Some great memories following your son

Tell us some of the greatest moments that you experienced:

I have a number of them, but two standout and both involve the On Deck O's.

The 2003 team had a bunch of great players led by Daniel Bard, Robert Woodard, Matt McSwain, Ryan Marion etc., etc.

We had to play the defending Champions, Miami Sluggers, with a bunch of drafted players with an attitude to match. Nobody knew who On Deck was and gave us little respect...especially the cocky and confident Miami team with their vocal fans. Robert confidently shut them down and shut them up. Miami never recovered from their humiliating defeat and the Miami fans serenaded Robert as one of their own.

The second memory involved the 2004 On Deck team. They were the 1st NC team to advance to the semi-final round of the PG Jupiter tournament. They achieved a still standing record of 25 consecutive scoreless innings. It was the best "team" I have ever seen at that level.

 

Spartans Class of 2007

As mentioned many times this was a very special group in which most of them played together since they were 12 (Madison always played up and did not join this group until High School Varsity). They competed in USSSA Major events against true Major sanctioned teams (those with players from multiple counties, sometimes even states). Keep in mind that everyone of the players on this Spartan team lived in the SCHS district, and wound up going to SC. Many highlights, but would like to mention a few...

Finished 18th in the nation at the 13U USSSA Major World Series in High Point.

Beat Puerto Rico at the 14U USSSA Major World Series in Orlando.

As 15 year olds, finished 3rd at a 18 year old 8 team Double Elim tourney in Boone, knocking of powerhouse Roberson County, boy was the Roberson coach ticked when he found out our players were just 15 years old.

As 16 year olds, winning the American Legion Junior Division State Championship, going undefeated until the finals. Coaches & ADs chuckled during the Spring registration meeting at this (then the JV squad) SC team thinking they could compete at the Legion level.

Of Course culminating in winning the NCHSAA 4A State Championship in dominating fashion.

Proud as a Dad, Proud as a Coach.

 

Wow, so many. I guess the first time I realized he was going to be a pretty good pitcher was when he threw a perfect game at eleven years old against a veteran first place team. He struck out 16 of 18 and got a great running catch from our CF to end the game.
His travel ball team, SC Junior Pelicans was a bunch of gamers and once Linwood Hedgpeth took over they were nearly unbeatable for two years. They won the AAU 14U DII Natonal Championship in Kingsport, TN and just bludgeoned every team in the tourney. Numerous complaints were filed about us playing DII and I would have really liked to see that team play DI. They were a TEAM and as well coached as any around. My son is the only D1 college player from that team, there are a couple that are playing D2 and one JUCO so they didn't do it with superior talent.
And of course, Lumberton's run in 2006 winning 25 games in a row before losing to eventual champion DH Conly in the Eastern Finals was the most memorable sports story to happen in Lumberton in .... well, maybe forever. That team didn't have incredible talent but had three tough pitchers, alot of speed, and that "IT" factor that you just can't explain. My son threw shoutouts in the first and third rounds, but couldn't recreate the magic on short rest against a fine Conley team. Graduation had been the night before and several key players were wasted. Sad but true that kids would care more about partying than playing for a state championship. Watching him cry his eyes out after that game told me that he had expected to lead his team to the states. I couldn't have been more proud.

 

One of my best memories

It was a few years ago. Coach Ferrell and I had a bunch of scrappy country boys from Creedmoor. We had spent a few years building the program and alot of time in the off season. We were matched up in the first round of the state playoffs against the #1 ranked team in the state and we had to go to their place. They had 4 division 1 signees and a couple of more d2 guys on the roster. The papers were already talking about who this team was going to probaly face in the second round.

We knew what we had but no one outside of our area did. We had a bunch of scrappy boys that were going to fight and play very hard. We had a freshman in cf that made a diving catch with the tying run on second base to end the game and we won 3-2. After the game the local papers were asking Coach Ferrell and I "How did you guys do this?" "Did you even think you had a chance against these guys?" We just looked at each other and smiled.

It was one of the most proudest moments in my life as a coach. We had some players. But most of all we had a bunch of kids that believed in what we were selling. Hard work , play hard , believe in yourself , believe in one another , never quit , and we only have to be better than them today.

I will never forget that night. It sure was special.

 

I think my best was this year listening to the final game of the NY Penn League Championship - my eldest son put the game away with a laser beam homerun over the left centerfield wall.

His pro rookie season.

My Mom and Dad were there - and he gave them a thumbs up and a smile as he came around third.

NY Mets (Brooklyn affiliate) heavy favorites - and my sons team hadnt won an outright championship in about 30 years.

Wrong pitch - to the wrong guy - and game over.

 

memories

My greatest memories would be watching EVERY game my son played when he was playing with the Anglers. How could it be any better than that?

 

So many...involving so many players and coaches (and that game against Miami is right up there, Braves)...but, two others come to mind most readily so, I guess I'll go with them:

(1) Chad Flack's consecutive home runs against Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the 8th and 9th innings to send us to Omaha for the College World Series.

(2) Robert's 3-hit, complete game shutout against Clemson in the 2006 College World Series. Coming into the game, the Tigers had the highest team batting average in Division I baseball that season. It occurred on Fathers' Day, and the game ball sits on my office shelf.

 

So many great times

Playing on an 11 yr old all-star team in Hawaii that was coached by Cal Ripken.

Playing at the Cooperstown Tournament at age 11.

Winning the State Tarheel LL championship in Edenton at age 11.

Winning the city championship in LL at age 12 against our biggest rivals.

Tossing a perfect game for Edwards Middle School in the 8th grade.

Finishing 3rd at the Disney New Years Tournament at age 14 pitching a complete game against Wisconsin.

Going head to head with Alex White his senior year and leaving the game with a 2-1 lead after 4 innings. (We ended up losing the game)

Really every game he ever played (probably over 500) are still fantastic memories for me. Many many at bats and innings pitched. Nothing better or more stressful than rooting for your son to do well.

Saddest memory: Lining out to centerfield against Chris Luck in the 7th inning of the playoff game in 2006 which ended up being his last at bat.

 

proud moment

Over the years of playing ball my son had quite a few moments that made me proud and sometimes just amazed me. Looking back, he had game winning hits, great defensive stops and he threw a few no-hitters, but what made me see the kind of player he was happened when he was 9 or 10. After an all star tournament game they gave a player of the game plaque to a kid on each team. The players would pick the winner for the rival team. The team we were playing from Sanford had a number of boys that my son had played fall ball with when they were 8 yr olds. He had played a good game and those boys voted him the POG. When the tournament official handed him the plaque I could tell something wasn't right. He stood a minute looking at the plaque and then turned to his teammates. He walked over and handed the plaque to a guy that played in the outfield and had made one play the whole game. It was a difficult catch that ended an inning and kept their team in the lead in a tight game that they eventually won.
Afterwards, I asked him why he gave the trophy to the other kid and he said "Daddy, I made the plays I'm supposed to make and he made a play he usually doesn't make. That's why we won". Yes, it made me very proud!

 

Everyday my son hits the field.