Warner University Sports Hall of Fame
Every successful college baseball program has benchmark seasons that give indication they are coming of age. The 2001 season was such a campaign for the Warner Royals.
The Royals opened their season in fine fashion with an extra inning win against Florida Tech after trailing by one run going into the ninth inning. They followed that up by winning two out of three from NAIA powerhouse North Georgia State College. A 14-game winning streak was halted in game one of the Warner Invitational as the Royals lost to Husson College. The loss was the team’s first in their annual tournament since 1995; a stretch of 26 consecutive games. The team did however, bounce back to win four straight games and clinch their sixth straight invitational title.
With an overall record of 38-9 and 12-3 in conference, Warner found itself ranked eighth in the country. Following a three-game sweep of first place and fifth-ranked Flagler College, The Royals sat atop the conference standings en route to their first-ever Florida Sun Conference title.
Going into postseason, Warner was the top seed in the Region XIV Tournament.
The Royals went 4-0 in the tournament giving Coach Jeff Sikes his 500th career victory in the process. At their next stop, the Royals took two out of three from the University of Mobile to earn their first-ever trip to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. The Royals opened the World Series against Western Oregon and lost 9-8. On day two, the Royals avoided elimination by outslugging Ohio Dominican 15-13 in a four hour contest. In their third game of the World Series, John Baillie pitched a complete game to lead the Royals over Indiana Tech. In what would be their final game, the Royals held an early 3-0 lead over Bellevue University but eventually fell to the Bruins in 10 innings 5-3. The fifth place finish in the World Series coupled with a 53-16 record and a fifth place ranking in the final NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll wrapped up the most memorable season in Warner baseball history.
For their efforts during the 2001 season, the Royals broke or set 44 team and individual school records including most wins (53) and winning percentage (.786). Scott Hilinski and Justin Turner were named NAIA Baseball First Team All-Americans as well as team co-MVPs. Dan Barnett was also recognized as a second team selection. Hilinski and Turner along with Ben Ally were drafted in the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Player Draft. Hilinski was selected in the 23rd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ally by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 18th round and Turner became the highest drafted player in school history after being selected in the eighth round by the then-Anaheim Angels.
The bar set by the 2001 World Series team marks the parameters for measuring a successful season.
2001 BASEBALL ROSTER
Ben Ally
Andy Anderson
John Baillie
Dusty Barber
Daniel Barnett
Matt Barnett
Devin Butler
Jason Diaz
Mark Dunsford
Trevor Hall
Aaron Harp
Scott Harrell
Scott Hilinski
Tim Johnston
Jimmy Kilborn
Larry Lankow
Gary Levesque
Andrew Lewis
Grant Lykins
Isel Munoz
Josh O’Brien
Melvin Pomales
Bryan Purkey
Miguel Rivera
Tony Schafer
Jerry Stone
Justin Turner
Jeremy Waters
Bobby Williams
COACHING STAFF
Jeff Sikes
Miguel Rivera
