FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State University Athletics will pay tribute to the 1974 Tiger Baseball team for its historic achievement prior to the 7 p.m. game against Northwest Missouri State University on April 25 at Larks Park. The recognition will be a part of the annual Pack the Park event. The team was the first at FHSU to play in a national baseball tournament, specifically the NAIA National Baseball Tournament, now known as the NAIA College World Series.
That season the Tigers won the NAIA District 10 Playoffs, defeating Bethany College, Emporia State, and Benedictine College to reach the NAIA Area 3 Playoffs in Oklahoma City. The Tigers then defeated Kearney State and Southeastern Oklahoma twice to reach the NAIA championship site in St. Joseph, Mo. They fell to Sam Houston State and Wisconsin-Oshkosh at the championship site, wrapping their season at 26-18 overall. The Tigers finished the year at No. 7 in the NAIA national rankings.
It has been 51 years since the 1974 season, yet all 16 players on the team's postseason roster will be in attendance and recognized at Larks Park on Friday night prior to the annual Pack the Park game. The team featured just one senior and the rest were underclassmen.
Below are the individuals planning to be in attendance.
Outfielders: Bill Hall (Hays), Brad Rumble (Great Bend), Val McLean (Lewis) and Dick Kollhoff (Burdett).
Infielders: Lance Wise (Hill City), Keith Harper (Colby), Galen Pfannenstiel (Ransom), Bill Hachmeister (Hill City), Mike Weiser (Great Bend), Mike Giarratano (Pueblo, Colo.) and Larry Koster (Cawker City).
Pitchers; Ray Dolezal (Great Bend), Ken Ubelaker (Osborne), Rick Zimmerman (Denver, Colo.), and Ray Coupal (Hays).
Catcher: Steve Rohr (Hays).
Assistant Coach: Frank Leo (Hays).
Six Tiger players received post-season honors:
All-Great Plains Athletic Conference First Team - Brad Rumble (LF), Lance Wise (SS).
Academic All-Conference Team - Val McLean (CF), Bill Hall (RF), Keith Harper (2B), Brad Rumble (LF).
All-District 10 First Team - Galen Pfannenstiel (1B), Lance Wise (SS), Bill Hall (OF), Brad Rumble (OF).
All-Area III - Bill Hall (OF).
NAIA All-America - Bill Hall (OF), Lance Wise (SS).
Tiger records set during the 1974 season:
Most doubles - Bill Hall, 16
Most stolen bases - Keith Harper, 26
Most times hit by pitch - Lance Wise, 5
Most strikeouts - Ray Coupal, 94
Most wins - Ray Coupal, 10
Most innings pitched - Ray Coupal, 102.2
Guiding the Tigers to the national tournament was Earl Hobbs (1929-2013) who coached the Tigers from 1967-1976. Both of his assistant coaches, Rod Ruder (1951-2021) and Frank Leo, were graduates of FHSU and were eventually inducted into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame. "We were truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to play for them," commented Brad Rumble. "What they did to help the team reach the national tournament and become part of FHSU baseball history is something we will never forget."