New Members Join Wesleyan Hall Of Fame

It is for sure of one thing if you play sports at North Carolina Wesleyan College and your team wins a National Championship you can count on your team being elevated to the North Carolina Wesleyan Hall Of Fame 17 years after it happens.  That is going to happen to the 1999 baseball team who became the second Battling Bishops baseball team to win it all.

1989 the Mike Fox led Battling Bishops won the DII National Championship and in 2006 the entire team was named to the Hall Of Fame.  Can't leave out any National Champions so it is now a tradition at NCW that 17 years after you win it you get in.  So during the Homecoming weekend on October 15th the 1999 team will join 1989 in the North Carolina Wesleyan Sports Hall Of Fame.

Charlie Long's first team went 42-9 and on June 1st 1999 beat St Thomas 1-0 to win the National Championship.  The history of Division II baseball it is still the only 1-0 championship game.  Expect a big crowd for the ceremonies as the entire team is expected back to Rocky Mount and here is a list.

Robbie Adams                                               Kevin McNeil
Tim Autry                                                      James Pitney
Barry Blake                                                    Jon Rardin
Pat Bullard                                                     Scott Robeson
Nick Buonocore                                             Dan Salax
David Capabianco                                          Brett Schultz
Ryan Crammer                                               Jason Sigley
Jim Faraci                                                       Jed Snead
Russ Fink                                                        Jeremy Stewart
Sean Flemming                                               Carl Wheeless
Buddy Hernandez                                            Mike Wilchinski
Chris Johnson                                                  Taylor Williams
Daniel Johnson                                                Brian Woolston
Andy Jones                                                      Tim Wright
Steve Ladlick                                                   Joel Yednock
Jon Markle                                                       Head Coach Charlie Long
Jason Maurer                                                   Asst Coach Ernie Jones
Andrew McFarland                                         Asst Coach Jerry Edwards

It would be mighty hard to put a team in the Hall Of Fame without the coach being in there too especially since he is still coaching at Wesleyan.  Charlie Long who has been at North Carolina Wesleyan since 1991 and took over for Mike Fox as baseball coach in 1999.  He has won 429 games as coach, one national championship.  He has been USA South Coach of the year three times.  His coaching record in the D II playoffs is 16-9.  He trails only Mike Fox on the all times wins list at North Carolina Wesleyan.  Of course he of one of two coaches to lead a Wesleyan team to a national championship.

The final person heading to the Hall Of Fame is Ernie Jones who came to Wesleyan in 1991 to finish out his college baseball career.  Once Charlie Long took over the baseball program in 1999 Ernie came back to be an assistant coach and was with Charlie for more than 400 wins and the National Championship.  Between his Wesleyan playing days and coaching 17 years. Ernie has been a part of 10 conference regular season or tournament titles.  Six NCAA bids, three regional championships and three world series appearances.  During his 17 years as an assistance coach that is the longest tenure assistant coach in the history of Wesleyan.

Hall Of Fame weekend is October 15th.