Over the Fall semester, we celebrated each of our Sunshine State Conference Championships. Over the rest of the month, we will highlight a few special Triton Titles.
In 1977, Eckerd advanced to the College World Series and finished as the National Runner-Up.
After starting the season 1-2, the Tritons went on a tear rolling off 17 straight wins and moving up to No. 2 in the nation. During the torrid 17-game stretch, EC collected victories over several Division I teams; the University of Columbia, University of Kentucky, and the University of South Carolina. The Tritons then won 10 of their final 14 games of the season.
Eckerd then made its fifth straight postseason appearances in the South Atlantic Regional in Jacksonville, Alabama. The Tritons swept the regionals in three games. EC opened with a 15-5 victory over Troy State before collecting a 6-3 win over Jacksonville State in the second time. EC faced Florida Southen in the regional championship game. The teams were deadlocked at 6-6 in the ninth inning before the Tritons knocked in five runs to claim the regional title.
With the No. 1 ranking in the nation, EC advanced to the College World Series in Springfield, Illinois. Eckerd topped Valdosta State, 2-1, in the opening game before beating the University of New Haven and University of California - Riverside by scores of 14-2 and 8-2, respectively. EC fell to Delta State, 8-6, in the next game but advance to the final after Delta State fell in its next game.
In the National Championship game, Eckerd went ahead early with a run in the first inning, but UC- Riverside responded with four runs to take the Championship.
Joe Lefebvre was named the co-most outstanding player of the championship series.
The Tritons ended the season 34-9. As a team, Eckerd finished the season with a .344 batting average and 55 homeruns while posting a 2.76 ERA.
Joe Westmoreland led the team with a .399 batting average. Lefebvre was just behind with a .383 average and 12 homeruns. Mickey Hanewich and Randy Kwist finished with .367 and .333 batting averages, respectively.
Steve Balboni led the nation in homeruns with 26 and RBIs with 77, both of which still hold the single-season record for Eckerd. He also posted a .335 batting average.
Kerry Freedman led the rotation with a 12-2 record, 2.04 ERA, and 86 strikeouts. He pitched 11 complete games that season, and his 12 wins still hold Eckerd's single-season record. Stan Saleski posted a 9-4 record while Fefebvre finished 7-1 with a 2.09 ERA.
Balboni, Lefebvre, and Freeman were each tabbed ABCA First Team All-Americans.
Lefebvre was drafted by the New York Yankees in the third round and the Yankees also took Saleski in the 27th round.
