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 |
