Official home of the Emporia State University Hornets

Legacy Award College World Series Teams Recognition
 
2024 Inductees:
1969 Baseball Team -The Hornets went 29-13 on the season and advanced to the NAIA World Series for the first time in school history. Playing in St. Joseph, Mo., the Hornets fell to the eventual national runners-up Laverne in their first game before dropping a 6-5 decision to Taylor (Ind.) in the elimination game. It was the final game for head coach Larry Cochell. Leland Shaffer was 7-3 on the year with a 2.30 ERA in 13 appearances. Outfielder/third baseman Don Klipowicz hit .345 with seven home runs and 39 RBI. Bill Cowan, Don Klipowicz, and Rich Alday named honorable mention All Americans. Alday earned All-Tournament Team catcher.
 
1970 Baseball Team - The Hornets made it back-to-back years in the World Series in 1970 in Jack Smitheran's first season as head coach. The Hornets were 32-16 overall and went 14-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. E-5tate again went up against stiff competition in the first round, falling 2-1 to eventual national champion Eastern Michigan. The run ended with another 2-1 loss, this time to Livingstone. Mike Plunkett earned First-Team All-American honors at pitcher while Rich Alday was named honorable mention All-American at catcher.
 
1976 Baseball Team - The Hornets went 32-18 and placed third in the NAIA World Series in their third year under head coach Dave Bingham. They opened the World Series with a 7-4 win over Guilford (NC) before falling into the loser's bracket with a 2-0 loss in 13 innings to Kentucky State. The Hornets defeated St. Mary's (Texas) 9-5 before falling 2-1 to eventual national champion Lewis in the loser's bracket championship. Several players earned All American recognition - Ben Bounous (HM pitcher), Rick Elliott (HM Infielder), Jere Peterson (HM infielder), and Mike Shinn (First team catcher). Shinn and Frank Trujillo earned all-tournament team status. Trujillo received the Charley Berry Hustle Award.
 
1978 Baseball Team - The Hornets were 41-20-2 as they won the district 10, Area Ill and NAIA National Championships. ESU lost its second game of the district 10 tourney to Benedictine and responded by defeating Ft. Hays State 19-16 and pounding Benedictine 12-1 and 10-3 for the district title. After sweeping through the Area Ill Tournament the Hornets were off to St. Joseph, Mo. and the NAIA World Series. After falling to CSIC rival Missouri Southern 4-0 in the first round of the tournament, E-State rolled through the next five games including an 8-6 victory over Missouri Southern in the championship game. Several players received All American honors – Kevin Mendon (HM pitcher), Steve Gillies (HM First Baseman), and Brian Moyer (First Team catcher). All tournament team members – Kevin Mendon (Pitcher), Steve Gillies (First base), Fred Riesgo (third base), and Jeff Stanley (Shortstop). Tournament awards – Darrell Alexander (Charley Berry Hustle Award), and Kevin Mendon (Most Valuable Player.dd
 
1984 Baseball Team - The Hornets won a then school record 50 games in route to a fifth-place finish at the NAIA World Series. ESU opened the World Series with a 6-5 win over host and eventual national champion Lewis & Clark State and followed with a 9-2 win over Grand View. They suffered their first loss to eventual national runner-up Azusa Pacific 7-1 before falling 11-2 to Lewis & Clark in the rematch. Three Hornets earned All-American honors - outfielder Brad Hill (2nd Team), first baseman Dale Lanik (HM) and pitcher Mike Montgomery (HM).
 
1986 Baseball Team - Emporia State won a then school record 54 games as they finished fifth in the NAIA World Series. The Area III tournament Champions were the automatic qualifier to the World Series and Oklahoma City also went to Lewiston as the at large in the new 10 team format. ESU opened with a 10-0 win over Hawaii-Hilo before falling 13-3 to Oklahoma City and 2-0 to Point Park. Shortstop Pat Blasi and outfielder Tod Schulz both earned first-team All-American honors while pitcher Phil McKinzie was an honorable mention choice. Brett Berry was on the All-Tournament team.
 
1987 Baseball Team - Emporia State advanced to the NAIA National Championship game for the second time in school history to cap a 56-12 campaign. It was the last of seven NAIA World Series appearances in 18 years for the Hornets before moving to the NCAA. ESU swept the Area III Regional beating Southeastern Oklahoma. In an amazing year for this team, the only losses to NAIA teams were two losses to the eventual National Champion Lewis Clark State. The other 10 losses were to DI teams. Steve Michael was the NAIA National Player of the Year after going 12-2 with a 2.75 ERA on the mound and a .383 average and 24 home runs at the plate. First baseman Mike Carlson and center fielder John Hernandez joined him on the All-American team, while Carlson, Michael and catcher Mark Kokaly were all on the World Series All-Tournament team.
 
2006 Baseball Team - Emporia State went 48-13 and advanced to the NCAA Division Il Word Series for the first time in school history. The Hornets went 25-4 in MIAA play to capture the regular season championship. They had two winning streaks of over ten games including a ten-game streak that took them to the MIAA Tournament Championship game. Included in the winning streak was a 12-0 no hitter by Toro Trevino. It was his second of the season after tossing an 8-0 no-hitter against Washburn earlier in the season. That was enough to secure home field for the NCAA Central Regional Tournament to held at the Trusler Sports Complex. The Hornets rolled through the regional defeating Missouri Western 16-5, Wayne State 8-1 and then taking two from Minnesota State 4-0 in the winner's bracket championship and then 9-6 to earn the trip to Montgomery. Gabe Medina named the NCAA Division Il National Pitcher of the Year while outfielder Mark McBratney earned honorable mention All-American.
 
2009 Baseball Team - Emporia State went 49-14 and advanced to the Division II Title Game. The Hornets won their third MIAA regular season championship in four seasons but lost two games in the MIAA Tournament. The South-Central Regional host went to Central Missouri. They started the regional hot, beating Angelo State 23-0 in the opening game and taking care of Neb.-Omaha 13-8 in the second game. A 2-1 loss to host Central Missouri put ESU in the loser's bracket where they again defeated Angelo State 5-3. Emporia State advanced to the World Series with a 15-6 win over the Mules. ESU won their first three games at the World Series - 3-0 over Grand Valley State, 5-2 over Mesa State and 5-3 over UC-San Diego. The Championship was a one game winner take all championship against Lynn. Kellen Lane drove in Conner Crumbliss in the bottom of the first to give ESU a 1-0 lead. Lynn tied it with a sac fly in the second and went ahead 2-1 in the third on a single that just got by a diving Kenny Burkhead down the first base line. Outfielder Conner Crumbliss earned second-team All-American honors and the MIAA's Player of the Year. Also, on the All-MIAA First-was catcher Mike Sharp and first baseman Kenny Burkhead.