Monday, June 28, 2010

Goodwin playing in Cape Cod League

You had to know that Brian Goodwin would probably spend his summer doing something special.

And he is.

Last summer, the former Gryphon star, who led North Carolina in several offensive categories after his freshman season, helped the Midland Redskins to the Connie Mack World Series title.

This summer, he is playing in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, which is celebrating its 115th year of existence.
Goodwin is playing for the Harwich Mariners, who will have a 44-game schedule this summer. They play their home games at the 4,000-seat Whitehouse Field in Harwich, Ma., a town of about 12,000 people located on Cape Cod about a 90-minute ride southeast of Boston.

After 10 games in the wood bat league, Goodwin is batting .342 (13-38 - ranked fifth in the League) with seven runs scored and three RBI.

And there is another Rocky Mount connection that might have drawn Goodwin to Harwich, perhaps.

The Mariners' general manager is Ben Layton, who spent many years as the director of new Rocky Mount Sports Complex - across from the Gryphons' football home.

Perhaps Goodwin can help Harwich, which has had current pros Tim Lincecum, Jason Bartlett and Carlos Pena as alums, to a Cape Cod League title.

The last time it won the championship was in 2008 when another Tar Heel helped that effort - former all-time UNC great Dustin Ackley who signed with Seattle.
Harwich will also get help from East Carolina's John Wooten, son of former Gryphon baseballer Sonny Wooten.
A regular season Goodwin adversary will also try to get Harwich a title. N.C. State's Pratt Maynard, who faced Goodwin not ony with the Wolfpack, but in his high school days at South Granville, is one of Harwich's main sluggers.