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SOUTHWEST
BASEBALL
SALUQIS BASEBALL TEAM HAS RECORD-SETTING
SEASON
The 2004 Saluqis baseball team enjoyed the most
successful season in the program’s 32-year history, winning the Tennessee
Junior and Community College Athletic Association/Region VII Tournament
for the first time and setting the school record for most wins in a season
with 40. It was the fifth straight season the Saluqis have won at least 30
games.
 Johnny Ray, in his first season as the head baseball coach at Southwest,
guided the Saluqis to a fourth-place finish in the TJCCAA regular season,
then to the TJCCAA/Region VII Tournament Championship at Engel Stadium in
Chattanooga, defeating fifth-ranked Walters State in the final game.
Southwest was defeated in the East Central District Tournament by Middle
Georgia College by scores of 9-1 and 19-6.
In addition to the record for most wins, the 2004 Saluqis set new school
marks for at-bats (1,863), hits (584), doubles (126), total bases (834),
bases on balls (265), put-outs (1,407), and assists (555). The Southwest
pitching staff set single season records for strikeouts (442), saves (17),
and innings pitched (470-1/3).
Several Saluqis’ players also had record-breaking seasons. Sophomore
catcher Nick Smith, who was named first team All-TJCCAA, broke numerous
single season and career records. Smith led the Saluqis with a .437
batting average and set single season records for games played (61),
at-bats (197), hits (86), doubles (31), runs batted in (77), and total
bases (152), and tied the record for home runs in a season with 11. He
also set career records for games played (116), hits (142), doubles (46),
home runs (20), runs batted in (131), total bases (254), bases on balls
(78), and on-base average (.495).
 Sophomore pitcher Daniel Adams
(pictured at right), who was named Most Valuable Player in the TJCCAA/Region VII Tournament, struck out 97 batters on the season,
breaking former major leaguer Charlie Lea’s record of 96 set in 1977.
Adams finished the year with a 7-3 record and a 3.76 earned run average.
Sophomore closer Drew Buford, a second team All-TJCCAA selection, led the
team with a 2.80 earned run average and set school records for saves in a
season with 14 and in a career with 20. He also set records for most
appearances in both a season (35) and career (53).
Ryan Orr, the Saluqis’ freshman second baseman, set the record for highest
fielding average in a season with 1.000. Orr didn’t commit an error in 129
chances and was nominated for the TJCCAA/Region VII Defensive Player of
the Year.
Freshman centerfielder Chris Rogers was named first team All-TJCCAA and
was one of the team’s top hitters with a .354 batting average, 25 doubles
and 46 runs batted in. Sophomore pitcher-outfielder Josh Meeker, a third
team All-TJCCAA pick, led the pitching staff with nine wins, batted .347,
and had threw out 12 base runners from right field.
2004
TJCCAA/NJCAA REGION VII CHAMPIONS
2003-2004 Roster
All-TJCCAA Baseball
Team
Tennessee Baseball
Report
All-TJCCAA Team
Tennessee Baseball Report
TJCCAA/NJCAA Region VII
All-Tournament Team
Photos from
TJCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament
Tony Gagliano Memorial
Field
Baseball Recruiting
Questionnaire
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