The 1980 Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) Championship baseball team was honored at the Eighth Annual First Pitch Banquet on Jan. 30.
Seventeen players, including three who made the major leagues — outfielder Jim Eisenreich, pitcher Dana Kiecker ‘86 and infielder Bob Hegman ‘81 — and coaches celebrated the 35th anniversary of the conference championship.
Eisenreich played for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Florida and Los Angeles, winning a World Series with the Marlins. Hegman played for Kansas City and is a current member of the Royals scouting staff. Kiecker played for Boston and pitched for the AL East winning Red Sox in 1990.
Nine team and five individual records were broken or tied during the 1980 season. Four players were named All-Conference: shortstop Hegman, third baseman Scott Mansch, centerfielder Eisenreich and pitcher Gregg Pederson. Mansch and catcher John King served as the 1980 team captains.
The Huskies finished the season 23-14-1 overall and 15-5 in the NIC.
