team le*' i By Mike Whitehurst ® If ECSU basketball coach ®’laude Mackey could use one -vord to describe the most recent (Bam of hoopsters, it would prob- ibly be “togetherness.” On any given day these players nay be found practicing in Vaug- lan Center. Yes, practicing to- , [ether, long after the 1987-88 sea- ion has ended. ' Why would a basketball team '.ontinue practicing more than a nonth after the season has inded? According to Mackey, hese players are working on heir skills, independently, in or- |er to improve themselves as isketball players. Although the Viking men’s ieam finished the 1987-88 season /ith a 9-18 record, Mackey b^ leves he “got a lot out of” this fear’s team, and he feels the nost important accomplishment vas that the group was able to ;grow as a team.” Mackey also points out that al- lough there were ten freshmen 5n this year’s squad, his “young ^en held their own against the ikes of Norfolk State and Vinston-Salem State, two nation- lUy ranked teams.” The Vikings pulled off two ma- or upsets with victory of Norfolk >tate in Vaughan Center January 10 and a win over Winston-Salem 5tate in the opening round of the iJIAA Tournament Feb. 25. Another psoitive aspect of the 1987-88 season was toe perfor- team in rebounds with 7.5 per game. He was the second in the total number of assist as well, feeding the ball in for a score 95 times during the year. Griffin’s efforts were sup ported by Tyson Ransom and James Eaton. Ransom averaged 12.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Eaton, who averaged 30.2 minutes per game playing time, scored an average of 11.4 points per game. He also led the team in assists with 100 for the season. Derrick Alston shot 58 per cent from the floor on the season and averaged 5.4 points per game in 12.9 minutes each contest, while Darryl Riddick led the Vikings in 3-point shots, hitting 22 of 52 at tempts. Although the 1987-88 season is now just another set of statistics, Mackey has already begun pre paring for next year. Mackey says he kept his team at the CIAA Tournament for the championship game “to help pro mote the idea of togetherness.” He said he wanted his players to see what it felt like to win a con ference championship. After the final game, Mackey said he gath ered his team together on the court to talk about what they must do to be a better team next season. Another way Mackey is trying to help next year’s team involves scheduling. He has been busy try ing to schedule some Division I schools for the 1988-89 season. While next season seems too far off to consider, Mackey says he already has a plan: to win next season was . . ^ance of junior Ernie Griffin. . ^ t (firiffin shot 47% from the floor year’s CIAA Touraament. In toe >d 55% from toe charity stripe meantime, Mackey says the while averaging 16.3 points per team is workmg, mdependently, iiame. Griffin not only led toe to become better baU players and ieam in scoring, he also led toe closer teammates. rell completed toe game pitching a 9-7 victory for toe Vikings. Har rell gave up two earned runs and three hits in his first inning but held toe Bulldogs scoreless over toe final five innings of play. The Vikings were led at toe plate by Walt Denby and Mike Whitehurst. Denby went three for four wito four RBIs, while White hurst was two for three wito two RBIs. Friday night’s win sent toe Vi kings into a Saturday match-up wito Shaw University who had beaten ECSU twice in toe regular season. John Gurganus was toe start ing pitcher, and he recorded a 14- 7 win. Harrell came on in toe fifto to pick up toe save. Eric Spruill went three for four at toe plate including one RBI to lead toe Viking offensive attack. Whitehurst continued his hitting streak, going two for four wito one RBI. Rob Tiller knocked in three runs with a triple in toe fourth when toe Vikings’ seven- run spurt sealed toe victory for ECSU. Immediately following toe win over Shaw, toe Vikings played St. Augustine wito hopes of avenging four regular season losses to toe Falcons. In what one observer called “an awesome display of power,” toe Vikings pounded out 25 hits to take a 25-4 victory. Les Toler went toe distance on toe mound for ECSU and picked up his first win of toe year. Marvin Watson drove in seven runs in his five trips to toe plate, including a three-run homer, three singles, and a double. Jeff Simpson cracked four hits in five at bats and knocked in one nm, while Scott Bigbie and White hurst were both three for five wito two RBIs. Denby was three for four wito two RBIs, and Tiller was two for five with one RBI. The Vikings’ win over St. Au gustine put ECSU in the championship game against Nor folk State. The nationally ranked Spartans, who had recorded four wins against toe Vikings during the regular season, would have to be beaten twice in order for ECSU to take home toe title. The Vikings only senior, Shawn Curtis, drew toe starting pitcher honors and pitched three and a third innings. Harrell came on in relief in toe fifto inning, but toe Vikings came up short, losing 7-5. Tiller led the Vikings offen sively in toe final game with three hits in three at bats wito two RBIs. Denby collected two hits in four trips to toe plate, driv ing in two runs, whUe Watson knocked in toe only otoer Viking nm with a double in the sixto in ning. “I was real proud of the kids,” said Cullens of his team’s perfor mance in toe tournament. As a team, toe Vikings hit .414 for the tournament. Denby led the Viking offensively hitting .632 wito eight RBIs. Watson was an- otoer offensive plus for toe Vi kings with a .368 average toat in cluded 11 RBIs. “If toey play (next year) like they played in toe tournament, we’U have a very exciting year.” Cullens says he hopes to sign two or three pitchers as well as a couple of catchers to finish his roster for next year. Since toe only senior on toe team is Shawn Curtis, Cullens is optimistic about his teams chances to win toe CIAA in 1989. Wajme Corprew, Norfleet Dan iels, Eugene Evege, and Antoony Robbins are expected to return for the 1989 season, along wito Scott Bigbie, Walt Denby, Jeffrey Simpson, Eric Spruill, Rob Tiller, Marvin Watson, and Mike White hurst. Also returning will be pitchers John Gurganus, Steve Harrell, Steve Craig, and Les Toler. Cullens is assisted by Darrel McCalop. Strike one! With a determined look, John Gurganus, one of the Viking pitchers, delivers this pitch against Binghampton (N.Y.) State. It was determination like this that carried ECSU to the CIAA finals against Norfolk State. Photo by Richard Mclntire ESpr FOOOUON Need a summer job at the beach? Looking for excellent pay, benefits, and flexible hours? Then apply at the Food Lion store located In the Market Place at Southern Shores, or at the Food Lion store on the U.S. 158 By-pass at Nags Head. Work for the most progressive and stable grocery chain in the United States, Food Lion, Inc. Positions available In all departments with various shifts. Apply at your convenience and secure your summer Job NOW! Remember, if you are going to be where the action is In Nags Head, North Carolina, then you will also want to be working for the best -FOOD LION. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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April 29, 1988, edition 1
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