Athletics
Boys of Summer Get Back Into the Swing of Things
With the seventh-best Division III winning percentage since 1990, seven NCAA tournament appearances and five SCAC Championships, it’s no wonder there is much excitement surrounding the 2006 Southwestern University baseball season.
The Pirates are coming off a 29-12 overall record and a third-place SCAC finish. The 2005 squad also produced nine All-SCAC selections and two All-West Region honorees.
Returning standouts include junior Ryan Bellomy (Dallas/Jesuit HS), an All-SCAC first baseman in 2005 who hit a team-best .418 while tallying 46 hits, 40 runs, seven doubles, three triples, a home run and 23 RBIs. Senior Clint DeCuir (Friendswood/University of Houston) is among the top candidates to take over behind the plate. DeCuir demonstrated his versatility last year starting at third base while providing key backup at the catcher position. An All-SCAC honorable mention third baseman in 2005, he batted .338 with nine doubles, four home runs and 45 RBIs.
“I am very excited to see how our season will unfold,” says Coach Jim Shelton. “We are such a young team with great talent that our success will depend on how quickly we adjust to the college game and how well our seniors can lead this squad.”
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams Excel
Guided by 2004-05 SCAC Coach of the Year Bill Raleigh, the Southwestern men finished the season 18-7 overall and 10-4 in conference action to earn the second seed heading into the tournament. This season marked another milestone for the men’s basketball program as seniors Robert Cates and Aaron Bowser became the first players in school history to reach the 1,000-point career mark. Bowser scored his 1,000th career point against Hardin-Simmons Nov. 22, while Cates hit the career mark on Feb. 19 against Sewanee.
The Southwestern University women’s basketball team showed solid improvement under first-year Coach Pam Ruder. After finishing eighth in the conference last season with a 5-9 mark in SCAC play, the 2005-06 squad went 7-7 in conference action to earn the No. 5 spot heading into this year’s SCAC Tournament. Southwestern finished 12-13 overall this year, improving over last season’s 9-17 record.
Three Inducted into Southwestern University Athletics Hall of Fame
The Athletics Department is proud to announce the induction of three new members into the Southwestern University Athletics Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors those persons who have made significant contributions to athletics at Southwestern University.
Dr. H. David Medley ’48, Bryan K. Neal ’82, and Rebecca Wilson Haughey ’89 will be honored at the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Saturday, May 6, with a reception at 5 p.m. in the Bishops Lounge and dinner at 6 p.m. in the McCombs Ballroom.