Bill Text: MS SC530 | 2015 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognize the 2014 Ole Miss Rebels Baseball Team and Coach Mike Bianco for SEC West Title and exciting CWS appearance.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-01-28 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC530 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-SC530-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Butler (38th), Chassaniol, Fillingane, Hopson, Jackson (32nd), Stone, Watson, Longwitz
Senate Concurrent Resolution 530
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THE 2014 OLE MISS REBELS BASEBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH MIKE BIANCO FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SEC WEST TITLE REGULAR SEASON, THEIR REGIONAL AND SUPER-REGIONAL POSTSEASON VICTORIES, AND FOR THEIR FINAL-FOUR TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE IN THE NCAA COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.
WHEREAS, the 2014 Ole Miss Rebel Baseball Season (48-21) lived a long and full life, longer than any Rebel season before it, filled with 48 thrilling wins, 21 heartbreaking losses, an outright SEC West Title, and the deepest postseason run seen in Oxford in over four decades; and
WHEREAS, highlights of the 2014 Ole Miss Baseball Season include:
· Auston Bousfield's grand slam against South Carolina;
· The four consecutive walk-off wins in late April;
· Hosting and winning a Regional for the first time in five years, the drenched celebrated in right field after each victory;
· Josh Laxer's three-inning masterpiece to close out the super regionals, Josh Gatlin delivers in Omaha. Tied in the bottom of the ninth against Texas Tech, Ole Miss was facing the prospect of leaving Omaha without a win. With one out and men on the corners, Mike Bianco pinch-hit Gatlin, a reserve infielder with a .103 batting average over just 29 at-bats. Gatlin stepped into the box and delivered a historic walk-off win;
· Holt Perdzock knocks the Rebs into the CWS. Predzock's big hit in Game 3 of the Lafayette Super Regional wasn't a walk-off, in fact, Ole Miss held a two-run lead at the time, but it was after that three-run hit that you felt for the first time the Rebels might really be on their way to the College World Series;
· The team storms right field. In a season in which Ole Miss made it back to the College World Series for the first time in over four decades, you would presume the top moment would be Omaha, not the Regional's. But anyone who was in the student section after the clinching win over Washington knows better. What looked like just another celebratory lap around the outfield turned into a mad dash by the entire team into right field, where they collided with an ecstatic student body in one of the coolest sports moments. Students and athletes met as one in a pulsing mosh pit of triumph; and
WHEREAS, above all, the 2014 Ole Miss Baseball Season will be remembered for Omaha. For the first time in 42 years and perhaps even more significantly for the first time in Mike Bianco's tenure as Head Coach, Ole Miss broke through to the College World Series. So many times this team had been so close. This season was different. Not only did the team get to Omaha, they won two games while they were there. Unfortunately, the 2014 Baseball Season ended Saturday, June 28, 2014, in a 4-1 loss to Virginia (52-14) just two wins shy of the National Championship Series; and
WHEREAS, 2014 Old Miss Rebels Baseball Season Awards: MVP Will Allen with his indomitable spirit and genial personality, Allen was inarguably the heart and soul of this Rebel Team, lending both poise and leadership. He paced the team with a .339 average and 64 RBI's and finished second in the lineup with seven homers. Allen was named one of three semifinalists for the Johnny Bench Award, which goes to the nation's best catcher. Sikes Orvis hammered 53 RBI's and slapped 14 dingers, good for second in the SEC. His slugging percentage increased .220, finishing at a team-leading .540. Newcomer of the Year Christian Trent was a JUCO transfer that had the biggest impact among the new arrivals this season. Trent emerged as a great SEC pitcher in his first season as a Rebel. The most consistent pitcher on the team, the lefty finished with a pristine 9-0 record, a 2.05 ERA and allowed just one earned run over 21-1/3 NCAA Tournament innings; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 Ole Miss Baseball Roster is: J.B. Woodman, Aaron Greenwood, Jeremy Massie, Austin Knight, Cameron Dishon, John Gatlin, Dalton Dulin, Matt Denny, Josh Laxer, Colby Bortles, Wyatt Short, Cheyne Bickel, Scott Weathersby, Will Allen, Sikes Orvis, Auston Bousfield, Will Jamison, Preston Overbey, Braxton Lee, Austin Anderson, Christian Trent, Errol Robinson, Chris Ellis, Sam Smith, Brantley Bell, Preston Tarkington, Hawthin Buchanan and Holt Perdzock; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join University of Mississippi baseball fans in remembering and celebrating the best baseball season Oxford has ever seen, and in paying tribute to a team of university athletes who have brought honor to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and congratulate the 2014 Ole Miss Rebels Baseball Team and Head Coach Mike Bianco for their outstanding SEC West Title Regular Season, their Regional and Super Regional Postseason Victories, and for their Final-Four Tournament Appearance in the NCAA College World Series, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches and fans on this auspicious occasion for future team success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Bianco and the members of the 2014 Ole Miss Rebels Baseball Team, forwarded to University of Mississippi Chancellor Dan Jones and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
