Vikings win CIAA Baseball Championship
April 24, 2005
PETERSBURG, VA- After dropping the first game 14-10, the Elizabeth City State University Vikings rebounded to capture their first ever CIAA Baseball Championship over Virginia State University 9-6 Sunday at Whaley Colbert Field.The Trojans, the two-time defending champions, end their season at 15-19.
Game one was a see-saw affair with the Trojans prevailing 14-10. In a contest that saw three ties and four lead changes, VSU used their final at bat to break a 10-10 tie. IN the top of the 9th.After scoring a go ahead run the Trojans loaded the bases Steve Perkinson, the 2005 CIAA Rookie of the Year, the smacked a bases clearing double to give the Trojans the four-run victory.
Game two would mirror its predecessor with neither team giving an inch. In the top of the 4th with the Vikings leading 3-1, the Trojans rallied to score three runs to take their first lead of the game. It was short lived due to a solo shot by senior outfielder Gary Taylor tied the score at 4 in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of 5th, a bases loaded RBI single by Jamal McCown gave the Vikings a 5-4 lead. Next Victor Branch cleaned the bases with a double to push the lead to 4. The Trojans would add two run in their half of the 6th but would manage no runs down the stretch while the Vikings added a run in the bottom of the 7th. Branch, the tournament MVP, was 6-8 with 5 RBIs in the two championship games. The Vikings finish the season at 18-21 and capture their first ever CIAA Baseball Championship. Attached is the 2005 CIAA Baseball All-Tournament Team.
2005 CIAA Baseball All-Tournament Team
| Kevin White | Pitcher | Shaw University |
| Ernest Craddock | Pitcher | Virginia State |
| Steve Perkinson | Utility | Virginia State |
| Brandon Smith | Second Base | Shaw University |
| Meshaw Taylor | Short Stop | Elizabeth City State |
| Jason Jennings | Catcher | Virginia State |
| Carlos Gutierrez | Outfield | Elizabeth City State |
| Wayne Williams | Outfield | Virginia State |
| Victor Branch | Outfield | Elizabeth City State |
| P.J. Berry | Outfield | Virginia State |
| Jamal McCown | Second Base | Elizabeth City State |
| Gary Taylor | Outfield | Elizabeth City State |
Most Valuable Player
| Victor Branch | Outfield | Elizabeth City State |
