On April 28, the Montclair State Department of Athletics and baseball program celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its 1987 NCAA Division III National Championship Team.

Eighteen members from that squad made their way back to Montclair State, including assistant coaches Rich O'Connor and Rick Giancola and the head coach Kevin Cooney. Among the team members who were honored in both a private ceremony inside the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center prior to the game include: Rich Preziotti, Bill Coyle, Bob Levy, Pete Diaz, Fran Maggio, Ray Castellano, John McClain, Jim Fasano, Dave Kern, Kevin Cavallo, Wayne Masters, Sal Ferragine, Brian Devins, Brian Cheswick, Mike Wenrich, Jeff Vanderoef and Leroy Horn.

Cooney, the National Coach of the Year in 1987, threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of the Red Hawks doubleheader with The College of New Jersey and the group was honored in between games as each player got a chance nearly a quarter-centrury later to grab hold of the national championship trophy.

The then-Indians brought home the first of what has become three NCAA national championships for Montclair State as Horn blasted the "Shot Heard Round Montclair" with his two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning at Pioneer Park in Marietta, Ohio that gave Montclair State its first crown.

The home run capped one of the greatest seasons not only in program history but in the entire 80-plus year history of Athletics at Montclair State. Led by Cooney, a former player and Hall of Fame member, the then-Indians punctuated their 34-14-1 season with a 13-12 victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the championship game as Montclair swept its way to the title winning all four games.

And perhaps fitting in a place called Yogi Berra Stadium, that team may have had a case of deja vu all over again as the Red Hawks downed the Lions in that first contest 11-10 on what else - a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.

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