Senior Farewells

Charlotte Christian Seniors

I would like to acknowledge and thank the six seniors on this year's State Champion Charlotte Christian team. This team, one of the best the school has ever had, produced a 30-3 record, winning 29 out of their last 30 games. The team is currently ranked number 21 in the nation by Baseball America and could possibly move higher. These seniors have been great leaders and teammates as well as great players.

Luke Bard, the last of the pitching Bard boys, had a tremendous season going 10-0 on the mound. Set a school record for ERA at .31, CISAA Player of the Year, All State and going to Georgia Tech to continue his career.

Andy Clifford, LHP who had a great senior year going I think 8-2 and just being a bulldog on the mound. Andy made All Conference and is great student that has committed to continue his baseball career at Furman University.

Scott Glover, Catcher/1B/DH he battled through a tough injury breaking the Hammate bone in his right hand in the third game of the season. He tried to play through it but had to have surgery and came back to really help at the end of the year. Scott was always into the game even when he couldn't play. He played well enough to make All Conference and All State. Scott has committed to play baseball at High Point University next year.

Michael Richardson, Catcher/DH this kid had a great senior year. Michael is not your typical baseball player who plays all summer and fall. Michael was a starting linebacker on the State Champion football team and figured to be a back up to Glover during baseball season. But when Glover got hurt he stepped up and did the job. He's a hitter and made All Conference as a DH.

Justin Parker, OF, had a tremendous senior season. He had waited years to get his chance as a starter and he made the most of it. Justin had a great year at the plate displaying both speed and power. He had an even better year in the field, having at least 10 assists from right field throwing out runners. Several of those plays were game changing plays, like the sliding catch and then strike to the plate for a huge double play against Ardrey Kell in the Jack Sink tournament. Justin made All Conference as well and has offers from some DII schools to play next year if he wants.

Stuart "Pookie" Caldwell, RHP, spent his entire senior year on the injured list after injuring his arm in his final outing last summer for the Diamond Devils. He had Tommy John surgery so he couldn't pitch this year. Pookie never let it get him down, as he became an Unofficial Bullpen coach and spirit leader of the team. Pookie actually served as a pinch runner on occasion and actually got a couple of AB's getting two hits in 3 official at bats. Pookie is going to continue his baseball career next year at Spartanburg Methodist.

This class has left a great legacy for other Charlotte Christian teams to follow.

 

Correction to previous post

I knew I would get it wrong, Andy Clifford's record this year was 9-1, including a huge game against Ardrey Kell, getting the win in a 2-0 game versus Alex Wood in the Jack Sink tournament.

 

Lake Norman Seniors...all of them

I have had the great pleasure of watching most of this Lake Norman senior class grow up and play together for the past several years. They have all grown in to excellent young men and a very good team. I wish them all the best in life and Godspeed on all of their futures.

 

A Personal Farewell to Ryan Andrejco

I would like to post a personal farewell to my son, Ryan Andrejco and the rest of the Ragsdale Seniors.

Ryan, I can't say enough of how proud I am of you for the hard work and effort you exhibited in coming back for your senior season at Ragsdale after your herniated disk injury. I realized how much pain you were in not only from your injury but from sitting on the bench the first half of the season watching your teammates play the sport you love and not being able to be with them on the field.

Your mom and I also saw the pain you were in comming off the field after that devistating loss to Parkland Friday night. You left it all out on field that night, only to come out short. We knew how important that was to you. Your best times are still ahead of you at Catawba, never forget that!

To all of the Ragsdale seniors and parents, Kim and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We've watched most of you play baseball from age 6 and enjoyed every minute of it. We've formed great relationships with your parents and only hope that we can keep in touch with all of you, regardless of where your futures might take you.

To the remaining players on the Ragsdale team, we wish you the best of luck next year and pray that your quest for a state championship becomes a reality. Like the seniors, the juniors on this team were extremely close to the seniors and the parents were just as close. We hope to stay in touch with all of you.

 

Brad Collins - Weddington

Even though he plays for a rival team, I wanted to say what a pleasure it has been to see this young man play.

I helped coach a team several years ago that Brad played for, and got to know him a little then, and then I got to see him work through his injury last year and work his tail off in the off season to get a well deserved opportunity to play at the college level. He is not only a great ball player, but is a young man of great character that I know his parents Dave and Jane are rightfully very proud of.

I got to see him play his last high school game tonight, and whatever the future holds for him I am confident he has a very bright future.

 

Great post Dad!! Well said

 

I couldn't agree with you more. Brad Collins is exactly how you would want your son to turn out. He is a very impressive young man---on and off the field.

 

Maiden Blue Devils

I just want to congratulate the 9 seniors on this years Maiden Blue Devils (13-10) team for the best season Maiden has had in a long time.
A special thank you to 5 of these senior who have played and started for the Varsity team all four years: #12 Justin Sizemore....#5 Jacob Lineberger....#1 Wesley Killian....#2 Brian Huffman....#8 Benji Chitkhin.
Best of luck to you guys in the future.

 

I had the pleasure..

of watching Brad play every game this year. He does show a lot of character on and off the field. We had a number of Freshman on the Weddington Team and I watched Brad pump these boys up and show them what sportsmanship is all about. He didn't have to...he just did. We'll miss Brad and his leadership when he moves on to play for Gardner Webb. I know his parents are proud and so is everybody else at Weddington. Best of luck.

 

West Stanly Seniors

I wanted to give these young men praise as I watched them last night play their final high school game.
Tyler Eudy: You have had a great year where you have quietly lead by example. You have in many cases put your team on your back and carried them. You are a champion at heart and I wish you the best at college.
Tyler Westall: The perfect teammate never ever putting yourself in front of the team. To complete the year with no losses as a pitcher is something. It is going to be hard not seeing you in a baseball uniform.
Corey Hartis: This man always came up big when the team needed him, either pitching or hitting. You were not the most polished player but boy did you give it everything you had, a lot of people could learn about work effort and desire from you. Good luck at college.
Brett Brinson: You have showed flashes all year of how good you can become. Good luck at Brevard.
You four have led by example. That in my opinion is the ultimate compliment.

Good luck to West Lincoln as they were nothing but class on the way their team and fans handle themselves.