#14 Barrett Johnson (pictured above) - Photo by Daniela Oestreich
A huge achievement has been made by the Commodore Baseball team this season! In a 9-1 win against Shelton State Community College, the Commodores have reached their 2000th win in program history. With such an accomplishment, you can’t help but wonder how long the program has been around. What did the early years look like for the Commodores, and what is in store for their future?
Tough Beginnings ’61
Gulf Coast State College saw its beginnings with baseball in the early 1960s. Known then as Gulf Coast Junior College, it saw its first baseball season in the spring of 1961. Coached by Jim Clark, the team was made up of 20 athletes; only one of these was the pitcher, a right-hander by the name of Ed Brown. Brown led the Commodores to their very first win that season against what came to be known as their chief rival, the Chipola Indians. In the 3rd inning, the Dores broke a 1-1 tie with six runs, resulting in a 7-5 win against the Indians. This was their only win that season, leaving the Commodores with a (1-6) record. The season was cancelled due to too many injuries and bad weather.
In 1962, Coach Gary Ashley stepped up to the plate and led the Dores to a (7-10) season. Joe McKinney (pictured left) was a third basemen who went on to be the 1st Gulf Coast Coast All-State.
|| Photo courtesy of the Gulf Coast State College Archives
Present Day
Flash forward 60 years to 2022, where the Commodores are being led by Head Coach Tyler Younger. With four games left in the Spring 2022 season, the Dores’ current record stands at (26-16). There are huge possibilities ahead of the program here at Gulf Coast State College. Although they are a team with a smaller roster than some of their competing schools, they are a team that has known adversity and continued to rise to the challenge. Bad weather may have been the reason for ending the season back in 1961, but in today’s day, not even the weather can get the Commodores down. When Hurricane Michael passed through the Panhandle, the college and its athletes stayed strong.
Congratulations to the Commodores and Gulf Coast State College!
#18 Walt McConnell
#19 Black Dincman (L), #14 Barret Johnson (C),
#2 Mason Smith (R)
#5 Tyler Borges
All photos are property of Daniela Oestreich-Commodore Productions @ Gulf Coast State College.
About the Author
Daniela Oestreich
Student Author - Spring 2022
Daniela “Danie” Oestreich is a 3rd year student at GCSC. She is working towards her Bachelors degree in Digital Media Studies with a focus in Video Production.
