Carolina Mariners and Charlotte Heat Old Days

I think as I read a lot of these posts about players and their successes and who has signed where. I also remember the old Carolina Mariners team and the games we had with the Charlotte Heat. We must have done something right when they were "young uns" as there are a lot of these current stars that participated with these 2 teams back then. I and another guy started up the Mariners and Scott and Dell Curry? began the Heat. I think I am correct there??? Anyway, it was such fun back then. I decided or it was decided for me.... that I needed a break from coaching and took a year off. After that year, I started the old Angels as they are referred to now and was fortunate to get to coach a bunch more super players. Sorry, but I read this board several times a day and had these random thoughts.. Good luck to all the old Mariners, Angels and Heat players who are suddenly "grown up." OOPS.. I forgot those Catawba Valley boys.. Sorry about that.. What great games!

 

Hey now lets not forget the east teams that use to fight tooth and nail with you guys out west - Raleigh RedWings and the Durham Diamondbacks. NSU82 can back me on that one.

It has been fun watching all these players excel in High School and now they are committing to colleges. Since I kept the score book for over 4 years with our team, when we play someone in showcase I can go back to the books and see how they did when they were 10 - 14 yrs old. They did the same then as they are now, killing it.

And I thought Travel Ball for me was over a couple of years ago.

 

buzz?

was there a team way back called the Durham Bees?

 

The good old days. Update this would really make for some good info.

 

OOPS!

Uh OH! You are right.. I was just seeing the Rothlin kid had signed and I think I remember pitching around him many times when he was with the Heat. Chad and Levi's signing just prompted some old memories. Those teams were awesome teams also. Hope Wiggy don't see this. He will surely be on me! Sorry Wigs! I would hang around and watch those 2 teams play each other. Always a good one. My oh my, how time flies!

 

Thought they were yellow jackets. Beat those. Was in Kinston AAU State????

 

Old Angels ???

Just wondering where are they now? Think you started them at 13.

 

The Durham Bee's

Yes there was and I am proud to say I played with them a couple of years a long time ago. It was a "semi pro" team and yes I was less than semi pro. There were a ton of tremendous players that played for them over the years. Guys like "Razor" Shines who later played in the ML's , Wayne Gooch and Buddy Gooch who were both outstanding college players. There were many more. We played at the old Durham Athletic Park and also at the Optimist Park in Roxboro. Those were the good old days my friends.

 

The Mariners were started at 8 years old, won the state and went to New Orleans for the USSSA Nationals. Best I remember there were about 75 teams there. The Mariners under my direction lasted until 11 years old. I didn't coach them at 12. I was told by the USSSA folks that was the first year NC had that age group. The Old Angels were started at 13...This past year and a half my sickness just made things too unstable for most players and most of them are playing elsewhere now, including my son. He currently plays for the Heat Showcase team who graciously took on a few of my players.

 

There was a Charlotte Yellowjackets team in our age group. They would be 17U now.