Page 22 - MGATODAY-Spr17-web

Back on the
Diamond

By Julie Davis Some of the former baseball players for Middle Georgia College,
now Middle Georgia State University, take the field during a recent
Middle Georgia State University welcomed reunion. Julie Davis
former coaches, players and supporters
to the Cochran Campus for a baseball scholarships, the Robert Sapp Endowed Baseball
reunion the weekend of March 31–April 1. Scholarship and the Craig Young Endowed
Former Coach Roy Umstattd threw the first Baseball Scholarship. Donations are also coming
pitch before MGA’s game against Brewton-Parker in to establish a third endowed scholarship, the
College while returning alumni from teams in Tommy Dunbar Memorial Baseball Scholarship.
‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s were recognized on the field.
The Knights won, 14-3. Roy Umstattd, former coach of the Middle Georgia College Warriors
Current head coach Paul Knight and former baseball team, high-fives players on the current Middle Georgia State
coaches Robert Sapp and Umstattd shared University Knights team at a game. Behind him also cheering players
memories during the reunion dinner. Sapp spent on is his 1967 All-Conference catcher, Tim Hopkins. Julie Davis
20 years as head baseball coach at the former
Middle Georgia College (now Middle Georgia
State), compiling a record of 890 wins and four
National Championships. Umstattd took the
school’s first team to the JUCO National Tour-
nament and compiled a 277-95 record in his 9
seasons with the Warriors, now the Knights.
Two current players, Jesus Monserrat and
Logan Smith, spoke to guests about their
experiences in the baseball program. James
Hagler, interim athletics director, announced the
establishment of MGA’s first two endowed athletic

22 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY