Fierce Competition Highlights Day Two of GCAC Baseball Championship
Friday, April 26, 2024 Championship Tournament Schedule
Loser's Bracket
10:30 a.m. #3 Dillard Bleu Devils vs. #4 SUNO Knights | Live Stats
2 p.m. #1 Wiley Wildcats vs Tougaloo Bulldogs | Live Stats
Winner's Bracket
5 p.m. #2 Talladega Tornadoes vs #5 Rust Bearcats | Live Stats
Loser's Bracket
#4 SUNO Knights 10 def. #8 Philander Smith Panthers 4 | BOX SCORE
SUNO started day two keeping its GCAC championship hopes alive with a 10-4 win over Philander Smith. The Panthers' four errors proved costly, with SUNO capitalizing on them by turning them into three of their eight runs. The Knights started the scoring in the first inning by stealing home off a throwing error followed by a sacrifice fly the very next play. They added two more runs to the board in the third inning sneaking a hit past left field for a two-run RBI double. The Panthers' three runs in the seventh was enough to extend the game past the inning, going on to get a home run from catcher Aaditya Sur in the eighth. However, SUNO would put the game away in the ninth reeling in a foul ball in right field.
#6 Tougaloo Bulldogs 9 def. #7 Oakwood Ambassadors 7 | BOX SCORE
The Tougaloo Bulldogs outdueled the Oakwood Ambassadors, eking out a 9-7 win. The Bulldogs got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-run RBI single by Khilan Magee. After getting on board in the fourth with a home run by Mateo Hamm, Oakwood took control of the game in the sixth inning going on a hot hitting streak. The Ambassadors recorded four hits and six runs in the inning to take a 7-4 lead. This included hitting two home runs (one by Hamm and another by Dylan Grigorious) with one batter in between. Tougaloo punched back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a two-run inside-the-park home run by Orlando Truss. This was followed up by three straight singles (two RBIs) in the seventh to give the Bulldogs a 9-7 lead and would hold serve on their way to victory.
GCAC Awards Ceremony
Before play resumed, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference hosted a ceremony announcing its 2024 regular season individual and team awards honorees.
Leading off the player's individual Talladega College first baseman Miguel Oropeza being named the Conference Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year. Wiley University pitcher Keyon Guillory was named the Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Rounding out the list was Wiley University's first and third baseman, Ryan Ready, who was named Newcomer of the Year. Taking home Coach of the Year honors was Wiley University's Kendrick Biggs while Tougaloo College's Dante Benford was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
Oropeza leads the GCAC with 80 total hits, 56 RBIs, 20 doubles, a .544 batting average, a .641 on-base percentage, and 16 double plays. He also has hit six home runs (tied for fourth in GCAC), four triples (tied for second in GCAC), and recorded 248 putouts (third in GCAC).
Guillory leads the GCAC with 87 strikeouts, averaging 12.43 strikeouts per nine innings. He also has recorded a 1.48 WHIP (third in GCAC) and a 4.57 ERA (seventh in GCAC).
Ready ranks second in the GCAC with eight home runs and 53 RBIs as well as ranking third with 50 hits and a .388 batting average. He also has the sixth most runs in the conference (42).
Wiley University: 2024 Regular Season Champions
Talladega College: 2024 Regular Season Runners-Up
All-GCAC Second Team
Brendan Mendoza C, Wiley University
Eddie Velazquez DH, Talladega College
Ivan Del Villar 1B, Wiley University
Malik Berrien 2B, Rust College
D'Eric Shenault SS, Southern University at New Orleans
Ryan Ready 3B, Wiley University
JaShaun Franks OF, Rust College
Darlin Fernandez OF, Talladega College
Kyler Sheppard OF, Southern University at New Orleans
Dylan Scott RP, Dillard University
Jorge Guerra P, Dillard University
Noah Ramirez P, Southern University at New Orleans
All-GCAC First Team
Armando Jackson C, Talladega College
Ivan Del Villar DH, Wiley University
Miguel Oropeza 1B, Talladega College
Amir Mason 2B, Wiley University
Nomar Garcias SS, Talladega College
Jalik Demar 3B, Rust College
Isaac Guzman OF, Isaac Guzman
Jhan Carlos Javier OF, Wiley University
Chase Lovick OF, Southern University at New Orleans
Herson Fernandez RP, Talladega College
Samuel Guadamuz P, Talladega College
Keyon Guillory P, Wiley University
Winner's Bracket
#5 Rust Bearcats 15 def. #1 Wiley Wildcats 4 | BOX SCORE
In the first major upset of this year's tournament, the Rust Bearcats advanced in the winner's bracket after defeating the regular season champion Wiley Wildcats 15-5. Tied 3-3 going into the sixth inning, Rust took complete control of the game, scoring six unanswered runs started by a throwing error that sent two runners home. Shortstop Kyrent Cole had arguably his best hitting performance of the season, batting a perfect 1.000 in four at-bats including an RBI single in the eighth inning.
#2 Talladega Tornadoes 14 def. #3 Dillard Bleu Devils 9 | BOX SCORE
Rounding out the day was the Talladega Tornadoes, securing their spot in the next round of the winner's bracket with a 14-9 win over the Dillard Bleu Devils. Entering the bottom of the third down 4-2, Talladega shifted the momentum in its favor, scoring eight unanswered runs between the third and fourth innings, building a 10-4 lead. The Bleu Devils got themselves within striking distance, scoring five runs over the next three innings including scoring on two walks in the eighth to trim their deficit to 11-9. However, Talladega weathered the storm, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth, with two coming on a two-run RBI triple by Jeriel Lamboy to cement the victory.