Chuck Hickman, business administration senior from Mandeville and the Colonels primary shortstop, was drafted to the Chicago Cubs, and Matt Overman, computer information systems senior and Colonels pitcher, signed a free agent contract with the Florida Marlins.
“Both Hickman and Overman had good tools, worked hard on their craft and took their game to the next level. They came to work everyday putting forth great effort and were a pleasure to be around,” B.D Parker, head baseball coach, said.
As a senior shortstop, Hickman achieved first team All South Central Regional honors. The American Baseball Coaches Association announced Hickman’s draft to the Chicago Cubs June 10th in the 12th round of the Major League Amateur Draft. Hickman was also the first player from the Southland Conference to be drafted.
Hickman finished with a .397 batting average, played and started 54 games and was at bat 229 times. He had a slugging percentage of 26, had 50 runs and 91 hits this season.
Hickman began the 2002 season with a 31 hitting streak, accumulating 93 hits in 235 at-bats in a single season, which broke Jacques Jobert’s 1998 record. He also broke the single season record for total bases set by Kevin Perret in 1997. Hickman led the team in 11 different categories: highest batting average, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, RBI’s, total bases, slugging percentage, strikeouts and sacrifice flies.
Prior to Nicholls, Hickman prepped at St. Paul’s High school compiling a .434 batting average and was on the first team all state in 1999. Hickman began his college career playing at Pensacola Junior College in Florida, earning a .369 batting average and a .680 slugging average.
“Chuck began to play baseball when he was six years old and I was his coach. He has lived to play baseball and seeing him drafted into the Chicago Cubs has made me feel proud,” Wade Hickman, father of Chuck Hickman, said. “My best advice to Chuck is to hang in there and learn everything he can in the big leagues.”
Overman, was signed to the Florida Marlins on Monday June 6. Overman was the leader in strikeouts and completed games for the Southland Conference this past season. He has been the first pitcher from Nicholls to be signed to a professional contract since 2001. Bob Overman, father of Matt Overman, attributes P.D. Parker and Gerald Cassard as instrumental in getting Overman signed on with the Marlins.
“Matt started off by playing T-ball when he was six years old, played on traveling baseball teams and then played American Leagon Baseball. We were both happy and surprised he was signed on with the Marlins,” Overman said. “It is great that Matt has made it this far, but he still has a long way to go. There is no substitution for hard work and dedication.”
For the 2003 season, Overman earned a run average of 4.10, completed 6 games and pitched 109.2 innings. Overman had 17 appearances, eight wins and three losses and his opponents only had a .248 batting average.
In 2002, Overman appeared in 14 games, made two starts and recorded an earned run average of 7.76. Overman pitched 31.1 innings, struck out 22 of the 140 batters and finished with one win and three losses.
Prior to Nicholls, Overman prepped at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper, WY. Overman played one season of baseball at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, CO, with an earned run average of 4.70. Overman then went followed his baseball coach to Midland Junior College in Midland, TX, where he compiled a .470 batting average and won the regional title.
“I always believed both Hickman and Overman were good enough to one day play professionally. Hickman had foot speed and arm strength. Overman was a pitcher who was gifted with arm strength and developed into a good player,” Parker said.