Archives Digital Exhibits

This image, AI upscaled from a tiny copy published in the 1905-06 catalog, depicts 18 women who completed at least part of their exercise requirement on campus by playing intramural baseball.  Although the size of the ball indicates that the girls were playing an early variant of softball, this image vastly predates the adoption of that name. (The game was still often called 'indoor-outdoor baseball' at the turn of the century.)  As the catalogs attest, these girls simply called it baseball.

This is the earliest known reference to any bat-and-ball sports on campus.

In this 1938 image from the Pendulum yearbook, a group of Averett students is shown, on the campus field, playing a sport still explicitly identified as "baseball."  Baseball was one of several intramural sports in the 1930s, though the name appears to have finally transitioned to softball in spring 1939.

In 1938, the Nemo and Philo literary societies played a series of three games (which the Philos won, 2 games to 1), while numerous other games were played by the four 'color teams' in their round-robin tournament.  The May issue of Chanticleer particular singles out "Fran" for having a great curve ball, and "Homerun Harriet" (presumably Brown team captain Harriet Long).

The columns in the background were a highly recognizable part of Averett's grounds for decades.

One skit during the 1946 May Day pageant was this pantomime baseball game.  Though it only would've lasted a minute or two, and was likely closer to a dance than a realistic mime, it was described as follows in the program: "Our National Game: It's baseball, of course, the prettiest and most spectacular of all games to watch.  This pantomime represents a game that made sports history - the bitter struggle between the Senators and Red Sox for victory in the Out-of-the-world Series."

In the latter half of the 20th century, softball was much more common on Averett's campus than baseball.  One notable yearly event was the faculty and student softball game in the spring.  In this image, used in the 1976 Pendulum yearbook, we see several unidentified participants from that year's game.

Athough evidence from the photos is unclear, the game that year appears to have taken place on the multi-purpose field that used to stand where the parking lot and the Averett Commons apartments are now located.

In the spring semesters of 1984 and 1985, Averett fielded an organized club baseball team.  This article from the Chanticleer student newspaper, published in May 1984 and written by player John Dell, details the club team's first game - a loss to a team from UNC-G.  It includes the important notes that Gary Backus threw the first pitch for an organized competitive baseball team at Averett, and Dell himself was the team's first batter.

A prior article, from March that same year, clarifies that student Steve Dalton was the primary force behind the organization of the club.  It is, therefore, highly likely that the team's collapse coincided with Dalton's graduation. 

This photo from the 1985 Pendulum yearbook depicts nine of the thirteen players from the club team's second (and final) season.  The heart and soul of the team, shortstop Steve Dalton, is kneeling at the bottom right.

Standing L-R: Greg Peery, Mark Jones, John Church, Bo Hall, and Todd Bowman.  Kneeling L-R: John Dell, Scot Poates, Scott Keimig, and Steve Dalton.

These two additional images from the 1985 Pendulum yearbook highlight two of the club team's players.  On the left, right-handed hitter Bob Christian poses in his batting stance.  On the right, Scot Poates throws a warm-up pitch.

This page of the yearbook also details some team highlights for the team's second (and final) year.  The team managed to play six games, losing all of them.  Among the starters, Steve Dalton was the team's offensive leader, with 8 hits and a .421 batting average (simple math tells us he therefore had 19 at bats).  Mike Manicome batted .300 and was once walked 5 times in a single game.  Scott Keimeg was the best of the team's rookies, batting .267.

In this undated image from the 1995 season, Coach Tommy Foster (wearing jacket in center) stands outside the dugout with several players.  Although few players from the '95 team have been concretely identified, this image likely includes shortstop Buddy Cooke (#8), pitcher Scott Shackelford (#15), and outfielder Chris Stanley (#13), among others.

Outfielder Chris Stanley takes the mound for the Cougars in this undated photo from the 1995 season.

The billboards on the outfield wall clearly identify the location as Legion Field (current home of the Danville Otterbots).  Averett played at Legion Field until Owen-Fulton Stadium was completed.

In this image from an unknown date during the 1995 season, #19 (presumably outfielder Jason Reece) takes a mighty cut at the plate.

In this undated image from the 1995 season, #9 (presumably pitcher Andre' Robinson) attempts to avoid a tag while caught in a run down between third base and home plate.  This was a game against Southeastern Community College (the blue jerseys clearly read "Rams" in other photos, while the hat features an "S").

Averett College President Dr. Frank Campbell threw out the first pitch of the 1996 season on February 26th.  Although it was reported that this season was played in the newly constructed Owen-Fulton stadium on North Campus, this image was clearly taken at Legion Field (note the billboards once again).  It is therefore unclear whether this photo is actually from February 26th, 1996, or if it depicts Campbell throwing a ball during the previous season.

First baseman Bobby Snow is visible in the background wearing #12.

The ball thrown by Frank Campbell for the ceremonial 'first pitch' in February 1996.  The ball is signed by Campbell.

President Frank Campbell shakes hands with coach Tommy Foster before a game - presumably the season opener on February 26th, 1996, immediately after the first pitch depicted in the previous two slides.  (That game was against Guilford, who wear white and red like the team visible in the distance here.)  Note that Foster is wearing jersey #5; he had worn #1 throughout the previous season.

Outfielder Chris Stanley - one of only eleven players to play for the Cougars in both the 1995 and 1996 seasons - takes a swing in this undated photo from the late 1990s.