Lewis-Clark State College Athletics

Despite the program winning its first national title a year later, the 1983 baseball squad is considered by some to be the best team in program history. The Warriors went 69-7 that season for a .908 winning percentage, which set records for most wins and best winning percentage in a season. O'Dell (inducted 2013), pitcher Rich Medina (inducted 2017), and Gary Balmer, were NAIA First-Team All-Americans and O'Dell was the Player of the Year. O'Dell, a first baseman, hit .424 and collected program records for hits (117) and RBI (136), and struck out just seven times in 276 at-bats. His 30 home runs stood as a program record for 27 years. Scott Hormel was selected as an NAIA Academic All-American.
 
Playing in the World Series in Lubbock, Texas, LC opened by defeating St. Francis (Ill.) 16-2 and then defeated Union (Tenn.) 22-6. The Warriors then edged host Lubbock Christian 18-17 and beat Kansas Newman 16-2. Lubbock Christian, however, came back to beat the Warriors 4-3 and 12-9 to claim the title.
 
Members of the 1983 Series team were Balmer, Kevin Byers, Dan Danielson, Dan Dow, Tom Edens, Christ Hairell, Hormel, Ron Jones, Dave Martinez, Medina, John Medoza, Miltenberger, O'Dell, Allan Peterson, Bob Phaup, Fred Quintero, Ed Salazar, Scott Stender, Brian Thomas, and Jeff Vlah. Cheff was the head coach and was assisted by Corky Fazio, Mike Hanson and Dave Dudunake.