Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- The University of Lynchburg baseball team is two wins away from a national championship.
The Hornets take on Johns Hopkins in a three-game set at the NCAA Division III 2023 baseball national championship beginning Wednesday, June 7 at 1 p.m. EST.
With a program-record 46 wins (and counting), three All-Americans on the roster, and the three-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference coach of the year Lucas Jones, the 2023 Hornets are poised for the first national championship in program history and the second NCAA championship for the Lynchburg athletic program.
Ahead of the biggest games in the program's history, some of the biggest names in the program's history shared their thoughts on Lynchburg's title run.
RELATED: Lynchburg baseball NCAA championship HQ
The following nine alumni played for the Hornets ranging from 1966 to 2008 and are extremely proud of the men representing their alma mater on the nation's biggest stage.
Kevin Dwan: 2000-2004
Favorite memory: "So many, but my favorite memories are probably bus trips to road games. We rode the old Lynchburg American Legion bus. The back seats were bench seats that faced each other, and we would play spades for hours on our way to and from the games."
Reactions to championship run: "Well for one thing, my wife is a Lynchburg women's soccer alum, so she wouldn't be the only one who's team won a national championship! But besides that, I think it would be an incredibly proud moment for all of the alumni who poured so much into this program over the years. What Lucas has done in five years is unbelievable, and the best part is that it feels like this is only the beginning."
Fun fact: Dawn played with Lucas Jones for one season
Roger Roberts: 1966-1969
Favorite memory: "We had some good teams and made it to the regional finals before losing my senior year. Many of my teammates still stay in contact with each other which is great!"
Reactions to championship run: "We have known Lucas Jones since he was born and have been so proud of his efforts to bring this team to the Division III World Series finals. Our best wishes go out to the Hornets to bring home the title! Enjoy the ride as you will never forget this season! Best of luck and we are very proud of this team."
Favorite memory: "Our Coach was Jerry Thomas, and we had a very good team. During my three years my favorite memory was my freshman year because we had a really great mix of seniors and freshmen. I only played three years because I was drafted by the Boston Red Sox after my junior year."
Championship reactions: "I eventually coached Lucas at Heritage HS, and I am very proud of him not only as a coach but as the man he has become. Go Hornets!"
Fun fact: Scruggs is a 1989 Lynchburg Hall of Famer as a baseball and basketball player. He was also drafted by the Pirates in 1968 in the June Amatuer Draft. He played 63 games for Winston-Salem and Bristol as a professional baseball player and struck out 303 batters as a pro.
Chad Evans: 1992-1994
Favorite memory: "In the 1994 ODAC tournament, we lost Game 1 4-3 to Bridgewater. Due to rain delays, we played three games in two days. We had to come out of the losers bracket where we knocked off the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds to make it to the championship. We had to beat Bridgewater twice. We won the first game but ran out of pitching and lost in the final game."
Reactions to championship run: "When the University of Lynchburg was looking for a coach, I was hoping Lucas would be the top choice. I followed his career once he got into the coaching ranks. When I heard Lucas took the job, I knew we had the right person. He's a person with a tremendous amount of integrity and grit. He does things the right way. There isn't a kid on that field that hasn't earned the respect of Lucas and the entire coaching staff. Even before this World Series appearance, Lucas has put this baseball team on the map: they are here to stay!"
Fun fact: Evans is a 2013 Lynchburg Hall of Famer and has the second-highest single-season batting average in program history. He hit .490 in 1992 and set the record for triples with nine in 1994. In the same season, he posted top-10 marks in walks (31) and stolen bases (21).
Percy Abell: 1983-1987 as a player, 1988-1989 as a graduate assistant, and was the head coach from 1997-2017
Favorite memory: "I have a lot of good memories like all my teammates during my time as a player. We won the 1984 ODAC championship, beat Division I Navy, and as a coach, we won the 2012 ODAC title and made it to the NCAA tournament in 2008 and 2012."
Reactions to championship run: "As an alumni, I am extremely proud of the baseball program and what Coach Jones and his staff have accomplished. It was an honor to coach Lucas. He was an outstanding player and is an incredible coach."
Fun fact: Abell's career-.393 batting average is the fourth-highest in program history, and he was Lyncburg's first All-State award winner in 1987. Abell won 428 games as the head coach of the Hornets and led the team to its first ODAC championship in 22 years with the 2012 crown. He is also a 1999 Lynchburg Hall of Famer.
Jon Crews: 2004-2008
Favorite memory: "In 2008, having the opportunity to play in regionals."
Reaction to championship run: "It would be an amazing accomplishment. Being able to solidify the program on a national level and seeing the hard work these young men have put in pay off. And considering Johns Hopkins ended our regional run in 2008, it would be extra special to see our boys win the national championship against them. It has been amazing watching these boys all season long. Finish it off Hornets!"
Fun fact: Crews hit the fifth-most RBI in a single-season with 59 in 2008 and owns Lynchburg's single-season doubles record with 21 in 2008. His 40 doubles for his career are the fifth-most in program history as well.
Michael Ranson: 2000-2003 as player, 2004-2005 as graduate assistant, 11 years as coach across Division I and III levels, and served as a Kansas City Royals scout for six years
Favorite memory: "Beating Va. Wes in 2001 in a double-header at home. They were the powerhouse team in the league, and we never could quite get over the hump with teams like them and Bridgewater (at the time). Beating them seemed to get the ball rolling with Coach Abell to get the program going in the right direction like some of the more storied teams Coach Thomas had in years prior where LC was a powerhouse team in the ODAC."
Reactions to championship run: "To see a national championship would be an incredible thing. So many people over the years have poured into that program…players, coaches, parents, alumni, friends & families across multiple states & generations…giving time, dedication, and resources to help build it…and for what Coach Jones has done to move it forward, in such a short time, would be just incredible. With the victor should come the spoils, and Coach Jones and the program deserve a facility that reflects all of the aforementioned words from years past and the present state to solidify this program as the gold standard for the student athlete experience at the DIII level."
Fun fact: Ranson is the program-leader in innings pitched at 313.1. He is tied for the third-most pitching wins during a career with 23 and struck out 250 batters in his career (the third-most in program history).
Favorite memories: "I was very fortunate to play with some outstanding individuals and Coach Thomas. A couple of the fondest memories were winning the first-ever ODAC tournament championship in 1977 at City Stadium. Then in 1978, we were one win away from going to the World Series only to lose both games in extra innings on the final day."
Reactions to championship run: "First and foremost, I've been keeping up with the program and the tremendous job Coach Lucas has done over the years. This is a monumental achievement by this team and staff. I only wish I could have been there. Hopefully by Thursday afternoon we can all celebrate a national championship together as Hornets!
Fun fact: Kitts' 1.39 ERA is the second-lowest in program history. He only walked three batters in 1977 and owns the program-record for single-season ERA at 0.60 in 1978. In 1979, he pitched to a 0.64 ERA which is the third-best in the program's history. Kitts is a 1993 Lynchburg Hall of Famer and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1979 MLB Draft.
Dr. Steve Smith: 1995-1996 as a player, 1997-2003 as assistant coach
Favorite memory: "My favorite memories from my teams were playing in the ODAC tournament and competing for a championship. I also loved to practice! I loved going down to the field daily!"
Reactions to championship run: "My favorite memory of this team is that they really put in the time. I see them in the weightroom, I have had them in class, I have talked to them, I serve as the faculty mentor for the baseball program, and I have had very few problems I have had to work through. The coaching staff has set very clear expectations, and these guys have really put in the time and effort. They have truly earned this opportunity. As an alum of the University and of the program, I am glowing with pride for everything this group has earned. This staff has done a phenomenal job recruiting and developing players and am so proud that Lucas came home to take over the program from another legend (Percy Abell) to take them to the next level!"
These men are a crucial part of Lynchburg baseball's history and helped bring Lynchburg a number of its 10 ODAC championships and 11 NCAA tournament appearances. 14 Lynchburg baseball players have gone on to play professional baseball and have 64 players in the school's hall of fame.
Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts from Lynchburg athletics.
Give Lynchburg Sports a like on Facebook, and follow Lynchburg athletics on Instagram and Twitter.
--LYN--
