FHSU Athletics

The 2000 Fort Hays State Baseball team was the only team in program history to ever make it to the NCAA Division II World Series (final 8 teams), and they finished as national runner-up. The Tigers had a tremendous record of 54-12 that year, the only team to ever eclipse the 50-win mark for a season in program history. Fort Hays State was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular champion before hosting the NCAA Division II West Regional in the national tournament. After going 2-1 in their first three games of the regional, the Tigers had to knock off Chico State (Calif.) twice at Larks Park in Hays to punch their ticket to Montgomery, Alabama. At the World Series site, the Tigers won three straight games over Gardner-Webb (N.C.), Slippery Rock (Pa.), and North Florida to reach the national title game against Southeastern Oklahoma State. The team had 31 players, led by head coach Bob Fornelli, the all-time leader in wins at FHSU and member of the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame. Fornelli set the program record for wins by a coach at 306 and went on to finish with over 1,120 wins in his coaching career with three national title game appearances at the NCAA Division II level, all accomplished at Kansas institutions. Fort Hays State had 12 all-conference performers that year, including the conference player of the year, along with six All-West Region Tournament selections, and two All-World Series Team selections.
 
Players: Paul Arnhold, Dan Auckland, Steve Barbo, Jared Brown, Brandon Brungardt, Wayne Burton, Ryan Callaway, Tyler Cotton, Scott Di Orio, Matt Dill, Dustin Dreher, Vonley Frey, Thom Garcia, Nate Guffey, Derek Lopez, Franco Martinez, Darris Meitler, Justin Moore, Jason Patty, Brett Power, John Rawie, Jeremy Schmeidler, Tracy Schneweis, Joey Scogin, Jamie Suchy, Pat Taylor, Ian Van Kooten, Jesus Villarreal, Ryan Wasinger, Josh White, Kyle Wolf.
 
Coaches: Bob Fornelli (head coach), Jeff Neher, Matt Ranson, Eric Smith.
 
Manager: Mark Maskus