Football Game Tickets | Hall of Fame 
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Department of Athletics is proud to announce the induction of the 1996 national champion baseball and softball teams to its Hall of Fame this October.
 
"Kennesaw State Athletics is excited to honor two of our national champions this fall. Their accomplishments for Owl Nation deserve to be remembered forever in our Hall of Fame," said Director of Athletics Milton Overton. "I look forward to a great weekend honoring some of the best to ever wear the Black and Gold."
 
The two teams will be inducted on the evening of Friday, Oct. 29 and be introduced at halftime of the Oct. 30 football game against Gardner-Webb.
 
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The teams are noted for their domination. After beginning the season 5-6, the baseball national championship team rebounded to go 43-11 the rest of the way, finishing 48-17 to claim its first NCAA Division II National Championship with a win over St. Joseph's (Ind.) at Paterson Field in Montgomery, Ala.
 
After finishing second to Columbus State in both the Peach Belt Athletic Conference (PBAC) regular season (17-6) and tournament, the Owls beat the Cougars when it counted the most – by taking two-out-of-three games in the South Atlantic Regional Tournament to advance to the College World Series. Playing at Paterson Field for the first time, KSU swept its way to a second national crown by going 4-0 in the tournament. Jason Childers capped off a season of perfection (12-0, 2.01 ERA) by pitching the game of his life. The junior fired a seven-hit, complete-game shutout in the 4-0 title game win. For the season, Childers was named PBAC and South Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year along with earning first team All-American status. Junior catcher Chris Halliday (.354, 10 HR, 48 RBI) also had a season to remember that ended with him being named first team All-South Atlantic Region and All-PBAC, along with garnering the MVP of the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.
 
"It goes without saying that I'm extremely excited for this group to be able to get recognized in the Kennesaw State Hall of Fame," said former KSU head coach Mike Sansing. "It's a special group of people that includes some tremendous leaders and competitors and there was no better example than Chris (Halliday). This team's determination laid so much of the groundwork for today's program. They were able to transition out of the NAIA seamlessly and paved our road to Division I, as well."
 
Other key contributors for Mike Sansing's Owls on the mound were pitchers Matt Houmes (6-3, 2.78 ERA), Derek Perkins (7-3, 3.52 ERA), Chris Bowen (5-1, 3.45 ERA) and Alex Garcia (5-2, 2.96 ERA). Hitting notables in addition to Halliday were Brian Mallette (.360, 34 RBI, 21 SB), Joe Parks (.356, 37 RBI, 37 SB), Nathan Cothran (.306, 57 RBI), Brannon Whatley (.300, 31 RBI) and Brian McDevitt (.273, 48 RBI). Childers, Halliday and Parks were selected to the all-region team.
 
After a 49-8 season, head coach Scott Whitlock's Owls secured their second consecutive national championship. KSU swept through the NCAA Division II regional tournament and entered the national championship tournament ranked No. 1 in the country. The Owls posted a 4-1 record in the national tournament held at Emporia, Kan., and claimed the back-to-back crown with a 6-4 victory over Nebraska-Omaha.
 
"In the spring of 1996, it was pretty special to be an Owl. Obviously, we are proud that the 1996 national championship team has been selected to the KSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Their journey was much different than that of the 1995 team," said Whitlock. "In 1995 we started with a veteran group, and they were dominate the second half off the season. In 1996, we had freshmen playing all over the place. The 1996 club had to learn and grow throughout the season. The rookies were good players, but inexperienced. To their credit, they worked and improved every day.  Early on, they were in no way dominate, but they were hungry."
 
Once again led by the pitching dominance of four-time All-American Kelly Rafter (31-3, 0.83 ERA), Kennesaw State enjoyed a 19-game winning streak and extended its Peach Belt Conference mark to 42-straight. On the season, the Owls were led by two-time All-American Cara Dornstauder (.407, 38 RBI) while Kathy Morgan (.393) and Kathy Le (.339, 31 RBI) were named to the All-Peach Belt Conference team. Additionally, Brenda Farrell (18-5, 1.01 ERA) along with Julie Eggert (.335, 38 RBI), Nada Hlohovsky (.323, 31 RBI), Kim O'Kelly (.316), Krissy Streid (.315), Paige Wofford (.296) and Shannon Ross (.287, 32 RBI) were key contributors.
 
"The tremendous leadership of Nana Hlohovsky, Cara Dornstauder, and of course the pitching of Kelly Rafter, helped the young team find its way," said Whitlock. "By year's end they were a fine team that peaked at the perfect time. By the time we pulled into Emporia for the World Series, they were ready, and they proved it.
 
"This is a great honor, and we are grateful; and it's extra special being inducted alongside the 1996 national championship baseball team. Together, we brought two national champions to campus in a two-week period. As mentioned earlier, in the spring of 1996 it was pretty special to be an Owl."
 
 
 

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