University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Ty Wigginton Rooting for Friend & Alma Mater - UNC Asheville Bulldogs Official Athletics Site
01.01.1970 | Baseball
Courtesy of Asheville Citizen-Times
June 2, 2006
ASHEVILLE -- In the late summer of 1995, then-UNC Asheville coach Bill Hillier Sr. told his players that there were no limits to what they could accomplish if they worked hard.
Like many of their teammates that year, freshmen Ty Wigginton and Willie Stewart absorbed every word.
"He instilled a sense of pride in us," recalled Stewart, now the Bulldogs' head coach.
Wigginton is now an infielder for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but he still remembers Hillier's message.
"We didn't have the same facilities or scholarship amounts as other schools," Wigginton added in a phone interview Wednesday from Baltimore. "But we always believed that if we played hard, we could win conference and go to a regional."
Even though that goal eluded Stewart and Wigginton throughout their collegiate playing careers, the dream always remained in their hearts.
And shortly after stepping off the turf at Boston's Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon, Wigginton learned that the Stewart-led Bulldogs had overcome a 10-run deficit to win the first Big South Conference tournament in school history.
UNCA (28-33) makes its NCAA tournament debut at 7 tonight at Clemson (47-14).
"I was just glad and joyful, excited for them," said Wigginton, the first UNCA alum to play Major League Baseball. "I look at it as an accomplishment for Willie."
Though he played his last game in an Asheville uniform eight years ago, Wigginton remains invested in UNCA's baseball program.
He still speaks with Stewart frequently, including a congratulatory call shortly after UNCA's big win last week, and he hopes he's the first of many Bulldogs to make the big leagues.
"With Willie there, I know he's trying hard to get players seen by pro scouts," Wigginton said, "and he's doing everything he can to get them in pro ball. I hope he knows I'll do anything I can do to help, too."
Wigginton, whose 12 home runs rank second on the Devil Rays behind Jonny Gomes (through Wednesday's game), also suggested the Bulldogs might make noise at the regional tournament despite opening up against the top seed.
"With baseball, it just takes a good pitching performance," Wigginton said. "Anytime you make the playoffs, whether you're in Little League or the major leagues, it just takes a good performance. If UNCA can do that, I think they've got a good chance. I know this is a dream come true for a lot of them just to be there.
