The Selma University Bulldogs baseball team (13-12) was the last team to make the cut and earn a spot in the 2018 USCAA Small College World Series at Shower Field in Dubois, Pennsylvania.

“This is something we’ve worked very hard for all year,” Selma U head baseball coach Adrian Holloway said. “It’s one of our goals each and every year here.”

The team was on the playoff bubble after finishing its regular season just a game above .500, and their goal of reaching the playoffs was out of their hands.

We were still on the bubble, so we weren’t really sure that we would get in.” he said. “To get in as the last seed and see our name come across the screen was something to remember. We’ll remember that moment for the rest of our lives.”

The selection show named nine other school’s before revealing that the Bulldogs had locked up the No. 10 seed in the tournament. The Bulldogs will face the No. 7 seed College of St. Joseph’s Vermont at 11 a.m. Monday, April 14.

“It was hysteria,” Holloway said. “The boys were hugging each other and jumping up and down. It was just a real cool scene to see the jubilation come out after these guys have worked so hard.”

This is the eighth year in a row the Bulldogs have reached the postseason, and the fifth year with head coach Adrian Holloway managing the team.

Selma U was ranked No. 11 in the USCAA coaches poll this season, and led the league in team home runs (32).

Offense was the team’s strength this season. The team had had four players hitting above .300, including junior Marcus Hardy (.494/.545/.1.038), freshman Jamez McGhee (.392/.489/.581), sophomore Deontay Robinson (.375/.500/.681) and junior Rickey Butts (.346/.391/.506).

Hardy led the team in hits (39), home runs (10) and RBI’s (40).

“He’s been lights out all year,” Holloway said. “He crushes the ball against any level of pitching. He’s having one of the best college baseball seasons around right now on any level.”

The team will begin their journey to Pennsylvania this weekend, but the Bulldogs do need some help from the community if they’re going to be able to keep their season going.

The program is raising money to help fund their trip to the Small College World Series. Selma U is a small, private Historically Black College which doesn’t receive any state funding.

“The guys have worked all season long, and we struggled through the season with money and travel,” Holloway said. “Now we just need help from the public to help us make this trip. We qualified for it and were selected. We just need a little help to make sure that we can travel there and the guys can be comfortable and safe.”

The team has setup a donation page, and will try to reach its $5,000 goal by Friday, April 11, so they can keep their season alive.

For more information on making a donation to Selma University baseball, contact Holloway, who is also the athletic director, at (334)327-3389. Donations can also be made by visiting his Facebook page and donating through his World Series trip post.

“It’s a blessing to be back in the World Series again,” Holloway said. “I’m just thankful for this opportunity that God has given me to help these young men live out their dreams. I just want us to go up there and focus, stay sharp and do what we came to do. Let’s win it.”