BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Athletics will honor the 1969 Hilltopper Baseball team for its 50-year reunion on Saturday, April 20 at Nick Denes Field before the 2019 club's game vs. Florida Atlantic that begins at 1 p.m.
Around 15 members of the team along with their guests are expected to return. With gates opening at 11 a.m., the group will gather down the third-base line prior to the game, and be honored on the field prior to first pitch, estimated at 12:40 p.m.
Under the direction of head coach Jim Pickens, the 1969 team went 17-11 overall, including 10-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play to claim the West Division title. That season also marked the debut of competition at Nick Denes Field, where Hilltopper pitcher Bill Bathurst threw a no-hitter in the first-ever game at the venue vs. Kentucky Southern, an 11-0 victory on April 21.
On that squad was All-Century Team pitcher/outfielder Don Durham, who was a 1970 All-OVC performer and seventh-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals, where he would make his MLB debut in 1972.
Also from the 1969 club, outfielder Harry Jones, lefty Stan Markham and catcher Johnny Vance each were honored on the All-Century Team ballot. Jones was a three-time All-OVC player from 1968-70, while Vance was named two-time All-OVC in 1967 and 1969. Markham earned All-OVC distinction in 1969, then signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Although underclassmen in 1969, infielder Jay Hickman would go on to be an All-OVC performer in 1970, while outfielder Jim Zwiesler earned back-to-back All-OVC honors in 1970 and 1971. Meanwhile, catcher George Lynch was All-OVC the year prior, in 1968.
Other players on the team included (listed alphabetically): Phil Allen, Barrett Bernard, Danny Butler, Frank Chambers, Bob Clark, Mike Coberly, Jay Davis, Terry Davis, Bob Elliott, Larry Fentress, Butch Gray, Alan Hapney, Lawrence Helm, Fred Jones, Vanous Lloyd, Elliott "Chip" Miles and Phil Van Meter.
They were joined by student managers Ron Fulkerson and Buford Williams, as well as sports information director Ed Given.
The 2019 WKU club hosts Conference USA foe Florida Atlantic for a three-game series at Nick Denes Field from April 19-21. The Friday-to-Sunday set will have first pitch times of 5 p.m., 1 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. The Owls improved to 25-11 overall after defeating UCF on Tuesday evening by a score of 5-3. The club boasts a 12-3 league record to top the standings while the Hilltoppers' 8-6-1 mark stands fifth.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- Big Red
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
