Interview---Adam Warren

Adam Warren, New Bern High School, State Games player.

Alright...here is a young man that has achieved statewide acclaim as being the best HS pitcher in NC, yet is humble and liked by all his teammates. Andy Partin has nicknamed Adam The Bulldog for his intensity and no fear when facing a batter. His command, poise and presence on the mound exudes confidence and it spreads towards his teammates. I caught up with Adam during his Christmas shopping buying his old pal Braves a present....sunflower seeds in a bottle:

1) Congratulations on your signing with UNC. What made you decide to be a Tar Heel?

Thank you! UNC is a prestigious university that has a great baseball program. The coaches are incredible and I am looking forward to playing for them. I believe that the Tarheels will be in the College World Series very soon due to the amount of talent that has come into the program over the past couple of years. Not only did I choose UNC for the baseball program, but the atmosphere at Carolina is awesome and it should be fun to further my education at the University of North Carolina.

2) Coach Smith at New Bern is well known in Charlotte with his success at Providence HS. How has he helped you in your development?

Coach Smith is a great coach. He is a down-to-earth type of coach who is fun to talk with about baseball. Coach Smith is one of the main reasons for my success. He has prepared me over the last four years to pitch in big game situations. My freshman year, when we were losing to Rose, he put me in to pitch an inning. He explained that he wanted me to get a taste of the intensity within our conference. Also, he challenges me to get better every practice, game and year. The thing I love the most about Coach Smith is his pre-game talks that makes all the hair on your body stand up and raises your adrenaline to the next level. Coach Smith is a fun coach to play for because he is great at his job and you never know what is coming next.

3) The New Bern program is reaching height's that they have never attained before. What has it been like for the NB supporters? And how will New Bern do this year?

Last year New Bern won a playoff game for the first time in 35 years. We actually won 2 games before losing to Hoggard in the 3rd round. That success set the standard high for this year since we only lost 4 seniors and we have 7 starters coming back. The guys on this team are unbelievable. We have all known each other since elementary school and we have played together on various AAU and Babe Ruth teams. The unity of this team is awesome because we all know each other like a book. We have been talking about how we were going to have a good high school team since we were 13. Once the New Bern fans realized our potential, we started to see more and more people at the games. It seemed liked every week there was an article in our local newspaper on a different NB player. Now we realize that last year is over and we have a new agenda this year. The team goal this year a state championship and with the players that we have returning, I think it is an attainable goal.

4) Impact Baseball had an unbelievable run at the Perfect Games World Championship. What was that like? and your thoughts on your Impact team?

The 2004 Fall Impact Baseball Team was one of the most talented teams that I have played on. The whole fall, I don't think anyone on our team had a problem with each other and it was a great experience to get to know guys from three different states. Coach Partin did a great job in putting the team together and allowing us to be successful in Florida. The World Wood Bat Championship was awesome not only because we were winning, but because of the atmosphere that was created with so many teams and scouts. It was pretty cool to be playing on the last day knowing we were one of only 8 teams left. We had the potential to win the last game against the Houston Heat, but things didn't go our way and we finished tied for 5th.

5) What preparations do you go through before a game that you pitch?

On days that I pitch, I try to keep the same routine each time. When I arrive at the field, I like to gather myself mentally and watch the other team take BP. About 30-40 minutes before the game. I like to begin stretching followed by tossing with the catcher. This is followed by a little long toss to stretch my arm. Next, I use my arm bands to stretch my right arm even more. After that , I'll take a jog out to centerfield to loosen my legs and then I'm ready to throw a bullpen. The number of pitches usually varies because some days are better than others. After the bullpen, I make sure that the catcher and I are on the same page and I use the remainder of the time to rest and prepare to pitch.

6) What has it been like and how have you handled all the Statewide acclaim that you deservedly have received?

I have definitely enjoyed the past year. The recruiting process was fun as I enjoyed learning about various schools and baseball programs. All the coaches were great and I hated to turn down any school. But when I committed to UNC, I was very satisfied to have the process over. As far as the statewide attention, I feel very honored, but I realize that I could not have achieved any of my success without great coaches and teammates. I am just thankful for the opportunities that baseball has given to me and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

7) Who has been the biggest influence in your career?

The biggest influence in my career would definitely have to be my parents because they have always been there to support me no matter how far from home I am. My dad used to encourage me to practice baseball because he saw some potential in me. My dad has also received numerous bruises all over his body from wild pitches, but he never missed the opportunity to go out to the field and play catch with me. My mom has probably driven everywhere in the state of North Carolina to see me play, and if she is not at a game, I know something must be wrong. Two other people that have had an influence on my baseball career are Coach Partin and Coach Smith. Coach P has really helped me as far as exposure to scouts. Without Coach P, I may not be going to play baseball in college.

8) The best players that you have played with?

Over the years, I have played with many great players such as Drew Taylor, Chad Flack, Jeremy Synan, Ron Causey and Mitch Atkins, but if I had to choose one player, it would have to be Josh Horton. He joined the Impact Fall Team last year for the World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter and played shortstop while I pitched. He was very solid, making every play, but what amazed me was one play that he made that probably saved a run. Somehow, he managed to retrieve a ball that was hit up the middle, touch second base, and then finish the double play. It was probably the nastiest play I have ever seen.

9) Your favorite food?

My favorite food would have to be my mom's country style steak with mashed potatoes. I will make sure that my wife gets the recipe when I get married.

10) Favorite movie?

One of my favorite movies is Major League, Back to the Minors because it makes me laugh every time I see it. My sister and I have watched it over twenty times and if never gets old. Another funny movie that I loved was Dodgeball.

11) Any superstitions?

I don' t have any superstitions, but I have two things that I always do. One is that when I am going across the field, I jump over both foul lines: not for any particular reason, so I guess its just a habit. The other one is I like to say a prayer before I throw my first pitch and thank God for giving me the opportunity to play baseball and to help me play to the best of my ability.

12) Whay advice would you give a young player?

My advice would be to get involved with an AAU team or similar organization. These types of teams are great for developing the knowledge of the game, working on your skills, and learning to play competitively. The level of competition is unbelievable and it is fun to try and win a few tournaments. Once a player gets to high school, I think he should get serious right away and start to improve his game to the high school level. Also, one needs to get involved in certain showcases or select teams to get your name out there. My last piece of advice is to never sell yourself short. If you have a dream of playing at the collegiate and/or professional level, then go for it and don't let anyone hold you back.

13) Favorite thing you like to do when you have some free time?

When I have free time, my two favorite things are hanging out with my girlfriend and playing ping pong. My friends and I recently started a ping pong club and we have become pretty good. We figured that it will help our hand-eye coordination which will make us better baseball players (or at least that is our excuse for playing).

14) Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know?

One thing most people don't know about me is that I collect sunflower seed shells in bottles. I started this collection my freshman year and I now have 29 bottles. My mom keeps threatening to throw them away, but I won't let her throw away all that time and hard work.

15)What are your goals for this year?

My goals for this year are to win the Big East Conference, beat Hoggard, and win a state championship!

Wow!! what a great young man. Congratulations to Calvin and Theresa for raising such a wonderful son. If you have not had an opportunity to see Adam pitch yet, you must put a date on your schedule. It's worth the trip!! He's truly special...as a pitcher and a person....and I'm waiting on my sunflower seeds.

 

Wow! What a great interview! Adam is a good kid and a great baseball player!
He will do well at UNC. Congrats to his parents who we had the pleasure of meeting on the Impact team. :applause: :applause: :applause:

 

My son has played with Adam the last two fall seasons and last summer. We have gotten to know the Warren family rather well. This is a baseball family! They love the game. Adam got the name bull dog for a reason, thats exactly what he is on the mound. He is such a good pitcher that most people don't know that he is a very good hitter too. Ryan Basham is the same way. I can remember Coach K. saying that Shane Battier was such a well rounded individual that " one day basketball will be a very small part of this young mans life. " I feel the same way about Adam Warren. He will make his mark on the baseball field then he will leave his foot prints in some other areas just as well. Good luck Adam, we wish you the best.

 

Say goodbye to the '05's