LITTLE ROCK, ARK. –
Chris Curry has described Little Rock baseball's run through the Baton Rouge Regional earlier this summer as "program changing." Curry said he's been stopped numerous times recently at the grocery store or the gas pump from a fan wanting to offer congratulations.
Third baseman
Ty Rhoades said he was approached by a "7-foot-guy" at a gas station in his hometown of Jonesboro, who happened to be a former Trojans basketball player. He saw Rhoades' Little Rock baseball shirt and introduced himself.
On Tuesday night, it was Little Rock County Judge who wanted to recognize the Trojans' feat of advancing to the Baton Rouge Regional Final against LSU – the eventual College World Series champion. Hyde read a Proclamation at the July Pulaski Quorum Court meeting extolling the Trojans' postseason accomplishments.
"We are very honored that Judge Hyde and the Court would proclaim Little Rock baseball for this honor," Curry said. "We wear the name of 'Little Rock' on our chest when we play with great pride, and we are happy that the success of our players brought so much pride to the city."
Most of the players and some of the coaching staff are not on campus currently due to summer vacation, but Rhoades and teammates
Jack Cline and Malcolm brown attended the meeting along with Curry, Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Matt Parker, Athletic Trainer
Joey Lednicky and Athletic Performance Coach
Cody Duvall.
"It means a lot that we are getting support from a county leader recognizing what we did and accomplished," said Rhoades, who hit .299 with 9 home runs last season. "It feels nice people all over the community recognize what we did."
Little Rock won five games in four days to capture the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title as a No. 8 seed.
The Trojans earned a berth to the Baton Rouge Regional as a No. 4 seed. After losing to host LSU in the opener after a five-hour rain delay, they routed Rhode Island for the program's first Regional win. They advanced to the Final by beating nationally ranked Dallas Baptist and LSU on the same day.
Little Rock returns many of the key players from last year's club including pitchers Cline and Brown and Rhoades, utility player
Ryan Geck and the Regional's Most Outstanding Player,
Angel Cano, a first baseman.
