Perhaps no collegiate baseball program has been more consistently successful than Chico State over the past 21 years. Tommy Wigton has been the one perpetual presence. Wigton, the team's manager extraordinaire, will be retiring from the dugout following this season. Sunday, prior to the Wildcats' 11 a.m. game against Cal State Dominguez Hills, Wigton's legacy will be celebrated and he will throw out the first pitch.
Sunday's contest will close a four-game set between the Wildcats and Toros this weekend at Nettleton Stadium. The series begins with a single game Friday at 6 p.m. and continues with a doubleheader Saturday at noon.
All four games will be broadcasts locally on AM-1290 KPAY and streamed online at
www.chicowildcats.com, where links to streaming video (with audio) and live stats can also be found.
Wigton joined the Wildcats' staff during former Head Coach Lindsay Meggs' first season at the helm, in 1993. They teamed up with current Head Coach Dave Taylor (then the pitching coach) to quickly propel the program into the nation's college baseball stratosphere, winning NCAA titles in 1997 and 1999.
The Wildcats won nine NCAA Tournament West Region titles over an 18-year span from 1997 to 2014. Wigton was with the Wildcats all the way.
"Tom is a true professional," wrote Taylor, the team's head coach since 2007. "He demands excellence from himself and the coaches and players. Tom's ability to communicate to players about the 'Chico State' way has been a great asset to the coaching staff. His bike rides around downtown preaching "Chico State Baseball" to whoever will listen are legendary. His loyalty to the coaches will never be forgotten. The players who have worn the cardinal and black over the last 21 years are better people today because of Tom Wigton. The workers in the concession area are better people today because of Tom Wigton. I am a better person because of Tom Wigton. Tom is, and will always be, Chico State Baseball."
So get there early on Sunday. It's going to be a very special day to honor a very special man.
To learn more about Wigton's legacy, check out his Chico State Athletics Hall of Fame bio
HERE.
