[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 12, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3233-S3234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Recognizing Ole Miss Rebels and the Pearl River Community Wildcats
Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, for the second year in a row, the State of
Mississippi is the center of the universe for college baseball. Senator
Hyde-Smith and I are proud and delighted this afternoon to congratulate
not one but two Mississippi collegiate baseball teams on becoming
national champions for their respective divisions this year. Those
teams are the Ole Miss Rebels and the Pearl River Community Wildcats.
It was just last year that the Mississippi State Bulldogs won their
first-ever College World Series national championship. And with the new
year, came even more successful baseball in Mississippi.
Last month, after sweating out selection day, Ole Miss went to the
NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament and won 10 out of 11 games,
sweeping Oklahoma in the final round of the College World Series to
become national champions.
Just weeks earlier, Pearl River Community College, located in
Poplarville, MS, defeated Madison College of Wisconsin in the Division
II Junior College World Series. After spending the entire season ranked
in the top five, Pearl River won five out of six games in the playoffs,
defeating Florida State College at Jacksonville, Lansing Community
College, and, finally, Madison College in a three-game series finale.
The Wildcats dropped game one to Madison, but then roared back with a
19-to-1 victory in game 2 and a decisive 7-to-2 victory in game 3. They
finished their season with a sparkling record of 45 wins and 11 losses.
Just think about this for a moment. Three college baseball national
titles in 2 years for the State of Mississippi.
Congratulations also go to the University of Southern Mississippi,
which had an excellent season and even hosted their first super
regional in Hattiesburg, ending with a record of 47 wins and 19 losses.
This year's Ole Miss championship run is a comeback story for the
ages. After spending the early parts of the season ranked No. 1 in the
Nation, the Rebels went into a deep slump in April, losing 4 straight
series and 11 out of 16 games. In May, they were among the last 4 teams
to be included in the field of 64. But they had finished the regular
season hot, and some people believed they just might carry that
momentum into the playoffs. And they did, outscoring their opponents 46
runs to 11 down the stretch.
Led by Coach Mike Bianco and Team Captain Tim Elko, Ole Miss beat one
team after another--first Arizona and Miami in the regional, then
Southern Miss in the Hattiesburg Super Regional, then Auburn and
Arkansas in the College World Series, which led to a final best two out
of three face-off with Oklahoma.
Game one was a slugfest. The Rebels put up 16 hits, including back-
to-back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning by T.J. McCants, Calvin
Harris, and Justin Bench--a stunning feat not seen at the College World
Series since 1998.
On the mound, the Ole Miss pitchers kept things quiet. Jack
Dougherty, Mason Nichols, and Josh Mallitz gave up just three runs,
securing a 10-to-3 victory.
The decisive game two was a lot closer. For the first five innings,
it was a pitchers' duel between Ole Miss's Hunter Elliot of Tupelo, MS,
and Cade Horton of Norman, OK. The bats finally got going for Ole Miss
in the sixth when Jacob Gonzalez hit a solo home run. The Sooners
quickly answered by knocking in two runs, making it 2 to 1, Oklahoma.
In the eighth inning, Ole Miss tied things up with hits by T.J.
McCants, Justin Bench, and Jacob Gonzalez, and scored two additional
runs on wild pitches, making it 4 to 2.
In the top of the ninth, Brandon Johnson took the mound for Ole Miss
and closed out the night with three strikeouts, capping off a magical
run for the men from Oxford.
``From last team in, to last team standing,'' exclaimed the
announcer.
And then to Oxford they returned, bringing with them the 30th NCAA
championship in Ole Miss history.
The day after winning the title, these national champions were
welcomed back to campus by crowds of jubilant supporters as they walked
the hallowed pathway known as the Walk of Champions.
On behalf of the entire State of Mississippi, I commend the Ole Miss
team and their staff on this historic achievement. Justin Bench, Calvin
Harris, Kevin Graham, Kemp Alderman, and Dylan DeLucia all were named
to the NCAA's All-Tournament Team.
Dylan DeLucia received the Jack Diesing, Sr. Most Outstanding Player
of the Series award for pitching a complete game shutout against the
Arkansas Razorbacks, becoming the first recipient of the award in Ole
Miss history. And Captain Tim Elko became only the sixth player in
history to earn four hits in a Men's College World Series final--not to
mention his 46 career home runs, the second most in school history.
I also congratulate Mike Bianco, who has coached Ole Miss for 22
seasons and led the team to 18 playoff appearances,
[[Page S3234]]
including two trips to the College World Series in Omaha. He has
rightly been named National Coach of the Year by the American Baseball
Coaches Association and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He never
gave up on his team, and he inspired his players to persevere through
the tough times.
I wish Coach Bianco the best of luck this week as he now leads Team
USA at an international tournament in the Netherlands, where he is
joined by two Ole Miss players, Hunter Elliott and Jacob Gonzalez.
I also congratulate Michael Avalon, Head Coach for the Pearl River
Wildcats, who, after leading his team to a national title, was named
National Coach of the Year for Division II junior colleges.
I commend the University of Mississippi, Pearl River Community
College, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Mississippi State
University for carrying on Mississippi's winning tradition.
Two years ago, after a season cut short by the COVID pandemic, Ole
Miss catcher Hayden Dunhurst boldly said:
I have never been a part of a team so special . . . We will
bring a National Championship to Oxford.
And so they did. Congratulations and Hotty Toddy.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I also am very pleased to
congratulate the University of Mississippi baseball team on its recent
2022 NCAA World Series championship.
If there is anything an Ole Miss fan is sure of it is that the Rebels
love to keep you on the edge of your seat. Some fans were nervous when
the Rebels hit a midseason slump, but, boy, this talented team hit its
stride right at the perfect time.
The players knew all along they had it in them to take it all the
way. They even issued a warning in early May: Don't let the Rebels get
hot. Well, the Rebels did get hot, and they were able to be there to be
the team that no one saw coming and the team that no one could stop.
Their impressive and exciting run through this year's College World
Series speaks volumes to the Ole Miss baseball program, its leadership,
its players, and, of course, its fan base.
Mississippi's energy has been electric following the win, especially
at Ole Miss's first-ever national baseball championship this year
occurred after Pearl River Community College clinched the NJCAA
Division II baseball championship in June and after Mississippi State
University's win just last year.
Mississippi's sports culture is strong and it is not to be
underestimated. We take great pride in the legacy and inspiring example
of these young athletes and their coaches.
To the entire Rebel baseball family, thank you for your hard work and
dedication to the sport. To Ole Miss and to our great State,
congratulations and Hotty Toddy.
I yield the floor.
Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum
call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Peters). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
The majority whip.