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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Tyler baseball team |
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closed out an unforgettable year in triumphant fashion by winning |
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the 2018 NCAA Division III championship on May 29 in Appleton, |
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Wisconsin; and |
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WHEREAS, A national title seemed a long shot for the unranked |
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Patriots following their semifinal loss in the American Southwest |
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Conference tournament, but under the direction of head coach Brent |
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Porche, UT Tyler capitalized on the at-large bid it received to the |
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NCAA tournament; the team went on to win the Central Regional |
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Tournament and earn a slot in the Division III championship |
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bracket; after defeating SUNY Oswego and Misericordia University, |
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the Patriots climbed to the elimination round, where they dropped |
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the first game to Randolph-Macon College and then rallied to take |
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the rematch and advance to the NCAA finale; and |
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WHEREAS, With the title on the line, UT Tyler faced off |
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against No. 6 Texas Lutheran University in the best-of-three |
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championship series; the Patriots dominated the opener, scoring two |
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runs in the first inning and adding five in the fourth frame to |
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surge to an 8-1 victory; demonstrating its tenacity throughout Game |
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Two, UT Tyler erased an early deficit and then broke the contest |
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open by scoring five runs in the seventh inning to prevail by a |
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final score of 9-6; with the win, the Patriots collected the first |
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championship in program history and also became the first American |
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Southwest Conference team to claim a national crown; and |
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WHEREAS, UT Tyler was led by Simon Sedillo, who pitched two |
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complete games in the NCAA tournament and was named the Most |
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Outstanding Player; moreover, Bowie Farris, Blake Maddox, Tanner |
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Roach, and Henry Sanchez were named to the All-Tournament Team; and |
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WHEREAS, Winning a national title represents the culmination |
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of countless hours of hard work and an unwavering commitment to |
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excellence, and the members of The University of Texas at Tyler |
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baseball team will treasure the memory of this accomplishment for |
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many years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate The University of Texas at Tyler |
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Patriots on winning the 2018 NCAA Division III national |
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championship and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff |
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sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |