Northwestern State Demon baseball to retire two numbers

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FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

NATCHITOCHES – February 7 will be a special night for two former Northwestern State baseball players as Jim Willis’ No. 28 jersey and Billie Roy Cook’s No. 10 will be retired during the annual NSU Demon Baseball Opening Day Banquet.

Their jerseys will join standout pitcher Brian Lawrence (29) and record holding coach Jim Wells (17) as the only numbers retired in NSU baseball history. They will display on the outfield wall at Brown-Stroud Field.

“Mr. Willis and Mr. Cook are certainly two of the greatest pitchers in Demon baseball history,” commented head coach Jon Paul Davis. “This is truly going to be a special night, not only for them, but also for Northwestern State.”

Willis was a two-sport competitor who became the first Northwestern baseball player to reach the Major Leagues. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 1952-53 and was also a standout basketball player on the 1948-49 team that reached the national semifinals under coach H. Lee Prather.

He began his pro career in Alexandria in 1949 and played for Shreveport in 1951-52. He was drafted by the Cubs in 1952 and compiled a 2-2 record with a 3.39 ERA in his two seasons.

Cook was a record-shattering pitcher for the Demons who had 29 victories from 1956-59, still a school record 50 years later. He was a dominating factor in Gulf States Conference play.

A three-time All-GSC pitcher, Cook posted an 8-1 record in 1956 and led the nation in wins in 1957 after compiling a 10-1 record and earning most valuable player honors in the conference.

Nicknamed the team’s “Iron Man” by the NSU Current Sauce newspaper, Cook took victories in two doubleheaders during the 1957 team.

“There is no greater honor which can be bestowed upon a former NSU athlete than to have their uniform number retired,” said NSU Director of Athletics Greg Burke. “Both Billie Roy and Jim had outstanding careers at NSU and it is most fitting that they will be honored in this way. I have had the privilege of getting to know both of these gentlemen during the time I have been associated with NSU Athletics and the fact that they both are still well-connected to the baseball program and still have a great measure of passion for NSU makes this even more special.”

Chicago Cub shortstop and former LSU standout Ryan Theriot will be the guest speaker at the banquet.

The event, which gets underway at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Natchitoches, will include a social hour, dinner, silent and live auctions, and an autograph session with Theriot.

Tickets for the banquet are $40 for adults and $10 for kids age 17 and under. For information, contact Davis at 318-357-4139 or the NSU ticket office at 318-357-4268.