"WHO's WHO" of NC HS Baseball Coaches

Pete has my vote. He does a terrific job under some trying circumstances. He's a heckuva coach

 

another old timer that did it all not just baseball,..... pete jones from north davidson. football baseball and basket ball coach and ad at north for about 30 years. he and hinkle at ledford had some knock down dragout fights in all 3 sports.

 

Top coaches

I don't think you can talk about great coaches in N.C. without bringing up the name Fred Lanford. He is retired from South Caldwell. He had over 500 wins and 2 state chapionships. He was the best game strategist I have ever seen. He was also great with team defense. He is the best High School coach I have seen.

 

State Championships

I'm only familiar with one state title, 1982 AAAA Baseball. Where did he get the other?

 

Jim's HS coach

Another nominee would be Jim Montague's HS coach, Bruce Coats, at Cleveland HS (1960's) & at South Johnston HS (70's/ 80's). Came very close but never won a state title, but was a great teacher of the game, very progressive, and well respected.

 

state championships

i maybe wrong but i think fred has one championship and a runner-up. fred lanford was an awesome coach at sc. also jeff parham who is the current coach and ad at sc is very good. jeff played for fred and was on the state championship team and (i think) the runner-up team as well. both have outstanding records.

 

Correction

I was on the South Caldwell '82 & '83 team as well playing for Coach Landford. '82 was the state championship and '83 was actually western regional runner up. '83 could-a, should-a!

(message to the young guns, you can't take anything for granted or it will slip right through your fingers)

 

a coach that is flying under the radar, and I say that because you never hear his name thrown around is Donnie Maness at Ragsdale. He has led Ragsdale to numerous 20 win seasons in a row. He and his brother Chris are a great combo. They always have great pitching and fielding and play aggresive on the base paths.

He finally made it to the finals last season and was a couple of singles away from his first state title. Ragsdale sends three or four players to the next level most seasons and Maness' team is loaded for another great run in 2007.

Ragsdale JVs are loaded for bear too so the future looks bright for the Tigers.

and he keeps one of the best looking fields in the state as well

 

Continue to improve

Wossa, I couldn't agree with you more about Donnie and Chris Maness. They are a great combo and between the two of them have a wealth of baseball knowledge. They also spend a tremendous amount of time developing the younger players and it shows when these players become juniors and seniors.

As for the field, you can use it as an example of having a few dedicated parents and a hard working coach who are willing to go the extra mile to improve something. I know of many visiting teams and parents who have left impressed by the facility.

Maybe with the group of JV players coming up there will be another group of parents who want to continue to improve the facility.

 

Greg Simmons - Charlotte Christian