Warner University Sports Hall of Fame
Heading into the 1987 season, the Royals returned four All-Conference players with the addition of several capable new players. Former two-time All-Conference selection Rob Quam also joined the coaching staff. The Royals finished the season 22-12 overall, the best record and most wins in program history. The Royals scored at least 10 runs in 10 games and had an impressive nine-game winning streak in the second half of the season.
Competing in the Florida Christian College Conference, the Royals posted a 9-1 record winning the conference title earning Jeff Sikes, Coach of the Year, honors. Their performance during the regular season earned them a berth in the 1987 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Invitational Baseball Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. This was the first team in Warner history to play in a national tournament. The Royals finished seventh in the tournament and returned home knowing they could compete on a national level.
Offensively, the Royals had six hitters with a batting average above .300. Blake Bowlin led the team with a .354 average in 27 games and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player by his teammates. Ray Browning was the team leader in hits with 30 on the season and a .300 batting average. Browning was also the team’s best run producer with 31 RBIs. Stephon Brown posted a school record .584 on-base percentage during the 1987 season, a record that still stands today.
As a team the Royals stole 132 bases in 34 games. John Smith and Scotty Cook accounted for 58 steals with Smith leading the team with 32 steals.
On the mound, four pitchers tied for the team lead with four wins each. Scott Arnold had the lowest team ERA at 3.00 in 39 innings pitched. David Meddick was the team’s workhorse totaling 43 innings pitched.
The 1987 Warner baseball team achieved one of the earliest milestones in the programs now 40-year history and set the foundation for success that the program continues to build on today.
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