Gator Baseball Hosts Alumni Weekend
Saturday, November 13, 2004 | Baseball
More then 70 University of Florida baseball alumni returned to campus Friday and Saturday for the annual Gator Baseball Alumni Weekend. A Home Run Derby and Gator Legends and Gator Greats Baseball Games featuring alumni versus alumni competition highlighted the activities at McKethan Stadium.
The weekend kicked off on Friday with a golf scramble at the Ironwood Golf Course. Prizes were awarded Saturday to several winners, including closest to the pin (Jim Britton) and longest drive (Rick Britton). There was a three-way tie for the tournament championship among the foursomes of John Barrett (current UF trainer), Jeff Cordozo (1998-2000), Brian Fleetwood (current assistant coach) and C.J. Smith (2002-04); Jason Beaird (1990-91), Jim Britton, Rick Britton (1990-93) and Todd McCray (1989-90); Alan Chatman (1980-81), Mike Moberg (1986-90), Rick Scarborough (1969-72) and Johnny Wiggs (1988-89).
Following an early morning brunch overlooking right field provided by the Gator Dugout Club, the coaching staff hosted a Hitters' Challenge Home Run Derby to kick off Saturday's festivities. After two practice cuts, each batter had six swings to amass a point total. The system was based on the following: six points for a home run, three points for a shot hitting the wall, two points for a hit to the warning track or off the pitcher's screen and one point for a ball hit out of the infield. Each decade had its own champion: Don McCreary (eight points - 1950s), Rick Scarborough (10 points - 1960s), Marc Sullivan (eight points - 1970s), Mike Moberg (10 points - 1980s), Shane Spears (14 points - 1990s) and Nick Telfry (17 points - 2000s).
Following the Home Run Derby, the alumni split into two teams and played a Gator Legends and Gator Greats contest. The Legends played four innings with limitations of 75 miles per hour on the radar gun. The game ended with a 3-1 count, as the two teams combined for 12 hits. Moberg led off the game with an infield hit and moved to second on a wild pitch by Chatman. A base-hit into left by Scarborough advanced his teammate to third and Dave Majeski (1989-92) delivered an RBI single to bring across the opening run. The visitors' lead was short-lived, however, as Tony Sowers (1983-84) cranked a leadoff homer over the left field wall in the bottom of the frame to knot the contest at a run apiece.
Terry Fitzgerald (1976-77) punched a one-out single in the second and later came across on an RBI hit by Ron Scott (1991-93) for a 2-1 lead and a double by John Worley (1979-80) in the third plated Scarborough to complete the scoring.
The Gator Greats game ended 6-3 in favor of the visitors after two innings. Brian Rose (2000-03) ripped a double to left field with one out in the top of the first and Casey Smith (1997-98) followed with an infield hit and took second on a throwing error. A grounder by Eddie Rojas (2000-01) scored Rose and Brian Haught (1996-98, 2000) drew a walk to give the guests runners on the corners. After Haught moved into scoring position with a stolen base, Doug Brennan's (1990-93) grounder scooted through the wickets for a pair of unearned runs to increase the margin to 3-0.
The following inning, Rose opened the stanza with a base-hit and scored on an RBI by Smith. Rojas then stepped to the dish and sent a towering shot deep to right just below the scoreboard to give his club a 6-0 cushion. The home team answered with a double by Rick Eckstein (1996) and consecutive run-scoring hits by Chuck Hazzard (1995-98), Derek Nicholson (1997-98) and Cardozo to finalize the score at 6-3.
In addition, the Alumni gathered for a team photo on the field after the Hitters Challenge Home Run Derby and each alumnus was treated to a tour of the Gator Baseball locker room and cookout following the games. Each Gator alumnus was also presented with an official Florida baseball cap by the current Gators and team managers prior to the start of the Legends Game.
Highlighting the list of alumni was legendary Florida baseball coach Dave Fuller, who collected a school-record 557 victories between 1948-75, and shortstop David Eckstein (1994-97) of the Anaheim Angels. Several other active professional players also played in the game and attended the weekend events.
"It was a great weekend for all of our former Gators," McMahon said. "We want our alumni to know how important they are to the University of Florida baseball program. They have made Florida baseball what it is and I'm honored to be a part of that tradition. We are already making plans for next year's event."
Florida opens its 2005 season on Friday, Feb. 11, by hosting Charleston Southern at 6:30 p.m. at McKethan Stadium. The Gators were 43-22 overall last season and advanced to NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in school history.
--UF--
