Faulkner State welcomes home its Sun Chief Baseball Team – June 2010

Bay Minette, Alabama– Faulkner State Community College faculty, staff and students lined the entrance to the College on Thursday morning to welcome its Sun Chief Baseball Team home as they returned from the NJCAA JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Due to an outstanding 2009-2010 season (overall 38-19-0, Conference 21-6) and as the winners of the 2010 ACCC State Championship, the Sun Chiefs, without a doubt, earned the honor to compete in one of the most prestigious sporting events in the NJCAA.  Ten teams from across the nation arrived in Grand Junction on May 29 to begin the six-day tournament, before thousands of spectators.

The tournament was double elimination.  After winning their first game on May 29 12-6 against Temple College, the Sun Chiefs lost the next two games against the College of Southern Nevada and Crowder College. The final game against Crowder College was full of suspense to the last moments of the game, as both teams played hard. Although Faulkner State started out with an early lead, Crowder eventually took the lead and the game on the final play, 19-18.

To show their pride and to extend congratulations to the team for an unforgettable year, the fans gathered to “welcome home” their 2009-2010 Sun Chiefs.

Coach Wayne Larker, Faulkner State Head Baseball Coach since 1985, said the experience was one he and the players would always be proud of.

“It was something that we will never forget; it was a great memory for all of the players.  You can’t really express what it was like unless you went as a ball player or as a coach,” Larker said.

Outfielder Brian Knuckles agreed, saying:  “There were more than 12,000 fans out there.  They didn’t even know our names, and they were cheering for us.”

Knuckles said the most memorable moment of the tournament for him was getting hit in the ear with a 90 mph fastball.  “I can definitely say that was my highlight.  They even had the clip on the news up there.  It’s all part of Sun Chief Baseball I guess…get on base any way you can.”

Larker said the team’s performance on the field and off was nothing short of outstanding.

“We are so proud of our team.  They played their hearts out, and they definitely deserved the title.  They will always be No. 1 in our book,” Linda Mack, a staff member who participated in welcoming the team home,” said.

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