The Falcons (14-15) made the road tough for the defending champs by defeating them on Friday and denying them their # 1 seeding in the tournament. However the Trojans (17-19) rebounded by beating Elizabeth City State to advance to Saturday's championship round.

 

In game one, the lead was 7-6 in favor of the Falcons until VSU's Jay Teasley hit a lead off home run in the top of the 5th to even the score and it remained that way through 7 innings. Then back-to-back RBI doubles by  VSU's Bernard Stephens and Shyrone Palms in the top of the 8th sealed the win for the Trojans and forced an additional game in the double elimination championship.

 

Now officially the home team, Virginia State jumped out to an early 7-0 lead by the end of the 1st inning. Then the Falcons rallied in the top of the fourth, scoring 5 runs and cutting the deficit to 2. However the Trojans answered with 4 insurance runs in their half of the 4th to push the lead to 11-5.

 

Virginia State held an 11-9 advantage heading into the top of the 7th until Saint Augustine's Douglas Quarels hit a 2 RBI single to tie the score at 11 apiece. Then Daniel Caldwell reached on a fielder's choice that scored Michael Swann to give the Falcons their first lead going into the bottom of the 7th inning.

 

With one out and one man on, Amos Stevenson stepped to the plate, singled, and brought Adam Watkins home to even the score 12-12. Then, Bernard Stephens hit a line drive down the right field baseline to score Stevenson and give the Trojans the win. For driving in the winning run and going 4 for 5, Stephens was named MVP of the 2001 Baseball Championship.

 

 

 

Jessie Jones                Elizabeth City State        Shortstop
Mark Martin               Elizabeth City State        First Baseman
Jermaine Rogers         Shaw University              Shortstop
William Gray              Shaw University             Outfield 

Jerrel Jordan               Saint Augustine's            Pitcher     

Shawn Stokes             Saint  Augustine's          Shortstop 

Brian Dawkins             Saint Augustine's           Outfield   

Ryan Torrance            Saint Augustine's            Outfield 

Jerry Perkinson            Virginia State                 First Baseman 

Jay Teasley                  Virginia State                Outfield 

Shawn Hicks                Virginia State               Catcher 

Shyrone Palms             Virginia State                Pitcher 

 

MVP - Bernard Stephens - Virginia State University