The Tigers are coming off a historic season as the team earned its 1st ever berth in the NAIA World Series.  Many records were broken offensively, including a team batting average of .356 and 63 homeruns, on their way to another MSC Regular Season Title, only losing one game in conference play.  They also won an unprecedented 5th consecutive MSC Tournament Championship, 1st ever Region Championship and NAIA World Series berth, finishing with a 39-12 record and #8 nation ranking.

 

Sanders reached his most recent milestone on February 20, 2009, when he amassed his 800^th career win against Indiana Tech University by a score of 9-8. He will likely reach his 900^th win in the 2011 season.

     

 

A YEAR BY YEAR LOOK AT SANDERS' LEGACY

 

1991:                     8-30                       .210                     Started 0-18, Finished 8-12

 

1992:                     26-20                    .565                      Western Division Champions

 

1993:                     20-21-1                 .488

 

1994:                     30-19                    .612                       KIAC Runner-Up

 

1995:                     41-14                    .745                       KIAC Champions

 

1996:                     37-19-1                 .661                       KIAC Champions, Region Runner-up

 

1997:                     28-25                    .539                       Mid-South Regional Appearance

 

1998:                     18-31                    .367

 

1999:                     30-22                    .577

 

2000:                     31-29                    .517                       MSC Champions

 

2001:                     31-18                    .633                       MSC Champions

 

2002:                     14-36                    .280

 

2003:                     29-17                    .630                       MSC Champions, Region XI Qualifier

 

2004:                     33-23                    .589                       Region XI Qualifier

 

2005:                     43-14                    .754                       MSC Champions, Region XI Qualifier

 

2006:                     38-14                    .731                       MSC Champions, Region XI Qualifier

 

2007:                     43-18                    .705                       MSC Champions, Region XI Runner-up

 

 

 

 

 

What they're saying about Sanders:

 

"Our club has been coming down to play Campbellsville for the last 10 years. I consider Beauford to be one of my best friends. Coach Sanders is truly one of the most respected coaches in the NAIA. He does a tremendous job of building lifetime character traits in young people and challenges his players to live up to those standards."

-Tim Mead, Head Baseball Coach - Walsh University

  

"I've known Beauford since we coached against each other back when he was coaching Junior College ball in South Carolina. I will always remember him as one of the most gracious, hospitable, and classiest coaches I've ever had the pleasure of competing against.  I know he has done a great job at Campbellsville, turning them into a national power." 

-Rob McDonald, Head Baseball Coach - Murray State University

 

"I know that when we play Campbellsville, it is going to be a conference series where two teams really get after each other. At the same time, I have no concern that there will be unsportsmanlike behavior, trash talk, or dirty play. That is a credit to Coach Sanders. No matter what happens in a series, Coach Sanders is a class act. I have tremendous respect for him as a person and as a coach. I am proud to say that Beauford Sanders is my friend."

-Brad Shelton, Head Baseball Coach - University of the Cumberlands

 

"Coach Sanders has been a mainstay in NAIA Baseball for several years. He has built a great program at Campbellsville. I congratulate him as he reaches the milestone of 800 wins."

-Woody Hunt, Head Baseball Coach - Cumberland University

  

"A true competitor and motivator on the field. It has been a pleasure battling against his clubs over the past 10 plus years."

-Mike Talley, Head Baseball Coach - Lindsey Wilson College

ALL ABOUT BEAUFORD SANDERS:

 

Date of Birth:                  November 21, 1953

 

 

Parents:                          Beauford and Shirley Sanders

 

Siblings:                         Stanley (54) and Lisa (50)

 

 

High School:                     Woodruff High School (SC)

 

Education:                         B.A. in Education from the University of South Carolina

                                            M.A. in Education from Furman University

 

  

 

Coach Sanders has resided in Campbellsville, Kentucky for the last 20 years since accepting the job and he is originally from South Carolina. Off the field, Sanders is an avid hunter and fisherman.  He is also the Assistant Director of Athletics at Campbellsville University.  He takes a great deal of pride in being a devoted family man and giving his players the best possible opportunity to grow as people on and off the field. He and his staff work diligently to challenge every player to strive for excellence spiritually, academically, socially, and athletically!

 

       

Sanders on Hortness:

"Coach Hortness has done an outstanding job develping a solid conditioning and preperation program for our pitching staff.  We have been first or second in the MSC for team ERA the past six years and have been ranked nationally in the top ten in several categories."

2002:                     14-36    .280

                

A look at Hortness' pitchers over the last few years:

                              

*In each of the last six seasons, the Tigers have had at least one pitcher with an ERA of under 3.00.

    

Birth Date: September 23^rd, 1964

           

Experience at Campbellsville: 8 years

 

Alma Mater: Mayville State University

 

Office Phone: (270) 789-5086

 

E-mail:  rnlebleu@campbellsville.edu

 

A fourteen year coaching veteran, Randy LeBleu enters his eighth season as member of the Tiger's coaching staff. LeBleu started as the Graduate Assistant Coach of the program, before being promoted to full time status in 2005. LeBleu's primary responsibilities, this season,  include working with the Tiger outfielders and hitters, as well as coaching 3rd base. He recently finished his final season as the Head Volleyball Coach at Campbellsville where in his five years at the helm, the lady's Volleyball team has compiled a 172-52 record, winning 2 conference titles, one NAIA Region title, 1st ever trip to NAIA National Tournament, two NCCAA Regional Championship, and the school first ever National Championship at the 2009 NCCAA National Tournament.  He was named MSC Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2008, and the NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 2009.

 

While at Campbellsville, LeBleu has made his presence felt in more ways than one. Seeing that he is from Canada, he has helped to broaden the regions in which the Tigers recruit, bringing in 16 of Canada's finest players in the last six seasons. On top of that, since the 2003 season, the Tiger hitters and infielders have proven to be one of the region's best in each respective category.

 

On top of his assistant coaching duties at Campbellsville, LeBleu has also served as a head coach at other locations, as well as serving as a Scout for the Atlanta Braves from 2000 to 2003. In 2003, LeBleu was the head coach for the Medicine Hat Mavericks of the Western Major Baseball League where his squad won the league championship in the team's inaugural season.

 

LeBleu's next coaching stop came in the highly touted Northwood's Summer League where in 2005 he served as an Assistant Coach for the Thunder Bay Bordercats. In his lone year with the club, they won the league championship.

 

His most recent summer coaching stop has been in Campbellsville, where he has been the head coach of Campbellsville American Legion Post 82 from 2006 to 2007. In 2006, LeBleu's team went on to win the Kentucky State Championship.

 

LeBleu also served as a guest coach for the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training in 2000. On top of that, LeBleu was named Canadian Coach of the Year in 2000.

 

Before getting into the coaching ranks, LeBleu made two stops in his college playing career, first at UND Lake Region Junior College, and he finished up at Mayville State.

 

As a student, LeBleu graduated with his Bachelor's degree in Business from Mayville State, before earning his Masters Degree from Campbellsville in the same field back in 2006.  Before coming to Campbellsville, LeBleu coached Team Manitoba in Canada, and also was an Assistant Coach at his alma-mater, Mayville State.

 

LeBleu also was an Associate Scout for the Atlanta Braves 

 

Sanders on LeBleu:

"Randy does a super job working the third base box with our offense.  The implementation of his conditioning program has greatly reduced our injuries and has helped each player improve"

 

Since LeBleu was hired as an Assistant Coach:

 

2003:                     29-17         .630       MSC Champions, Region XI Qualifier

 

2004:                     33-23         .589       Region XI Qualifier

 

2005:                     43-14         .754       MSC Champions, Region XI Qualifier

 

2006:                     38-14         .731       MSC Champions, Region XI Qualifier

 

2007:                     43-18         .705       MSC Champions, Region XI Runner-up

 

2008:                     27-20         .574       MSC Champions, Region XI Runner-up

 

2009                      39-12         .765       MSC Champions, Region Champions, NAIA World Series

 

Overall:                 252-118     .681       6 Conference Championships, Region Champion, World Series

 

Randy LeBleu Quick Facts:

 

*Since arriving at Campbellsville, the Tigers have an overall record of 252-118, good for a .681 winning percentage

 

*The Tigers have finished over .500 in 7 of the 7 seasons LeBleu has been on staff

 

*LeBleu has helped guide the tigers to the regional finals in 7 of his 7 years

 

*The Tigers have won 40 or more games in 2 of LeBleu's 7 years

 

*The Tigers have won 30 or more games in 5 of LeBleu's 7 years

 

*The Tigers have finished in the nation's top 25 in 5 of LeBleu's 7 years

 

*Will be the third base coach during the games

 

All about Randy LeBleu:

Birth date: September 12^th, 1969

 

Born in: Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada

 

Parents: Gerald and Gladys LeBleu

 

Siblings: Rob LeBleu (45), and Rod LeBleu (43)

 

High School: Pierre Radisson Collegiate, Winnipeg, Canada, Middle Infielder

 

College: UND Lake Region Junior College and Mayville State University, Middle Infielder

 

Awards/Honors: 2 time All-State shortstop at UND Lake Region; All-Conference and All-District at Mayville

State; Member of teams that won 10 provincial championships; Won two Western-Canadian Championships.

Experience at Campbellsville: 1^st Year

Alma Mater: Eastern Oregon

Office Phone: (270) 789-5086

E-mail: cmlewis@campbellsville.edu

 

2010 will mark Chris Lewis' eleventh year coaching Baseball, and it will be his first on the Campbellsville University coaching staff.   A proven winner and recruiter, Lewis was the obvious hire for head coach Beauford Sanders in the summer of 2009. In his first year with the Tigers, Lewis will be looked at to expand recruiting boundaries, on top of assisting with the day to day operations of the Tigers who are ranked #8 in the NAIA preseason poll. Lewis will be in charge of infielders, will assist with hitters as well as handling the strength program.

During the spring of 2009, Lewis finished his second stint as the assistant coach of his high school alma mater, Sherwood High School, in Sherwood, Oregon. While at Sherwood, Lewis helped lead his former high school to back to back conference championships, as he saw his team finish with a 21-7 record. During his summers at Sherwood, Lewis was the assistant head coach for the 16-18 year old team at Northwest Star Academy in West Linn, Oregon. In 2008, his team won the Babe Ruth World Series Championship and was named Oregon Sports Team of the Year.

In 2006, Lewis was given his first college head coaching job at Bethany University, in Scotts Valley, California. While at Bethany, he turned around what had been an abysmal program and led them to their best season in school history. The 2006-2007 season still stands as the best season Bethany has ever had. The Bruins finished with a 31-20 final record, which still remains the only season Bethany has ever been over .500. During the season, Lewis helped the Bruins set 40 new team records, and they led Region II with 92 stolen bases on the season. Two All Americans were named off that team, and still remain as the only All American athletes in the history of Bethany University. 

The summer prior to Bethany, Lewis was the head coach for the Portland Titans, a Summer Collegiate team that competes in the Pacific International league. Their 2006 season included the most wins and the highest winning percentage in program history.

In the spring of 2006, Lewis served as the head coach at North Valley High School in Merlin, Oregon. Lewis inherited the team with just a few weeks before the season started and made an immediate impact. In just two weeks, Lewis fundraised $13,000 making the season a possibility.

From 2002-2005, Lewis served as the top assistant coach at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon under Head Coach Reed Rainey. His duties for the Pioneers included recruiting coordinator, third base coach, hitting coach, and infield coach. As the recruiting coordinator at one of the nation's most academic schools, his 2005 class was the largest recruiting class in the history of L&C.   Lewis was an instructor as well as athletic facilities supervisor.  During his time at L&C, Lewis spent his 2004 summer coaching in the California Collegiate League for the Salinas Packers in Salinas, CA.

Lewis's coaching career began in 2001 when he was an assistant at Southwestern Oregon Community College, in Coos Bay, Oregon. While at SWOC, Lewis helped lead his team to the best finish in school history.  His responsibilities included first base coach and he was in charge of the hitters. In the summer of 2001, Lewis was named head coach of the Bay Area Rams American Legion team, which finished 37-14, solidifying the most successful season in program history.

As an athlete, Lewis was a two sport athlete in college and a three sport athlete in high School. A graduate of Eastern Oregon University, he was a team captain in baseball, and was also an All Northwest Football Team selection. Lewis, an attendee of Sherwood High School, was named All State in football and baseball as well as being named to the 1995 Who's Who National List of high school athletes.

Lewis is working on completing his Master's Degree at Campbellsville University and expects to be finished in the spring of 2011. He and his wife Stephanie reside in Campbellsville.