WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University will wake up some echoes next month when WLU honors the 1964 Hilltopper baseball team on the 60th anniversary of its NAIA national championship.
    The ceremony recognizing the university's first team to win a national championship in any sport will take place between games of the April 13 doubleheader between this year's West Liberty squad and Salem (W.Va.) University at historic Kovalick Field. Several members of the 1964 championship team are expected to attend.
    Interim athletic director Brad Forshey said the impact of that first national championship has not faded on the hilltop campus despite the intervening years.
    "West Liberty baseball has a rich history and tradition," Forshey said. "The resilience of the players and coaches from that 1964 team battling back to win a national championship against overwhelming odds is still talked about today. When such a huge milestone continues to echo across campus after six decades, that speaks volumes to its significance and relevance to today's student-athletes. We're extremely excited to welcome these outstanding alumni back to campus and revisit those wonderful memories with them."
    The 1964 team had to travel a rocky road to glory at the NAIA World Series in St. Joseph, Mo.
    West Liberty lost its opening game in the double-elimination tournament, a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Wartburg (Iowa) in a 16-inning marathon, but Coach George Kovalick's Hilltoppers didn't lose again. Led by twin mound aces Joe Niekro and Frank Ujcich, West Liberty rolled through the consolation bracket, capped by a 5-0 shutout of Georgia Southern in the consolation final. The Hilltoppers then swept heavily-favored Grambling State by scores of 6-4 and 3-2 to bring the championship trophy back to the hilltop.
    Ujcich was voted World Series MVP after hurling a record 22 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. Niekro also excelled on the mound, highlighted by a 10-inning complete-game win against Sam Houston State, while freshman Joe Doerr led all hitters with a .468 batting average. Ujcich, Fred Chambers and Floyd Shuler were honored as NAIA All-Americans.
    Rounding out West Liberty's national championship roster were Jim Benedetto, Dave Forgash, Bob Kota, Dave Kovalick, Gerry Kraynick, Gordon Long, John Pavlisko, Glenn Petty, Ray Prantil, Ron Romanoski, Dave Scherr and Gary Zelinski.
    Current Hilltopper baseball coach Eric Burkle, who has racked up more than 200 coaching wins in the WLU dugout, has a personal connection to the 1964 team. He says that national championship run from 60 years ago is a continuing source of inspiration to this day.
    "We take great pride in the fact that the 1964 Hilltoppers brought home a national championship to West Liberty," Burkle said. "We point that out to every recruit, showing where the 1964 team stands in our hierarchy here on the hilltop. I personally have a coach and friend on that team and I speak with them regularly about that World Series win and what it still means to those of us involved in Hilltopper baseball. One Team! One Goal! Always!"
    Game One of the April 13 doubleheader against Salem will start at 1 p.m. In the event that doubleheader is canceled, due to weather conditions, the 1964 National Championship Team recognition will be moved to the Belmont Savings Bank Indoor Practice Facility.