A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the mount olive college baseball team on becoming the 2008 division ii national champions.

Whereas, on May 31, 2008, Mount Olive College's baseball team won the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division II Baseball National Championship title, defeating Ouachita Baptist University by a score of 6‑2; and
Whereas, the Trojans' victory earned the team its first‑ever national title and the first national title in any sport for Mount Olive College; and
Whereas, the Trojans' victory is the first national title in baseball for a member of the Conference Carolina; and
Whereas, the Trojan baseball team was ranked number one in the nation throughout the regular season; and
Whereas, the Trojan baseball team went undefeated through the national championship, winning all four play-off games; and
Whereas, the Trojan baseball team set the school record for the number of wins in one season; and
Whereas, the Trojans ended their 2008 season with an overall record of 58‑6 and were champions of the South Atlantic Regional tournament; and
Whereas, the success of the men's baseball program, along with the many academic achievements of the students, is part of a long‑standing tradition of excellence at Mount Olive College; and
Whereas, these extraordinary accomplishments of the players and coaches of the men's baseball program bring great honor and distinction to the State of North Carolina and deserve recognition; and
Whereas, it is also fitting to recognize the Trojans' fans, who have always been an integral part of supporting the team; and
Whereas, one of the Trojan baseball program's most enthusiastic fans included the late Ray Scarborough, who played a major role in reinstating Mount Olive College's baseball program in the early 1980s and was instrumental in designing, constructing, and financing the baseball field, which was dedicated as Scarborough Field on April 19, 1980; and
Whereas, Ray Scarborough, a Mount Gilead native and Wake Forest University graduate, married Edna Martin of Mount Olive and was the father of two children, Beverly and Shirley. He played professional baseball as a pitcher for the Washington Senators from 1942 to 1950 and for the Chicago White Sox in 1950, where he was selected to the American League All‑Star Team of 1950. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1951 and the New York Yankees in 1952, where he was a member of the 1952 World Championship team; and
Whereas, the late James B. Hunt, Sr. was also an ardent supporter of Mount Olive College, who provided invaluable leadership as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1964 to 2003, during which time he served as Chair from 1974 to 1989 and as an honorary trustee from 1998 to 2003; and
Whereas, during his tenure on the Board of Trustees, James B. Hunt, Sr. saw student enrollment grow from 250 to 1,000 students, supported the college's development into a four‑year institution, and established the Elsie Brame and James B. Hunt Family Endowment to help provide continuing support to the College; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly congratulates the Mount Olive College Trojans on winning the 2008 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship and recognizes the achievements of the players: Patrick Ball, Craig Beasley,  David Cooper, Weston Curles, Josh Harrison, Anthony Hernandez, Andy Hilliard, Casey Hodges, Dylan Holton, Todd Jeffreys, Kyle Jones, Mike Kicia, Jesse Lancaster, Erik Lovett, Jackson Massey, Thomas Newsome, Paul Novicki, Rich Racobaldo, Ryan Schlecht, Jason Sherrer, Tyler Smith, Alex Vertcnik, Airlon Vinson, Joseph Westbrook, Anthony Williams, and Michael Williams; Head Coach Carl Lancaster; Assistant Coaches Aaron Akin and Robb Watt; students; alumni; and support staff; all of whom were instrumental in helping the baseball team win its first national championship.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly wishes to honor the memory of Ray Scarborough and James B. Hunt, Sr. for their contributions to Mount Olive College.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Mount Olive College President Dr. J. William Byrd, Athletics Director Jeff Eisen, Head Baseball Coach Carl Lancaster, and the families of Ray Scarborough and James B. Hunt, Sr.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 10th day of June, 2008.

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		 Marc Basnight
	 President Pro Tempore of the Senate

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		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives