NICE GUYS DO FINISH FIRST

The University of West Florida Argos are the NCAA D-II CHAMPIONS. The following photos are from the South Region NCAA Tournament.  They went on to go undefeated in the College World Series to bring home the championship—the first baseball championship in school history.

We were treated to power baseball and also "small ball."  Bunts, steals, hit and runs, extra bases and just plain smart fundamental baseball ruled game after game.  Fielding was incredible.  Modern baseball is about pitching and the Argos were about great pitching.  Starters and relievers led UWF to a record of 52-9!  That's a winning percentage over 85%.  (A major League team with an .852 winning percentage would win 138 games—no one has ever come close.)

















































































Where were you when the lights went out?  The game with Barry was interrupted by a power failure!


























































































































































































































































The final out!





































It's a simple equation.  Pride + character — ego = Championships.   Pride plus character minus ego equals championships. Coach Mike Jeffcoat assembled a team in every sense of the word...maybe "family" would be a better word to describe the Argos.  After the final out the team stormed the field in celebration.  The coach came to the joyous scene a little late.  Why?  Well first, coaches who had put in the time and dedication that built this team needed to congratulate each other.  And secondly, the coach wanted the spotlight on his players.  Championship coaches lead by example.

It's been an absolute pleasure to record via photograph what happened on Spooner Field this year.  Congratulations to Coach Jeffcoat, his coaches and the players who are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!