Troy University Athletics
Troy Inducts Four New Members Into Hall of Fame
9/13/2019 10:30:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – Troy baseball kicked off its annual alumni weekend with a dinner and Hall of Fame ceremony Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field. The 2019 Troy Hall of Fame class is comprised of Keith Black (IF, 1988-91), Bryan Kelly (OF, 1995-97), Henry Gutierrez (C, 2004-05) and Mark Dunning (supporter).
Black played under head coaches Chase Riddle and John Mayotte, Kelly played for Mayotte, and Gutierrez played under Bobby Pierce. This marks the first time players coached by each of these three Hall of Fame coaches are represented in the Hall of Fame.
An avid supporter of Troy baseball, Dunning made the first commitment financially to the major field renovation project in 2007.
"This class represents the last 40 years of history at Troy," head coach Mark Smartt said. "Those three coaches built the legacy here at Troy over the last 40 years and each of these players represent their era of play exceptionally well."
"Mark Dunning fits right alongside the major supporters of TROY Baseball with his relationship with Coach Pierce while his generosity spearheaded the Riddle-Pace Field renovation in 2007. Each of these men rightfully belong in our Baseball Hall of Fame."
Other members of the Hall of Fame in attendance at the ceremony include Bobby Pierce, Betty Riddle, Jude Rinaldi, Buck Watford, Dean Cordova, Chuck Stanhope, Mike Elmore, Ralph Black, Wade Miller, Jerry Miller, Robert Earl Stewart and Mark Smartt.
Alumni in town for the weekend participated in an alumni baseball game following the ceremony.
Alumni weekend continues Saturday, Sept. 14 as Troy takes on Southern Miss in The Vet at 5 p.m. Baseball alumni and their families are encouraged to attend serval events preceding the game.
Saturday, Sept. 14
Noon Family Event (Riddle-Pace Field)
1 p.m. Kids' Zone (Riddle-Pace Field)
2 p.m. Tailgate for Alumni and Families (Lott Baseball Complex)
5 p.m. Troy vs. Southern Miss (FB)
Keith Black
A three-sport athlete from Florence, Alabama, Keith Black played for the Trojans from 1988-1991. One of the few freshmen to ever start on Opening Day for the Trojans, Black homered on the first pitch he saw. Playing in 42 of the team's 52 games that season, Black batted .307 with three home runs and 19 RBI.
In his sophomore season, Black played in 44 games and batted .278 for the Trojans who went on to win the Gulf South Conference Championship. In 1990, Black's junior season, he was named to the All-Gulf South Conference First Team. Although he suffered a mid-season injury that caused him to miss nearly three weeks, Keith still played in 41 games for a team that went on to post a 50-10 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament.
Black finished his career with the Trojans batting .325 his senior year and once again claiming All Gulf South Conference First Team honors. Playing in all 43 games that season, he had five doubles, eight home runs, and 25 RBI. Troy once again won the GSC East Division title and advanced to the Regional Tournament.
Following his senior season, Black was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played four years in their organization. He finished his career having played the most games in school history (currently 11th). He is also sixth in career walks and ninth in runs scored.
"I was a student coach in 1988 for Keith's freshman season as he started Opening Day," Smartt said. "A freshman starting right away was extremely rare during that time in the program and then he homered in his first college at-bat. He carries the distinction of being a four-year starter and had an incredible career playing all over the field which speaks to his overall ability. His induction is long overdue."
Bryan Kelly
A two sport athlete from Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi, Bryan Kelly played for Troy University in 1995 & 1997 after playing two years at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Kelly began his career and junior season at Troy playing in all 51 games, batting .326 with six home runs, 12 doubles and 32 RBI. He also led the team with 62 hits and 190 at bats on his way to being named to the All Mid-Continent Conference First Team.
After having to sit out in 1996 due to injury, Kelly came back in 1997 to establish multiple records and lead the Trojans back to the NCAA Regional Tournament. Playing in all 60 games of the 1997 season, Kelly led the team in multiple categories including batting average (.361), home runs (13), triples (4), RBI (69), hits (84), at bats (233) and slugging percentage (.618).
He once again made the All MidContinent Conference First Team and was named the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year. Along with being only one of five Conference Players of the Year in school history, Kelly set two single season records during his senior season. His 60 games played in 1997 was the most until 2006 (currently 13th). He also set the record for the most at bats (233) and held that record until 1999 (currently 15th). Kelly is also 13th in hits in a single season (84) and has the sixth most RBI in a season (69).
"Bryan Kelly had two great years playing for Coach Mayotte and was instrumental on the very first Division I regional team in school history," Smartt said. "He had one of the best single seasons in history during the 1997 season. He deserves this honor as much as any player in our program's history."
Henry Gutierrez
Hailing from Trulillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Henry Gutierrez played in 2004 & 2005 for Troy after playing two years at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. Gutierrez began his career and junior season at Troy playing in 45 games while starting in 35. He led the team that year in home runs (7), while batting .242 with 31 RBI and eight doubles. In the 2004 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, Henry batted .500 with seven RBI on his way to being named to the Atlantic Sun All-Tournament team.
In his senior season, Henry started in 57 of 58 games and established himself as one of the top power hitters in Troy baseball history. His 18 home runs led not only the team, but also the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005. Gutierrez also led the team in runs scored (66), RBI (61), total bases (141), slugging percentage (.662), on-base percentage (.433), and walks (30). These numbers, along with his .352 batting average and stellar play behind the plate, earned Henry a place on the All Atlantic Sun Conference First Team.
Gutierrez continues to be in the top ten for home runs in a season (tied for 8th) and runs scored in a season (10th). He finished his career with a .312 average, 25 home runs, and 92 RBI, and was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the eleventh round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
"Henry's 2005 senior season was one of the best seasons I've witnessed in my Troy career," Smartt said. "He was a great leader, highly successful student and represented our program with distinction in every way. He deserves this recognition and I am proud that he and his beautiful family live her in Troy and continue to support our program."
Mark Dunning
The Troy University Baseball Hall of Fame supporter category was created for the sole purpose of honoring the contributions of those who have gone above and beyond with their generosity for our tradition-rich baseball program. Mark Dunning played a significant role in helping to transform Riddle-Pace Field into the beautiful, unique stadium that we proudly call home to this day.
Dunning made the initial contribution that ignited a multimillion-dollar fundraising effort that transformed the intersection of George Wallace Drive and University Avenue into a gateway welcoming everyone to Troy University. He and his wife Angela have also been baseball season ticket holders for many years.
"Supporters are so important to our program that we include them in our Hall of Fame to honor their commitment to Troy baseball," Smartt said. "Mark was the first commitment financially to the major field renovation in 2007 which allowed Coach Pierce to aggressively pursue other contributors to make the project a reality. That renovation project was the catalyst to the growth and success of TROY Baseball that last decade."
Black played under head coaches Chase Riddle and John Mayotte, Kelly played for Mayotte, and Gutierrez played under Bobby Pierce. This marks the first time players coached by each of these three Hall of Fame coaches are represented in the Hall of Fame.
An avid supporter of Troy baseball, Dunning made the first commitment financially to the major field renovation project in 2007.
"This class represents the last 40 years of history at Troy," head coach Mark Smartt said. "Those three coaches built the legacy here at Troy over the last 40 years and each of these players represent their era of play exceptionally well."
"Mark Dunning fits right alongside the major supporters of TROY Baseball with his relationship with Coach Pierce while his generosity spearheaded the Riddle-Pace Field renovation in 2007. Each of these men rightfully belong in our Baseball Hall of Fame."
Other members of the Hall of Fame in attendance at the ceremony include Bobby Pierce, Betty Riddle, Jude Rinaldi, Buck Watford, Dean Cordova, Chuck Stanhope, Mike Elmore, Ralph Black, Wade Miller, Jerry Miller, Robert Earl Stewart and Mark Smartt.
Alumni in town for the weekend participated in an alumni baseball game following the ceremony.
Alumni weekend continues Saturday, Sept. 14 as Troy takes on Southern Miss in The Vet at 5 p.m. Baseball alumni and their families are encouraged to attend serval events preceding the game.
Saturday, Sept. 14
Noon Family Event (Riddle-Pace Field)
1 p.m. Kids' Zone (Riddle-Pace Field)
2 p.m. Tailgate for Alumni and Families (Lott Baseball Complex)
5 p.m. Troy vs. Southern Miss (FB)
Keith Black
In his sophomore season, Black played in 44 games and batted .278 for the Trojans who went on to win the Gulf South Conference Championship. In 1990, Black's junior season, he was named to the All-Gulf South Conference First Team. Although he suffered a mid-season injury that caused him to miss nearly three weeks, Keith still played in 41 games for a team that went on to post a 50-10 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament.
Black finished his career with the Trojans batting .325 his senior year and once again claiming All Gulf South Conference First Team honors. Playing in all 43 games that season, he had five doubles, eight home runs, and 25 RBI. Troy once again won the GSC East Division title and advanced to the Regional Tournament.
Following his senior season, Black was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played four years in their organization. He finished his career having played the most games in school history (currently 11th). He is also sixth in career walks and ninth in runs scored.
"I was a student coach in 1988 for Keith's freshman season as he started Opening Day," Smartt said. "A freshman starting right away was extremely rare during that time in the program and then he homered in his first college at-bat. He carries the distinction of being a four-year starter and had an incredible career playing all over the field which speaks to his overall ability. His induction is long overdue."
Bryan Kelly
A two sport athlete from Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi, Bryan Kelly played for Troy University in 1995 & 1997 after playing two years at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Kelly began his career and junior season at Troy playing in all 51 games, batting .326 with six home runs, 12 doubles and 32 RBI. He also led the team with 62 hits and 190 at bats on his way to being named to the All Mid-Continent Conference First Team.
After having to sit out in 1996 due to injury, Kelly came back in 1997 to establish multiple records and lead the Trojans back to the NCAA Regional Tournament. Playing in all 60 games of the 1997 season, Kelly led the team in multiple categories including batting average (.361), home runs (13), triples (4), RBI (69), hits (84), at bats (233) and slugging percentage (.618).
He once again made the All MidContinent Conference First Team and was named the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year. Along with being only one of five Conference Players of the Year in school history, Kelly set two single season records during his senior season. His 60 games played in 1997 was the most until 2006 (currently 13th). He also set the record for the most at bats (233) and held that record until 1999 (currently 15th). Kelly is also 13th in hits in a single season (84) and has the sixth most RBI in a season (69).
"Bryan Kelly had two great years playing for Coach Mayotte and was instrumental on the very first Division I regional team in school history," Smartt said. "He had one of the best single seasons in history during the 1997 season. He deserves this honor as much as any player in our program's history."
Henry Gutierrez
Hailing from Trulillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Henry Gutierrez played in 2004 & 2005 for Troy after playing two years at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. Gutierrez began his career and junior season at Troy playing in 45 games while starting in 35. He led the team that year in home runs (7), while batting .242 with 31 RBI and eight doubles. In the 2004 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, Henry batted .500 with seven RBI on his way to being named to the Atlantic Sun All-Tournament team.
In his senior season, Henry started in 57 of 58 games and established himself as one of the top power hitters in Troy baseball history. His 18 home runs led not only the team, but also the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005. Gutierrez also led the team in runs scored (66), RBI (61), total bases (141), slugging percentage (.662), on-base percentage (.433), and walks (30). These numbers, along with his .352 batting average and stellar play behind the plate, earned Henry a place on the All Atlantic Sun Conference First Team.
Gutierrez continues to be in the top ten for home runs in a season (tied for 8th) and runs scored in a season (10th). He finished his career with a .312 average, 25 home runs, and 92 RBI, and was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the eleventh round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
"Henry's 2005 senior season was one of the best seasons I've witnessed in my Troy career," Smartt said. "He was a great leader, highly successful student and represented our program with distinction in every way. He deserves this recognition and I am proud that he and his beautiful family live her in Troy and continue to support our program."
Mark Dunning
The Troy University Baseball Hall of Fame supporter category was created for the sole purpose of honoring the contributions of those who have gone above and beyond with their generosity for our tradition-rich baseball program. Mark Dunning played a significant role in helping to transform Riddle-Pace Field into the beautiful, unique stadium that we proudly call home to this day.
Dunning made the initial contribution that ignited a multimillion-dollar fundraising effort that transformed the intersection of George Wallace Drive and University Avenue into a gateway welcoming everyone to Troy University. He and his wife Angela have also been baseball season ticket holders for many years.
"Supporters are so important to our program that we include them in our Hall of Fame to honor their commitment to Troy baseball," Smartt said. "Mark was the first commitment financially to the major field renovation in 2007 which allowed Coach Pierce to aggressively pursue other contributors to make the project a reality. That renovation project was the catalyst to the growth and success of TROY Baseball that last decade."
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