Hall of Fame
Wurst was key part of the most successful run for the Montclair State baseball program during the crossover into the new millennium. As a freshman in 1998, Wurst played in 47 games and was named All-NJAC when the Red Hawks made a run to the NCAA Division III national championship game. He batted .310 with 49 hits, 41 runs scored and 23 RBI the next year during MSU’s “wooden bat” campaign and was named all-conference and All-Region before becoming a central figure in the finest season in program history. In 2000, MSU set several records for batting and led Division III in doubled with 145 as it went 42-7-1, setting a record for victories and capping it off with the program’s second NCAA championship. Right in the middle of that offensive explosion that season was leadoff hitter Wurst, who hit .344 with 65 hits including 15 doubles and scored 62 runs along with 19 stolen bases and 30 runs batted in. Wurst had three hits on the last day as MSU won twice to win the title becoming the first team in 15 years to claim the championship after dropping its first game at the World Series. He closed out his career in 2001 with a career-best .354 batting average and six home runs as the Red Hawks returned to the World Series placing third. Wurst was named All-NJAC for the fourth time, earned his third All-Region selection and was named to the ABCA All-America Team. In 191 career games, Wurst registered 226 hits, with 35 doubles eight home runs, 203 runs scored, 105 RBI and 68 stolen bases, the latter number still the career mark to this day. During his career, Montclair posted a 143-47-2 record, 62-10 in NJAC contests. Wurst is one of three players in program history to record 200 hits, 200 runs and 100 RBI in a career.
