Page 164 - Clearwater Christian College 1997

The Cougars Conquer

at the First Invitational

National Tournament

__________ J. J. Gawlowicz__________

After struggling to an early 3-10 record,

the Cougar baseball team rebounded to

finish the season with a winning record

and to capture the first ever NCCAA

Division II National Championship. The

early part of the season consisted of a

tough out-of-conference schedule; how­

ever, the Cougars exploded during the

second half of the season to finish 15-1 in

their conference and 18-16 overall.

The Cougars advanced to the first ever

national invitational tournament for NC­

CAA Division II, held at Toccoa Falls

College. They swept their first two games,

putting them in the finals against Lincoln

Christian College. Because the Cougars

were the only undefeated team, Lincoln

would have to beat them twice to win the

tournament. With Cougar pitching ace Jim

Mayo on the mound, that feat seemed

impossible. However, the hot bats of the

Preachers crushed the Cougars 17-2.

On the ropes, the team turned to their

captain Cliff Stokes. Because of a shoulder

injury, he had pitched only eight innings

all year. However, he pitched the com­

plete game and led the Cougars to a 10-3

win. Stokes concluded his career by taking

tournament MVP honors and being nomi­

nated to the CCC Hall of Fame.