FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgc.edu

Coach Sims Receives National, District Coaching Awards

South Georgia College head baseball coach Scott Sims has received a pair of prestigious awards as the season has drawn to a close. At the 2011 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, Sims was given the W. Homa Thomas Sportsmanship Award. He was also named East Central District Coach of the Year after winning the East Central District tournament, which sent the Tigers to the JUCO World Series.

After 21 years as head coach, Sims and the 2011 Tigers advanced to the Junior College World Series for the first time in his career. The Tigers endured a season of adversity and came out of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association’s Region XVII state tournament with a second place finish. They advanced to the East Central District tournament, and rolled through the four-team, double-elimination tournament undefeated by winning three games in a row to clinch a berth in the World Series for the first time since 1970. By winning the East Central District title, Sims received the Coach of the Year award for the district.

The Tigers played their first World Series game less than a week after winning the district championship. SGC went 1-2 in Grand Junction, finishing ahead of three teams that exited the tournament after losing two straight games. The World Series ended on Saturday, June 4, when Navarro (Texas) College defeated Central Arizona with a 10th inning, walk-off home run. Organizers released the All Tournament Team once the World Series came to a close. One of the awards given as a part of the All Tournament Team is the W. Homa Thomas Sportsmanship Award. This year, Coach Sims, whose retirement is effective in August, received the award.

Last year, Coach Sims was named GCAA Coach of the Year after the Tigers went 40-21 and finished third in the conference. This season, SGC ended the season 34-33. Coach Sims leaves SGC with 585 career wins.

“Coach Sims has had a remarkable career at South Georgia College. He has emphasized academic excellence, civic responsibility and integrity both on and off the field. His players know what it means to play baseball the right way, and this sportsmanship award validates everything he has done over the last 21 years here. I can think of no one more deserving of this honor,” says Dr. Virginia Carson, SGC President.

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is located in Douglas, Ga. The college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty. With over 20 majors and transfer opportunities, South Georgia College provides the finest education possible to the citizens of its service area.