Written by Kate Kuwitzky
The Harding baseball program will host its Second Annual Alumni Game in conjunction with the Black and Gold World Series this weekend at Jerry Moore Field.
The alumni weekend offers the opportunity for all former varsity players to come back and play in the game as well as catch a sneak peak of the 2010 Harding baseball team. However, what most players look forward to is the chance to catch up with old teammates.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the guys that I played with back in the day and rekindling friendships that were developed while playing baseball for Harding,” former player Randall Hunt said.
But this year the weekend will be even more special. The program plans to honor one of its greatest teams, the 1984 AIC Championship team.
The 1984 team claimed the school’s first regular season championship since 1938. The team included three players named to the All-AIC team – Marty Ninemire, Randy Hindman and Steve Pilkington.
Ninemire finished second in the AIC batting race, hitting .417 and finishing second in the conference with 27 RBI.
Pilkington won the conference ERA title with a 2.73 ERA, tied for the league lead with 65 strikeouts and had a 6-1 record.
Harding’s 1984 coach Dick Johnson was also named AIC Coach of the Year and NAIA District 17 Coach of the Year.
Harding coach Dr. Patrick McGaha hopes his 2010 team will also benefit from the time spent with the championship team.
“I think it will be great for our current players to talk with these guys and hear how they were able to win a championship,” McGaha said. “Hopefully, my guys will also get a sense for the past history of the baseball program and understand the importance of respecting those that have gone before them and helped build the program.”
Allan Isom, an assistant pitching coach for Johnson as well as Steve Smith, another assistant to Johnson before becoming the Bison head coach after Johnson’s retirement in 1989, will also be on hand in the first and third base coaches’ boxes to once again assist Coach Johnson.
Also, one of Harding College’s former players, 64-year-old Mike Plummer, a 1967 graduate and All-AIC pitcher will be relieving for the much younger 1984 pitching staff. Plummer will be playing in the 2009 over-60s Senior World Series for the San Antonio team the following week in Phoenix.
Several other members of the 1983 and 1985 teams as well as players from more recent years will play in the alumni game, which will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Jerry Moore Field. The 1984 AIC Championship team will also be honored at halftime of Harding’s football game against Valdosta State.
