At a glance
The Alfred State College athletic department will induct the 2008 Hall of Fame class during ceremonies on Friday September 12 as part of Homecoming activities. Softball/basketball player Toni Darling (Johnston), bowler Gerry Cox, and baseball player Joe Van Gorder will join the 43 current members of the Hall of Fame.
The Alfred State College athletic department will induct the 2008 Hall of Fame class during ceremonies on Friday September 12 as part of Homecoming activities. Softball/basketball player Toni Darling (Johnston), bowler Gerry Cox, and baseball player Joe Van Gorder will join the 43 current members of the Hall of Fame.
Darling was a two-sport athlete during her time at Alfred State. On the softball diamond she was the top pitcher as the Lady Pioneers advanced to the NJCAA World Series in 1997 and also was the starting point guard on the basketball court.
As a freshman, Darling was 11-5 with a 1.83 ERA. She struck out 76 batters in 103 innings while recording three no-hitters and five shutouts.
In 1997, she was named 2nd team NJCAA All-American and 1st team All-Region after leading the Lady Pioneers to the World Series. She was 18-7 with a 1.52 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 143 innings pitched. She threw her 4th no-hitter of her career, tossed four complete game shutouts, and combined on another shutout.
On the basketball court Darling was named All-Region in 1997. She finished her two year career with 310 points, 180 rebounds, 148 assists, and 102 steals.
Cox is the first bowler to be inducted into the Alfred State College Athletic Hall of Fame. He is the only Pioneer ever to win a title at the NJCAA National Bowling Championship.
In 1972, Cox won the NJCAA National Singles Bowling Championship by rolling a 675. Earlier in the year he was the Region III Bowling Champion and the ASC Team MVP.
Van Gorder is one of the top two-way players in Alfred State College baseball history. During his time at Alfred, he helped the program to WNYAC, Region III, and NYS Division I Championships. The Pioneers were 93-36 during his career.
On the mound, Van Gorder accumulated an 11-4 career record including a 10-3 record as a sophomore in 2001. Van Gorder struck out 135 batters in his career and currently holds the college records for most strikeouts in a season (108) and the most strikeouts in a game (13). At the plate he was a .351 career hitter with 36 doubles, three triple, two home runs, and 79 RBI.
Van Gorder was named the Region III Player of the Year, 1st team All-Region, and the Alfred State College most valuable pitcher in 2001.
Van Gorder went on to West Virginia University where he was a 14th round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent the next three summers playing professionally.
The process to be inducted into the Hall of Fame begins when coaches, alumni, and former athletes make nominations. Each year a committee made of all the Hall of Fame members; three past or present Alfred State College faculty or staff; two alumni athletes (one male & one female); and past and present Athletic directors vote from the list of nominees. To be selected a nominee must receive 2/3 of the votes.
Darling, Cox, and Van Gorder will be honored in a ceremony to be held in the Allegany Room of the Central Dining Hall beginning at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony kicks off a busy weekend of athletic events during Homecoming 2008. Cross Country, men's and women's soccer, baseball, and football will all host competition on Saturday and alumni games will be played in softball, lacrosse, and baseball on Sunday afternoon.