At the 1979 College World Series in Springfield, IL, Thomas's Blazers set a College World Series record for most runs scored in an inning when they plated 13 in the top of the 9th to bury Jacksonville State (AL) 15-4 in the opening game, then dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker to New Haven University (CT) to fall into the losers bracket. The Blazers beat Cal Poly-Pomona (CA) 6-3 to stave off elimination, then pounded defending national champion Florida Southern (FL) 11-3 later that evening, setting up three teams with one loss. VSC dispensed with LeMoyne College (NY) 8-3, then brought home Valdosta State's first National Championship on May 30, 1979, defeating Florida Southern 3-2 for the crown. Frank DeGennaro was named to the All-Tournament Team and MVP of the 1979 World Series, with Bart Shuman and Mark Brown also being named to the All-Tournament Team.

When Tommy Thomas retired after the end of the 2007 season as the Head Baseball Coach at Valdosta State University, he was the nineteenth winningest mentor in NCAA history, posting a 1308-825-6 mark over 40 seasons, which included the 1979 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship, along with numerous league and conference championships, district, area, and region crowns and eight College World Series appearances. A Valdosta, GA native, Thomas starred at Valdosta High School (VHS) as a pitcher and catcher. After graduation, he was recruited to Valdosta State College (VSC) by his former VHS coach Billy Grant, who had assumed the head coaching position for the then Rebels. Thomas led the team in hitting his last three years, which included the Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship (GIAC) in 1960.

In the fall of 1967, Grant, who was now also the VSC Athletic Director, hired Thomas to be his assistant coach and subsequently made him the head man for the 1968 season. After a string of conference titles in the GIAC with the Rebels banner, the school’s nickname was changed to the Blazers for the 1972-73 academic year. The 1973 season gave VSC its first All-American, in outfielder Gene Felts, and first trip to a College World Series (NAIA), where the team finished third. The school became an official member of the NCAA in 1973-74, with All-American CF/P Sam Bowen leading the team to a fifth-place World Series finish. VSC Baseball had back to back 4th place finishes in the 1977 & 1978 NCAA Division II College World Series and made appearances in the NCAA College World Series in 1983, 1985, and 1995. Thomas coached 28 All- Americans and 76 All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) honorees and was named ABCA National Coach of the Year in 1979 and GSC Coach of the Year in 1995 and 2002.