Official home of the Emporia State University Hornets

 Legacy Award ESU Player Recognition
 
2024 Inductees:
Richard Alday, 1969-1971
Tucson High School (Tucson, AZ) — Transferred from the University of Arizona. Alday played catcher for the Hornet baseball team in 1969-1971.  The Tucson, Arizona, native was an All-Conference, All-District 10, All-Area III and honorable mention All-American in 1969 and 1970.  He was named to the All-Tournament Team as a catcher at the 1969 NAIA World Series. As a coach, Alday was named the WAC Baseball Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995 and the Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2000 while at the University of New Mexico. He has been active in USA Baseball and was an assistant coach on the USA Olympic Baseball teams at the 1988 Seoul and 1996 Atlanta Summer Games.
 
David Allbritton, 2010-2011
C. E. Byrd High School (Shreveport, LA) — Transferred from Barton County Community College. Allbritton was a two-time All-American catcher for the Hornets. He earned third-team honors from the ABCA. He hit .344 with three home runs and 41 RBIs as a senior while throwing out 10 runners. As a junior, he hit .381 with 12 home runs and 71 RBIs and threw out 15 runners. The Hornets advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both of his years.
 
Brad Bascue, 1988-1989
Garden City High School (Garden City, KS) — Transferred from Garden City Community College. In 1988, he was honored as All CSIC, All-District 10, and honorable mention All-American. He followed that in 1989 as a second team NAIA All-American. Brad played 135 games in his two years at ESU, hitting .379 in 1988 and .407 in 1989. He is ranked high in career hitting stats: .393 average (fifth), 192 hits (seventh), 46 doubles (fourth), and 25 home runs (ninth). The 1988 and 1989 teams both advanced to the Area III Tournament and lost in the last game before the NAIA World Series. 

Brett Berry, 1986-1989
Middletown High School (Middletown, RI) – Four-year letterman at ESU in baseball. Berry began his baseball career at Emporia State as a freshman and played sparingly during his initial year in the program. During his sophomore and junior years, he played an integral role on both teams, helping the Hornets to fifth and second place finish in consecutive appearances in the College World Series. In his senior year, he compiled some impressive statistics: .418 batting average, 99 hits, 16 doubles, 10 triples, 13 home runs, and 83 RBls and was honored as a second team All American. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox and played one year at Utica (NY) in the New York Penn League.
 
Pat Blasi, 1985-1986
Bishop Carroll High School (Wichita, KS) — Transferred from Wichita State after two years at WSU. Blasi was a 1986 First Team All American shortstop. Played on two significant teams in ESU history. The 1986 team was the sixth team from ESU to play in the NAIA World Series and set the school record for wins in a season at the time with a 54-17 record. In 1985, the team lost in the regional final game and finished 40-29. He had a career batting average of .355. In 1986, he had 85 hits and struck out only 13 times in 232 at bats. After graduating, he returned to Wichita and has been in car sales his entire career.

Ben Bounous, 1975-1977
Southeast High School (Wichita KS) — Transferred from Arkansas State. Bounous was a two-time All-American pitcher for the Hornets from 1975-1977.  He is the all-time ESU career leader in wins with 33 and is second in strikeouts with 242.  He was 33-11 (.750) with a 2.60 ERA. He also shares ESU career records for shutouts (10) and complete games (29). He became the first player in ESU history to throw a nine-inning no-hitter when he blanked Ft. Hays State 1-0 on May 15, 1975. The Wichita native helped ESU to three CSIC and NAIA District 10 championships and was a member of a Hornet squad that finished third at the NAIA World Series in 1976. In 1976 and 1977, he was named first-team All-District 10 and All-Area III. He also showed his excellence in the classroom by being named ESU Student-Athlete of the Year in 1977.
 
Kenny Burkhead, 2009-2010
Shawnee Heights High School (Shawnee Heights, KS) — Transferred from Barton County (KS) Community College. Burkhead played for two years and set multiple marks, which still rank within the top 10 single-seasons in Hornet baseball history. In 2009, Burkhead tallied 96 hits in 249 at-bats with 28 doubles and 86 RBIs. Over the course of two seasons, he totaled 46 doubles, which is tied for the third-best career mark at Emporia State and recorded a .380 batting average, which also ranks in the top 10. He was selected as a first team All-MIAA in 2009. He was a part of the World Series runner up team in 2009.
 
Mike Carlson, 1987-1988
Seaman High School (Topeka, KS) — Transferred from Allen County Community College. He graduated as the school record holder in RBIs (98), doubles (29), and base hits (103) in a season and was second in career RBIs (175). He finished third in career doubles with 41 and home runs with 28, despite playing only two seasons. Carlson earned first-team NAIA All-American honors as a first baseman in 1987. He was a two-time All-CSIC and All-District 10 performer. The Hornets finished second in the NAIA World Series in 1987 and a regional runner up in 1988 on a team that won 434 games.
 
Bill Cowan, 1968-1971
Reading High School (Reading, KS) —Four-year letterman in baseball. All Area and honorable mention All American in 1969 and 1971. Pitched on two NAIA World Series teams in 1969 and 1970. The 1971 team lost to Southwestern Oklahoma in the last game of the regional tournament. His statistical mark on the program record book is significant, including strikeouts: career strikeout leader (342, which is 100 strikeouts more than anyone else) and single season (168 in 1971); games started: career (43 - 4^th) and single season (16 - 3^rd); wins: career (26 – 5^th) and single season (12 - 5^th); and innings pitched: career (281 - 4^th) and single season (121 -1^st). Cowan signed with the Kansas City Royals in 1971 and pitched for one year. After baseball, he had a long career in teaching, coaching, and athletic administration that included coaching football, basketball, and baseball at Ople and Balle Plaine, Kansas.  He has recently retired from his second career in the sporting goods industry.
 
Connor Crumbliss, 2006-2009
Arkansas City High School (Arkansas City, KS) — Crumbliss was the MIAA Player of the Year as he led the Hornets to a national runner-up finish in 2009. A three-time All-MIAA pick with two first-team selections, he graduated as the MIAA record holder with 78 career doubles. He set Emporia State career records with 272 runs, 311 hits, 842 at bats, and the single season record with 30 doubles. He was drafted in 2009 by the Oakland A's and advanced to AAA in 2013 with the organization.
 
Anthony Delsi, 1991-1992
Glen Wilson High School (Hacienda Heights, CA) — Transferred from Citrus Junior College, California. In both seasons, he did what few players have done – pitching and playing shortstop. Honored in 1992 as a first team All-MIAA, MIAA Region Player of the Year, MIAA Hitter of the Year, and a first team NAIA All-American. His .471 average in 1992 is the highest in ESU history. His career average of .438 is also the top career average. After Emporia State, he played professionally in the Netherlands. Currently, he is the JV baseball coach at Desert Ridge High School (Mesa, AZ).
 
Rich Devine, 1998-2000
Claremont High School (Claremont, CA) — Transferred from Citrus Junior College, California. Quite possibly the fastest guy to play at ESU, Devine had a medical red shirt in 1998 and then was a two-year starter in centerfield in 1999 and 2000. Devine was named first team All-MIAA in both 1999 and 2000 and tallied a .410 batting average across his two seasons, which is the second-best career mark in Hornet history. In addition to his ability at the plate, Devine was excellent on the base paths, stealing 57 bases in 1999 and 58 in 2000. Following his two seasons with the Hornets, Devine was signed by the Kansas City Royals and played one year in Spokane (WA) in the Northwest League and also played a season of independent baseball in the Frontier league Rockford (IL).

Steve Gillies, 1976-1978
El Dorado High School (El Dorado, KS) — Three-year starter at ESU after one year of college basketball. Gilles played first base and left field on three very significant teams in ESU baseball history. The 1976 team finished 3rd in the NAIA World Series. The 1977 team was ranked 2nd nationally and lost to Southeastern Oklahoma in the regional final game, finishing the year with a 45-11 record. The 1978 team won the NAIA National Championship. He earned All-Conference, honorable mention All American, and World Series All-Tournament Team in 1978. He finished his career with single-season records (RBIs and home runs) and career record in RBIs and finished 2nd in career home runs. He was chosen for the USA NAIA All Star Team. On the USA team, he hit .409 against the Korea National team in Seoul and .316 against the Taiwan National team in Taipei. Gilles received his BS in 1979 and has worked in large healthcare organizations his professional career. He continues to develop support for the ESU baseball program.
 
Keith Hernandez, 2007-2008
Nogales High School (Nogales, AZ) — Transferred from Pima Junior College (Tucson, AZ). Hernandez was named the ABCA National Player of the Year as a senior in 2008 after hitting .462 with 18 home runs and 80 RBIs. He was first-team All-MIAA at catcher and the MIAA Player of the Year. He led the MIAA in six offensive categories as the Hornets won the MIAA regular season title with a 50-10 record. His 18 home runs ranked fourth on the MIAA single season chart at the time. As a junior, he hit .321 with 11 homers and 78 RBIs.
 
Brad Hill, 1981-1984
Galva High School (Galva, KS) — Hill embodied the outstanding Hornet baseball teams of his time. He earned recognition as a four-time member of the District 10’s first team, the All-CSIC team, and the NAIA All-Area III team member. Hill was the only freshman named to the first-team NAIA All-American squad in 1981. He earned second-team NAIA All-American honors in 1984 and was named NAIA honorable mention All-American in 1982 and 1983. Hill played on Hornet teams that captured District 10 titles in 1981, 1982, and 1984 and competed in the NAIA World Series in 1984, where the Hornets finished fifth. An outstanding hitter, Hill held eight school records, including career batting average (.373), when he graduated. Hill also was an exceptional student and was named ESU’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 1984. After a four-year playing career in the Texas Ranger system, Hill began coaching at Hutchinson Community College and was on the staff at the University of Kansas at the time of his induction.
 
Wilson Kilmer, 1978-1979
Heights High School (Wichita, KS) — Kilmer was a vital part of the Emporia State University pitching staff during the 1978 and 1979 seasons. He finished his career as a Hornet with a 17-5 record (.772) and a 1.81 earned run average. In 1978, he was a member of the team which won the 1978 NAIA National Championship, finishing the year with an 8-2 record and 1.88 ERA. At the 1978 NAIA World Series, he posted a complete game win against Lewis and Clark and notched a save against Missouri Southern in the championship game. As a senior, Kilmer had a 9-3 record with a 1.73 ERA and 12 complete games. In that season, he earned first-team NAIA All-American honors as well as first-team All-Area III, All-District 10, and All-CSIC recognition. He also was honored for his efforts in the classroom by being named ESU’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 1979. He later served as a graduate assistant coach for the Hornets from 1980 to 1984.
 
Phil McKinzie, 1983-1986
Emporia High School (Emporia, KS) — An Emporia native, McKinzie was a two-time NAIA All-American and Academic All-American. He led ESU to the NAIA World Series in 1984 and 1986 and was named District 10 and Area III Player of the Year in 1985. In 1986, he was named to the NAIA College World Series All-Tournament team and, in 1984, he earned a win in relief against eventual champion Lewis and Clark. He hurled the Hornets to three District 10 titles and two Area III crowns. He is the all-time ESU career leader in appearances and is second in innings pitched. He won a school record 14 games in 1985 and threw a one-hitter against the University of Texas but lost 2-0. His 16 starts in 1986 also is a single season school standard. Following his career at ESU, he played two seasons in the Kansas City Royals organization.
 
Gabe Medina, 2005-2006
Simon Bolivar High School (Maracaibo, Venezuela) — Transferred from Cochise College (AZ). Medina was the National Pitcher of the Year in 2006 as he led the Hornets to their first NCAA Division II World Series. He started a school record 17 games as a senior and finished with 142 strikeouts to rank second in a single season at Emporia State. He was 13-2 with a 2.48 ERA as a senior and picked up the win in relief in the Hornets regional championship game. His 187 strikeouts are the most by a two-year player at Emporia State as an NCAA Division II school. He was a 15th round draft pick of the New York Yankees.
 
Kevin Mendon, 1977-1978
Washington High School (Kansas City, KS) — Transferred from Kanas City Kansas Community College. Mendon played baseball for the Hornets in 1977 and 1978. A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Mendon was the MVP at the 1978 NAIA National Championships as the Hornets captured their first-ever baseball national championship. Mendon was 2-1 in the series, which included a 2-0, nine-inning, no-hit gem against Missouri Southern. During that season, he also blanked Benedictine 1-0 and is the only pitcher in school history to hurl two no-hitters in one season. He is sixth in career victories at ESU and was an All-District 10, All-Area III, and NAIA All-American selection. He was 9-1 with a 1.63 ERA in 1977 and was 12-4 with two saves and a 1.94 ERA in 1978. He signed professionally with the Montreal Expos following the 1978 season and was a member of the Expos 40-man roster.
 
Steve Michael, 1987
Columbia River High School (Vancouver, WA) — Transferred from Big Bend Community College. Michael was named first-team NAIA All-American and the National Player of the Year in his only season with the Hornets in 1987. He hit an Emporia State record 24 home runs for the national runners-up, a record that still stands at the time of his induction. He also had 91 RBIs and scored 71 runs in 68 games for the national runners-up. Not only a force at the plate, he also won 12 games on the mound with 94 strikeouts. He gave up his final season of eligibility after being drafted in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox following his junior season.
 
Brian Moyer, 1978
Transferred from the University of Kansas for his senior year. Brian Moyer was the starting catcher for Emporia State in 1978 on a team that went 41-20-2 and won the NAIA College World Series with an 8-6 win over Missouri Southern. Moyer was named a first team All-American catcher and drew 52 walks that season, which is the ninth-best single season mark in Hornet Baseball history. His most significant contribution on that championship team was his leadership of the pitching staff.
 
Mike Plunkett, 1970
Alhambra High School (Phoenix, AZ) — Transferred from Arizona State University. Plunkett was a first-team All-American pitcher on the 1970 Hornet team that advanced to the World Series. His 1.12 ERA for the 1970 season is fourth all-time at Emporia State. He was a 16th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers before becoming a successful high school coach.
 
Tod Schulz, 1985-1986
Tombstone High School (Tombstone, AZ) — Transferred from Central Arizona Junior College. Schulz was a first-team NAIA All-American outfielder in 1986 when he batted .449 with 19 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 78 runs as he led the Hornets to the NAIA World Series. His .449 average was a single-season record at the time. He ranks third all-time in home runs at Emporia State with 30, second all-time with a career batting average of .402, eighth in career doubles with 37, and 13th in career RBIs with 126.
 
Mike Shinn,1973-1976
Iola High School (Iola, KS) — Shinn was a first-team NAIA All-American catcher 1976 and earned honorable mention All-American honors in 1975. He was named All-GPAC, NAIA All-District 10, and All-Area III as well. He earned Academic All-American honors from the NAIA in 1976. Shinn signed with the Cincinnati Reds after the 1976 season.
 
Frank Trujillo, 1976-1977
Tucson High School (Tucson, AZ) — Transferred from Pima Community College (Tucson, AZ). In his two years at ESU, he played shortstop on two significant teams in ESU baseball history. In 1976, the team won their first-ever game in the World Series and finished third. A highlight of that team’s appearance was a 13-inning loss to eventual national champion Lewis University. He was selected as the Charlie Berry Hustle Award recipient and was named to the All-Tournament team. In 1977, he was named first team All-American shortstop on a team that was ranked second in the NAIA and finished 45-11. That team lost in the championship game of the regional. Trujillo set the school record at the time and is still ranked 11th in sin­gle season doubles with 21. He received a BSE in 1979. After graduating, he returned to Tucson and began a long coaching and teaching career in Tucson and now is traveling to Jamaica to teach and coach baseball part of the year. Trujillo was a real ambassador for ESU. He sent numerous players from Tucson to ESU through the years.