CLEVELAND, Miss. -- As part of Delta State's "On This Date in Statesmen and Lady Statesmen History" series, the Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the Office of External Relations, takes a look back at some memorable moments from previous spring sports seasons.
This week, the series flashes back to the 2013-14 athletic year that saw the Statesmen capture the Gulf South Conference's Men's All-Sports Trophy. Delta State's men's teams compiled 28.625 points and eclipsed the University of West Florida Argonauts, who registered 27.875 points.
Delta State used impressive seasons in a number of sports to earn the school's fourth All-Sports Trophy on the men's side and its first since the 2004 season. The Green and White grabbed regular season championships in men's basketball and baseball, and they were also were the conference runners-up in football and men's golf.
The Statesmen went 24-5 in GSC play on the baseball diamond, and 38-13 overall, en route to the regular season title before falling to The university of Alabama in Huntsville in the conference championship game. Will Robertson led the way for DSU with a .388 batting average, while Dex Herrington drove in a team-best 42 runs and hit .335.
On the mound, Jonathan Moody sported a 9-4 record with a 2.98 earned run average in 15 total appearances, which included 12 starts. Michael Manly was 8-3 and posted a 2.37 ERA in 13 total appearances, all of which were starts. Closer Taylor Stark had a 2.66 ERA, a 2-1 record, and a team-high four saves in 16 appearances out of the bullpen.
On the hardwood, Delta State had the best overall record, at 26-7, and conference record, at 16-4, in the GSC. DSU fell in the second round of the GSC tournament, but defeated Barry University and St. Leo University to earn a Sweet 16 berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Statesmen ultimately fell to Tuskegee in the regional final.
The Statesmen were paced by Willie Readus, who posted 19.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game, and
Devin Schmidt, who averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and a team-best 4.2 assists per contest.
Jack Madgen also averaged 10.0 points per game to round out the double-figure scorers for DSU that season.
West Alabama finished in third for the second year in a row (26.875), while Alabama Huntsville (23.325) and North Alabama (21.875) rounded out the top five. Sixth-place Valdosta State (18.500), Christian Brothers (15.125), and West Georgia (14.000) rounded out the men's standings.
The University of West Florida took home the conference's first-ever Overall All-Sports Trophy with an even 78 points. That mark was nearly 24 points more than second-place Alabama Huntsville (54.625). Valdosta State and West Alabama tied for third (50.750) in the overall standings, followed by North Alabama (49.125), Delta State (47.250), West Georgia (37.875) and Christian Brothers (36.125) in the overall standings.
