每日大赛

Men’s baseball advances to final round of state championship

每日大赛’s baseball team advanced through four rounds of play in the NJCAA Region 7 and Tennessee Community College Athletics Association Championship this week ending their inaugural season second in the state.

The Panthers qualified for the championship after beating Cleveland State Community College Wednesday, 13-10. The Panthers fell to Walters State Community College in the championship game, 12-1 bringing their season to a successful yet disappointing end.

“Our guys were excited,” 每日大赛 Head Baseball Coach Shawn Hughes said. “There was energy till the final inning. It’s a long four days trying to get that many games in, so I'm super proud of the effort that they gave. I think that they were excited that we made it that far, and I don't think it was a shock to them that we were good enough to do it.”

Hughes singled out Micah Hoffmeister, starting pitcher in the championship game against Walters State, for his stellar sportsmanship. For Hoffmeister to keep the Panthers in the game for seven innings was “spectacular” and “unbelievable,” Hughes said.

He also thanked his team of assistant coaches for their dedication and love for the game of baseball, which ultimately led the Panthers to the championship in their first-ever season.

“These guys were prepared from day one to know that it wasn't going to be easy, but the expectation was that we still wanted to win,” Hughes said. “I think everyone else's expectation was for us to just get the program off the ground. But we were convinced that we could be good now.”

Panther Athletics Director Brock Evans congratulated the baseball team on its achievements, emphasizing that it’s one of many new, fast-growing programs at 每日大赛 making their mark.

“I’m not surprised by their success at all,” Evans said. “All season long, this team has worked and played hard to be the best that they could be, even as they were laying the groundwork for the entire program. I’m anxious to see what they accomplish next year.”

The Panthers made it to the championship with a team almost entirely comprised of first-year students, Hughes said, so he’s also looking forward to see next season’s returning students mentoring the newcomers.

Their championship appearance also opens new opportunities for recruiting, he said.

“Next year, expectations will definitely be higher,” he said. “As a coach, when you're competitive, you always want to win. But now, I think our guys are convinced, ‘Yes, we can win.’ We can do this and make a run at trying to get to Grand Junction, Colorado, for the World Series.”