Congratulations to the Loggers baseball team on a great season! Despite a quick three-run second inning, the Loggers fell short one run in 10 innings to lose to Catawba Valley, 9-8. Catawba Valley scored six big runs in the bottom of the third inning, to take the lead 6-3. LLCC came back to tie the game 8-8 in the eighth inning. Unable to produce the go-ahead run, the Loggers lost in the bottom of the 10th on an unprecedented wild pitch.
LLCC ends their season and a bid for a World Series championship with a record of 42-16.
Congratulations to the Loggers baseball team on its win against John Wood Community College Tuesday to claim the NJCAA Division II Region XXIV championship title. The Loggers advance to the NJCAA Division II World Series in Enod, Okla. They play at noon this Saturday against Frederick Community College. Coach Ron Riggle commented, “I’m so proud of them. Our guys fought very hard and they never gave up.”
Congrats also to the Loggers softball team on a tremendous season. The Lady Loggers just returned from the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Clinton, Miss., placing fifth in the nation. Their overall record was 45-14.
Congratulations to the 2000 NJCAA champion baseball team and to Dick Dhabalt, former athletic director and sports coach for being inducted into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday.
Richard “Dick” Dhabalt had a successful and storied career in education and athletics. As a founding faculty member at LLCC, he served students with distinction for 25 years until his retirement in 1993. His tenure at the college includes 20 years as athletic director, 20 years as head men’s basketball coach and 25 years as an instructor of physical education and mathematics. In his first year with LLCC, Dick coached all sports including: basketball, baseball, track and tennis. During his time as athletic director, he developed 11 men and women athletic teams. He was selected by the National Junior College Athletic Association to serve as the Region IV assistant director and then director of Region XXIV. In 1991, the NJCAA inducted Dick into the Region XXIV Hall of Fame. He is an athlete Hall of Fame member at LLCC, as well as his alma mater, Bradley University. The Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award, recognizing a male and female athlete, was established at LLCC in February.
The 2000 baseball team filled with outstanding talent embodied what “team” really means. “Each one of the guys contributed to its success,” then-head coach Claude Kracik recalls. “It goes beyond talent and player caliber, however,” he says. An example of the team and coaches pulling together was during the season of the national championship win. Both Kracik and his wife lost parents during April of 2000. Kracik’s father passed away while the coach was at the winning game of the district tournament, and he was called away to Florida. According to Kracik, “LLCC was very fortunate to have assistant coaches at that time who carried on working with the players while I was away. Even though we were not the top seed in the national tournament that year, the team went on to take four straight games and win the championship displaying how with hard work, dedication, perseverance and true teamwork, they could be the best.”Fourteen of the 23 players went on to play at a four-year school, with five of those advancing to professional play.
Women’s and men’s basketball games and a dance are planned for tomorrow’s Homecoming. During half-time of the women’s basketball game, Dick Dhabalt, former LLCC athletic director, men’s basketball coach and founding faculty member, will be recognized with the Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award.
The women’s basketball game will begin at 2 p.m. when the Lady Loggers take on the Lincoln College Lynx in Cass Gymnasium. The men’s game will follow at 4 p.m. Admission for the games is $5 for adults, $3 for students K-12 and is free for LLCC students, faculty and staff with an LLCC ID.
The homecoming dance is being held from 8 to 11 p.m., along with the coronation of homecoming king and queen at 9 p.m. in the Student Union, Menard Hall. The dance is open to LLCC students, alumni, faculty, staff and their guests.
Homecoming activities are being sponsored by the Logger Activities Board, Alumni Services and the Athletics Department. More information is available by calling the LLCC Student Life Office at 786.2241.
This year’s Springfield Sports Hall of Fame inductees include former LLCC athletic director and basketball coach Dick Dhabalt and LLCC’s 2000 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) World Series champion baseball team. Induction ceremonies are being held Tuesday, April 28 at the Springfield Crowne Plaza. Congratulations to Dick and LLCC’s 2000 baseball alumni!
The Loggers baseball team won the Region 24 tourney Monday! LLCC went 4-0 to advance to the NJCAA Division II World Series by defeating DACC 7- 6 in the championship game. LLCC will play Hinds Community College on Saturday at 4 pm in Enid, Oklahoma. All games in the tournament may be watched live at NJCAA.org. Good luck!
Ron Riggle has been named Coach of the Year for Region 24 of the NJCAA. This is his second time to win the award; the last time was in 2004. Way to go, Ron!
The Loggers softball team defeated Patrick Henry twice (11-1, 3-0) on Saturday in a District playoff to advance to the 2014 NJCAA Nationals in Clinton, MS! Their first game is Wednesday at 3:30. GO LOGGERS!
