Tribute: Seniors at South Charlotte High Schools...Pretty Incredible!

As the season winds down you begin to realize that your son as well as many of the players you have watched for years are about to take that next step to college whether playing ball or pursuing their academic studies. It made me think back to when a group of boys who populate the HS baseball teams in South Charlotte at such schools as Providence, Ardrey Kell, Butler, Charlotte Christian, Charlotte Catholic, etc. all played for Matthews Little League. The players listed below were all in the same age group at MLL and it is an amazing collection of talent. Yes, that’s right, all in little old Matthews Little League! A college coach would have a great team with just the players below. Check out this list (I’m sure there are others who are on these varsity teams that I have forgotten so please forgive me if I missed you):

Alex Askey, Providence - Will play for Lenoir Rhyne
Ryan Stetson, Ardrey Kell - Will play for App St
CA Clayton, Providence – Will play for UNC Asheville
Tyler Tewell, Butler – Will play for App St
Alex Wood, Ardrey Kell – Will play for Georgia
Corey Smith, Providence – 2 yr starter for Providence
Jordan Fuller, Providence – Key LHP for Coach Hignight this year
Danny Vliet, Charlotte Catholic – Will play for Flagler
Mat Zutell, Charlotte Catholic – 2 year starter and key two way player
Luke Bard, Charlotte Christian – Will play for Georgia Tech(GO DAWGS!)
Brantley Hattrich, Metrolina Christian – 4 yr starter, plays for Bryan College
Steven Chaffee, Mauldin HS, Greenville,SC – will play for Wingate
Ben Berkey, Butler – starting LFer and had huge season at the plate
Justin Parker, Charlotte Christian – starting RFer, All Conf
Drew Casella, Providence – starter at 2b, leader on team, may commit soon
Cameron Foster, Charlotte Latin – 3yr starter 2 way player
Ben Hubbard, Charlotte Latin – 2 yr starter 2 way player
Jeffrey Ferrell, Wilmington Laney – Moved after 11 yr old season, 2 way player
Ryan Glass, Butler – 2 yr starter
Michael Richardson, Charlotte Christian - All Conference DH-Catcher
Evan Tilson, Providence Day - 3 year starter, Honorable Mention All Conference
Andy Clifford, Charlotte Christian - All Conference Pitcher, will play at Furman


Ten of these young men are playing in what may be their last HS baseball game tonight. It just seems like yesterday when they were all on the coach pitch fields at Matthews chasing butterflies and occasionally a baseball! I will miss seeing all of them compete like mad against one another one day and yet the next day be over the house or out having a burger together talking smack about the next time they play.

Everyone one of these young men give it their all on the diamond and I know they will attain their dreams as long as they continue to work as hard in the future as they have in the past. Good luck to all of you!

 

That's a pretty special group of kids. I have been fortunate to see some of them play over the last two years. I saw AK play last year at Mudcat Stadium and a few innings this year at Cary, Providence at the Impact Tournament in Cary and Laney last night. I look forward to following these guys in college.

I grew up in Charlotte until age 14, moved away in 1972. The Charlotte area had good prep teams back then and continue to do so now. It is just a good baseball area. I had relatives that played when Tony Cloninger was coming up in Lincoln Co./Gaston Co. area and the baseball stories they told about him were borderline unbelievable. Of course time and the age of story tellers tend to enhance the stories/exploits of players but he was one of the best to come out of North Carolina.

 

Time Flies

Absolutely amazing that time has gone by that fast. It seems like they all grew up overnight. Those were great times with great kids and great families; I'm glad we were able to be a part of it. Go MARA!