Benedict College’s 13-3 win over Morris College in game 2 of this past Monday’s doubleheader was coach Selwyn Young’s 300th victory as the Tigers’ head coach.
Coach Young moved up from an assistant’s role to replace Derrick Young at the helm of Benedict in 2010. His teams have consistently ranked at the top of NCAA Division’s II’s stolen base leaders. In 16 years, his teams have stolen more than 3,000 bases. Other than the COVID-shortened 2020 and 2021 seasons, Benedict has stolen 113 or more bases every year. Their COVID-impacted numbers were solid, too: 63 steals in 11 games in 2020 and 79 thefts in 8 games in 2021.
This year’s squad – which has 113 steals – has used more of a Big Bopper approach. The Tigers have 65 home runs in 37 games breaking the previous school mark of 41 set in 34 games in 2023. Juan Guardado has 15 homers, with seven teammates having at least five.
Benedict College is 21-16, which is the most wins since the 2017 season.
The Tigers conclude the regular season with a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series at Kentucky State beginning Saturday.
Rudy Jones has writing about sports for 50+ years. His blog, Pametto State Baseball focuses on college baseball in South Carolina.