S 1357  Resolution, By Corbin, Kimbrell, Loftis, Adams, Alexander, Allen, Bennett, 
Campsen, Cash, Climer, Cromer, Davis, Fanning, Gambrell, Garrett, Goldfinch, 
Grooms, Gustafson, Harpootlian, Hembree, Hutto, Jackson, K.Johnson, M.Johnson, 
Kimpson, Malloy, Martin, Massey, Matthews, McElveen, McLeod, Peeler, Rankin, 
Reichenbach, Rice, Sabb, Scott, Senn, Setzler, Shealy, Stephens, Talley, 
Turner, Verdin, Williams and Young
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL
 TEAM AND COACHES FOR WINNING THE 2022 NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
 TITLE AND TO CELEBRATE THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SEASON.

   06/15/22  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 21)

TO CONGRATULATE THE NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL TEAM AND COACHES FOR WINNING THE 2022 NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND TO CELEBRATE THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SEASON.

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is pleased to learn that the members of the North Greenville baseball team clenched the national title at the championship series held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, on Friday, June 10, 2022, the first national championship in any sport earned by the school; and

Whereas, with a season of 54-10, the top-seeded and nationally ranked North Greenville Crusaders defeated competitive No. 2 seed Point Loma Nazarene University 5-3 in the title game in the team's first-ever trip to the national championship. The Crusaders went 4-0 to take the series as only the second Conference Carolinas baseball team to win the title; and

Whereas, North Greenville scored first in the bottom of the second inning when all-tournament team third basemen Pat Monteith reached second on a two-base error, capitalized on a Josh Senter flyout by advancing to third, and crossed the plate on a Jordan Holladay groundout; and

Whereas, in the third inning, Ethan Stringer drew a one-out walk for the Crusaders, moved to third on a single from John Michael Faile, the all-tournament team designated hitter, and then scored on a Marek Chlup groundout for a 2-0 lead over Point Loma; and

Whereas, a leadoff homerun got Point Loma on the board in the fifth inning, where the score remained until the seventh when the Crusaders made two runs on as many hits; and

Whereas, Cory Bivins and Gehrig Octavio, the all-tournament team second basemen, opened the inning with back-to-back base hits, each moving up one base with a sacrifice bunt by Ethan Stringer. A wild pitch sent Bivins home. Octavio followed on a sacrifice fly from John Michael Faile, bringing the score to 4-1. A single by Jax Cash scored Monteith, giving the Crusaders' their final run of the game; and

Whereas, the drama hit a fever pitch in the bottom of the ninth when Point Loma's Baxter Halligan managed to get off a two-run homer before Tristen Hudson stopped any possible rally in its tracks with a final strikeout, triggering the requisite dogpile on the mound; and

Whereas, the pitching staff put up a total of sixteen strikeouts against Point Loma, with eight from Reece Fields, who was named the 2022 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship Most Valuable Player, six from Nate Roof, and two from Tristen Hudson; and

Whereas, usually reliant on a heavy-hitting offense, the Crusaders had to adjust when their bats didn't have the usual fire by capitalizing on small-ball tactics, further proving their versatility in the face of adversity; and

Whereas, Head Coach Landon Powell, in his eighth year as head coach, captured his three hundredth career win. Powell, a Hall of Fame catcher for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, played in the show for several years with the Oakland Athletics before joining NGU as head coach. Along with his coaching staff including fellow former UofSC baseball players Trey Dyson and Matt Williams, as well as, Hunter Dilworth, Ryan Brown, and JK Love, former players at NGU, Powell was able to impart his years of experience onto his players to teach them that teamwork over talent is what brings national championships. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate the North Greenville University baseball team and coaches for winning the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship title and celebrate their extraordinary season.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Landon Powell.