University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2004
- Class:
- 1974
1974 Baseball Team - Head Coach Tom Petroff
Record of 32-13; coached by Tom Petroff; Great Plains Athletic Conference title; UNC won 17 of 18 games heading into the College World Series; Bears reached the College World Series by defeating both Gonzaga (2 games to 1) and Arizona (2 games to 0) in a three-game series; UNC swept Arizona (6-5 and 6-2) to make their 10th appearance in the College World Series; Rick Thoren tossed a five-hitter in the clinching game against the Wildcats; UNC defeated Harvard (4-2) in the loser's bracket after falling to Oklahoma (10-1) in the opening round; UNC suffered a 5-3 loss to Southern Illinois to be eliminated from the College World Series; finished sixth in final Division I poll; Bob DeMeo led the team in hitting with a .404 batting average; four other Bears hit over .300 for the season (Ron Holmes - .347, Jeff Cheek - .338; Joe Strain - .338; Dennis Leonida - .309); the pitching staff was led by Keith Bailey (10-2, 3.63 ERA) and Rick Thoren (8-1, 4.12 ERA).
Team Members: Mark Aasen, Keith Bailey, Jeff Cheek, Greg Cook, Mike Coy, Bob DeMeo, John Gabbert, Steve Gjertsen, Paul Gradishar, Ron Holmes, Rick Kent, Dennis Leonida, Mike McNeill, Greg Meyer, Larry Nelson, Greg Pilkington, Rich Pinkowski, Tom Runnels, Davie Schiessler, Jeff Simpson, Joe Strain, Rick Thoren
