FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-31-01

Pirates Name Five To AASU Athletics Hall of Fame In 2001

SAVANNAH, Ga. – AASU's all-time baseball home run king, a local baseball standout from the early 1970s and two standout women's basketball players make up the 2001 class of the Armstrong Atlantic State Hall of Fame, announced today by AASU Athletic Director Dr. Eddie Aenchbacher.

Dana Harding (baseball), Lee Harmer (women's basketball/softball), Mark Mamalakis (baseball) and Yolanda Oliver (women's basketball) make up this year's class. The induction ceremony will be on Sunday, February 10 at Noon at the Armstrong Sports Center as a part of AASU's “Era of Excellence” Homecoming activities.

Joining the class of former athletes is Service Citation Award recipient and former athletic director Dr. John Brewer.

“The 2001 class represents some of the finest student-athletes who have played at Armstrong,” Dr. Aenchbacher said. “These individuals made unforgettable contributions to their respective teams and were a positive influence both on and off the playing field to our athletic program as a whole.”

Harding, the Pirates' third baseman in 1987 and 1988, set Armstrong State records for most home runs in one season (28) and career (39) that still stand today, 13 years later. In 1987 he hit .397 with 28 home runs and 84 RBI, slugging .830 in helping the Division I Pirates win their division of the Big South Conference, earning All-Conference honors. In 1988, Harding helped AASU to its first-ever Division II World Series berth, earning third-team All-America honors. He still holds 12 AASU hitting records that stand to this day.

Lee Harmer, a four-year standout in softball and women's basketball, played for the Lady Pirates from 1978-79 to 1981-1982 and ranks in the top 10 in eight different categories in women's basketball and never missed a game during her four-year softball career. As a senior, Lee led the Lady Pirate basketball team to a 20-12 record and a berth in the AIAW Championships, earning all-Conference honors and averaging 11.9 points per game.

Mark Mamalakis, the Pirates' first baseman from 1970-1973, started his Armstrong State career as a 16-year old freshman in 1970 and was the Pirate baseball team's MVP in 1971, leading the team in hitting with a .325 average. As a senior, Mamalakis earned NAIA All-District honors, leading the team in RBI, doubles and stolen bases, going a perfect 26-for-26 on the basepaths, including a school-record seven steals in one game, a record that still stands.

Yolanda Oliver, who manned the Lady Pirates' backcourt from 1991-1995, made a spectacular debut for Armstrong State in 1991-92 as the Peach Belt Conference's Rookie of the Year. A two-time All-Peach Belt Conference player, Oliver started 99 consecutive games and is still the Lady Pirates' all-time leader in assists (448) and steals (302). She scored 1,275 points during her career, second-most all-time in Lady Pirate history.

The Service Citation Award recipient, Dr. John Brewer, has been at AASU since 1968 and served as the Faculty Athletic Representative from 1973 to 1997 and also was the Pirates' Athletic Director from 1988 to 1992. A former professor and head of the department of Chemistry at AASU, Dr. Brewer put in countless hours of service to AASU athletics and is one of the true supporters of the Pirate athletic program.

The induction ceremony, a luncheon banquet in AASU's Sports Center, will take place at Noon on Saturday, Feb. 10 as a part of AASU Homecoming's “An Era Of Excellence.” Tickets for the Hall of Fame luncheon banquet are $16 apiece and will be available at the door.

Seating is limited, however, and those interested in attending are encouraged to contact the AASU Athletic Department at 921-5849 to RSVP.

Following the banquet, the AASU baseball team will host Augusta State in its Peach Belt Conference season opener at 2:00 p.m. and the AASU men's and women's basketball teams will host USC Aiken at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Pirates' annual homecoming basketball games.

The five honorees bring the total membership of the AASU Athletic Hall of Fame to 41 since the inaugural class was inducted in 1995.

-Pirates-