GADSDEN — Gadsden State Community College had planned to eliminate baseball at the end of the 2011-12 season as part of a cost-cutting plan that would also phase out three other athletic programs — cross country, tennis and softball — each at the termination of their next season.  

The baseball program will conclude a year earlier due to the retirement of Coach Bill Lockridge effective August 31.  

For the past 29 years, Coach Lockridge has guided his players on the field to amass over 800 wins at Gadsden State.  Many of his players transferred to four-year colleges where they continued to play and are now coaching teams of their own.  Eight baseball coaches in Etowah County and more than thirty throughout the state are former students of his. Gadsden State will honor the scholarships promised to the eleven returning baseball players and team manager from last season. 

Gadsden State now joins three other colleges in the Alabama Community College System that will not field a team this fall. Bevill State, Jefferson State, and Northwest-Shoals will also be absent from the competition in the NJCAA.  

“We will miss Coach Lockridge,” said Athletic Director Mike Cancilla. “He has been a leader in our athletic department for many years. I am disappointed that we will not field a team this fall but am extremely proud of the history of our baseball program at Gadsden State.”  

Cancilla added that he is looking forward to seeing the six remaining teams, including men’s and women’s basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, and cross country, in competition during fall semester. 

Coach Lockridge stated family reasons for retiring early. Assistant Baseball Coach Chuck Medders also resigned from his position. Medders coached at Gadsden State for 17 years.