1992: Lewis-Clark State College Baseball NAIA World Series Championship No. 8

DES MOINES, Iowa -- One for the road.

That was the story for the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team in 1992. After the NAIA World Series was moved from Lewiston to Des Moines, Iowa, following the 1991 series, many in the world of college baseball were looking forward to see if LCSC could qualify for the series away from home, and if so, could the Warriors win it?

Well, LCSC answered that question in resounding fashion.

The Warriors drilled Winona State, Minn., 20-0 in the opener that set a series record for the most lopsided shutout and then defeated Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas, 4-3 in 10 innings in their next game. Wins over Oklahoma City (12-3) and Winona State (8-1) followed before a championship-game rematch with Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Warriors were never in trouble in the championship game, jumping out to an 8-0 lead by the third inning. LCSC's offense stroked out 17 hits and, by the third inning, all nine starters had at least one hit. That was more than enough for pitcher Victor Darrensbourg, who tossed a seven-hitter in going the distance.

LCSC, 55-10, got two runs in the first as Kenny Woods had an RBI double while Mike Burns added a sacrifice fly. The six-run third inning was impressive as LCSC pounded out seven hits, including six for extra bases, to rough up freshman starter Chris
Woodard (10-1). Burns started the rally with a single and scored when Larry Ephan slugged a two-run homer to the 360-foot mark in left field. Dave Bingham then doubled and scored on a double by Jake Taylor. Travis Woods followed with a run-scoring single and scored when Marvin Benard grounded out.

Kenny Woods then lined a shot down to right field that Crusader right-fielder Abe Zarate attempted to make a diving catch on. Zarate, however, injured himself on the dive and failed to make the catch as Woods raced all the way around for an inside-the-park home run. That made it 8-0 and the rout was on, although Crusader Mike Meggers slugged a three-run homer in the fourth to temporarily bring his team back. The homer was the sixth of the tournament for the right-hander, setting an NAIA Series record. He finished the year with 36 HRs, which is also an NAIA record.

LCSC, however, countered with a four-run fourth as a balk scored the first run while a home run by Taylor scored two more Sid Maldonado added an RBI single in the inning.

In the tournament, LCSC outscored the opposition 58-11 in posting a 5-0 tournament record. The Warriors' pitching staff compiled an earned run average of 1.85 in the tournament while the hitters batted .363. No one else came close to putting up such numbers. The defense went 292/3 innings without an error and LCSC made just four in the tournament.

The Warriors claimed their sixth straight title and eighth in the last nine years with the win.