Monday, June 27, 2011

Nash County's best baseball players

I recently received an inquiry from an area resident. He wanted to know if I could produce a list of all the Nash County high schoolers that went on to play college baseball - at any level

And he wanted to know which Nash Co. players were drafted and/or signed by a professional team.

My memory is pretty good, but I know I missed quite a few players. But 99 percent of guys on these lists were off the top of my head. 

So I decided to share these lists with you and if you know of someone that I missed, please send that person's info to me via the comment link at the bottom of the article. I will gladly add them. 

Certainly, it will be the players from the 60's and beyond that will not be in my memory banks, so I urge you to send them on to me. 

Can't wait to see your entries!

(Editor's Note - Many of you have responded to my plea for help and I have added as many as 30 more players to my original list. Keep them coming! 
Were there any players who went to Red Oak, Benvenue, Coopers, Spring Hope or Nashville High Schools that belong on these lists?)


NASH COUNTY'S COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS

Jack Allsbrook, Rocky Mount - Class of 1947 - to Atlantic Christian (Barton)
Dudley Whitley, Rocky Mount - Class of 1952 - to N.C. State
Harold Gilbert, Rocky Mount - Class of 1956 - to N.C. State
Bobby Ellis, Rocky Mount - Class of 1961 - to Frederick College
Danny Talbott, Rocky Mount - Class of 1963 - to UNC
Mike Tyson, Northern Nash - Class of 1970 - to Indian River C.C.
Gary Ange, Rocky Mount - Class of 1971 - to NC Wesleyan
Howard McCullough, Rocky Mount, Class of 1972 - to Louisburg, East Carolina
Terry Leonard, Rocky Mount - Class of 1972 - to Chowan 
Randy Warrick, Rocky Mount - Class of 1973 - to Louisburg, UNC
Marvin "Sonny " Wooten, Rocky Mount - Class of 1973 - to Louisburg, East Carolina
Larry Daughtridge, Rocky Mount - Class of 1973 - to Louisburg
Danny Weaver, Northern Nash - Class of 1973 - to Atlantic Christian (Barton)
Tommy Warrick, Rocky Mount - Class of 1974 - to Louisburg, East Carolina
Doug Henley, Rocky Mount - Class of 1975 - to Wake Forest, Georgia
Tommy Crocker, Rocky Mount - Class of 1975 - to N.C. State
Greg Proctor, Rocky Mount - Class of 1975 - to Louisburg CC
Steve Partin, Rocky Mount - Class of 1976 - to Louisburg CC
Buddy Luper, Rocky Mount - Class of 1976 - to Louisburg CC
Mike Leonard, Northern Nash - Class of 1977 - to Pembroke State (UNC-Pembroke)
Greg Clark, Rocky Mount - Class of 1978 - to NC Wesleyan
Kevin Bunn, Rocky Mount - Class of 1980 - to Wake Forest
David Downs, Rocky Mount - Class of 1980 - Wake Forest
Bill Merrifield, Rocky Mount - Class of 1980 - to Wake Forest
Jeff Newsome, Rocky Mount - Class of 1980 - to UNC-Wilmington
Bill Wilkes, Rocky Mount - Class of 1981 - to Campbell
Billy Godwin, Northern Nash - Class of 1982 - to Atlantic Christian (Barton)
Carl Payne, Northern Nash - Class of 1982 - to NC Wesleyan
David Ellis, Rocky Mount - Class of 1983 - to NC Wesleyan
Neil Avent, Rocky Mount - Class of 1985 - to Wake Forest
Charlie Long, Northern Nash - Class of 1985 - to Mount Olive
Donnie Bobbitt, Rocky Mount - Class of 1986 - to Wake Forest
Shelton Grant, Rocky Mount - Class of 1986 - Western Carolina
John Adams, Northern Nash - Class of 1986 - to East Carolina
Phil Bryant, Southern Nash - Class of 1986 - to NC Wesleyan
Lee Boone, Northern Nash - Class of 1988 - to US Coast Guard Academy
Mark Worsley, Rocky Mount - Class of 1988 - to Lenoir CC, N.C. State
Ernie Jones, Southern Nash - Class of 1989 - to Lenoir CC, NC Wesleyan
Greg Bobbitt, Northern Nash - Class of 1989 - to St. Augustine's
John Bonner, Northern Nash - Class of 1990 - to Appalachian State
Eric Gazaway, Northern Nash - Class of 1990 - to NC Wesleyan
Rocky Seagroves, Rocky Mount - Class of 1991 - to Lenoir CC, NC Wesleyan
David Joyner, Northern Nash - Class of 1991 - to Lenoir CC
Kelvin Whitaker, Rocky Mount - Class of 1991 - to St. Augustine's
Marcus Mitchell, Rocky Mount - Class of 1992 - to Pfeiffer
Byron Evans, Northern Nash - Class of 1992 - to NC Wesleyan
Chris Bryant, Southern Nash - Class of 1992 - to NC Wesleyan
Fred Boone, Northern Nash - Class of 1992 - to US Coast Guard Academy
Marcus Battle, Rocky Mount - Class of 1994 - to UNC-G
Scott Gibson, Rocky Mount - Class of 1994 - to UNC-Pembroke
Jeremy Stewart, Northern Nash - Class of 1995 - to NC Wesleyan
Travis Matthews - Rocky Mount - Class of 1995 - Brevard JC, Barton
Andy Jones, Southern Nash - Class of 1995 - to NC Wesleyan
Jeremy Ward, Rocky Mount - Class of 1996 - to Wake Forest, Long Beach State
Kenny Wilson, Rocky Mount - Class of 1996 - to Louisburg, UNC-Wilmington
Chris Tyndall , Rocky Mount - Class of 1996 - East Carolina
Jeremiah Parvin, Rocky Mount - Class of 1997 - to Davidson
David Ange, Rocky Mount - Class of 1998 - to UNC-Wilmington
Barrett Bodiford, Rocky Mount - Class of 1998 - to Appalachian State
Jason Battle, Rocky Mount - Class of 1998 - to N.C. A&T
Paul Jenkins, Rocky Mount - Class of 2001 - to UNC
Carter Harrell, Rocky Mount - Class of 2001 - to UNC, Louisburg, East Carolina
Chad Alligood, Northern Nash - Class of 2001 - to Greensboro College
Brian Massey, Southern Nash - Class of 2001 - to Mount Olive
Will Tyson, Southern Nash - Class of 2001 - to Barton
Paul Bauer, Rocky Mount - Class of 2001 - to Lenoir CC
Chuck Davis, Rocky Mount - Class of 2001 - to Lenoir CC
Adam Weaver, Rocky Mount - Class of 2002 - to UNC, Elon
Ricky Howard, Southern Nash - Class of 2002 - to Louisburg, Campbell
Luke Murray, Southern Nash - Class of 2002 - to NC Wesleyan
Tyler Petty, Northern Nash - Class of 2002 - to Barton
Kai Mullen, Rocky Mount - Class of 2002 - to Elon
Josh Richardson, Faith Christian - Class of 2002 - to NC Wesleyan
Michael Parker, Rocky Mount - Class of 2003 - to Barton
O.J. Jenkins, Rocky Mount - Class of 2004 - to N.C. Central
Mark Wooten, Northern Nash - Class of 2004 - to NC Wesleyan
Ted Williams, Northern Nash - Class of 2004 - to NC Wesleyan
Thomas Evans, Southern Nash - Class of 2004 - to Barton
Jason Webb, Southern Nash - Class of 2004 - to Barton
Will Johnson, Rocky Mount - Class of 2005 - to Barton
Bryan Braswell, Northern Nash - Class of 2006 - to Campbell
Jonathan Lucas, Northern Nash - Class of 2006 - to NC Wesleyan
Joseph Keel, Southern Nash - Class of 2006 - to Mars Hill
Chad Womble, Rocky Mount - Class of 2007 - to Flor./Darlington C.C., NC Wesleyan
Jason Gay, Northern Nash - Class of 2007 - to NC Wesleyan
Thomas Sykes, Northern Nash - Class of 2007 - to NC Wesleyan
Andrew Webb, Northern Nash - Class of 2007 - to NC Wesleyan
Brian Allen, Southern Nash - Class of 2007 - to Pitt C.C., NC Wesleyan
Adam Hodges, RM Academy - Class of 2007 - to Hamden-Sydney
Ryan Waldrep, Rocky Mount/S. Brunswick, Class of 2008 - to Appalachian State
Zach Woodley, Northern Nash - Class of 2008 - to Pitt C.C.
Daniel Moore, Northern Nash - Class of 2008 - NC Wesleyan
Jim Leggett, Rocky Mount - Class of 2008 - to Belmont Abbey, Pitt C.C.
Alex Pearce, Nash Central - Class of 2008 - to UNC-Pembroke
Edmund Gravely, RM Academy - Class of 2008 - to Newberry

Ben Fish, Rocky Mount - Class of 2009 - to Campbell U.
Tyler Joyner, Northern Nash - Class of 2009 - to East Carolina
Tyler Clark, Northern Nash - Class of 2009 - to NC Wesleyan
Cameron Ramsey, Rocky Mount - Class of 2009 - to Wake C.C./Campbell U.
Gabe Brown, Rocky Mount - Class of 2009 - to Lenoir C.C./N.C. Central
Mike Williams, Northern Nash - Class of 2009 - to Pitt C.C.
Eric Mull, Faith Christian - Class of 2009 - to NC Wesleyan
Hobbs Johnson, Rocky Mount - Class of 2010 - to UNC
Collins Cuthrell, Rocky Mount - Class of 2010 - to Barton
T.J. Taylor, Nash Central - Class of 2010 - to Wake C.C.
Brett Allen, Southern Nash/Wilson Fike - Class of 2010 - to NC Wesleyan
Thomas Berry, Rocky Mount - Class of 2011 - to Lander U.
Benton Moss, Rocky Mount - Class of 2011 - to UNC
Matthew Berry, Rocky Mount - Class of 2011 - to Barton
Jeremy Lucas, Northern Nash - Class of 2011 - to Barton 

PRO SIGNINGS/DRAFTED

Dudley Whitley, Rocky Mount - Class of 1952 - N.C. State - signed by Corpus Christi Clippers
Danny Talbott, Rocky Mount - Class of 1963 - UNC - drafted by Detroit Tigers (2nd round - No. 22)
Mike Tyson, Northern Nash - Class of 1970 - Indian River State College (Fl.) - signed by St. Louis Cardinals (3rd round - No. 60)
Marvin "Sonny" Wooten, Rocky Mount - Class of 1973 - drafted by Chicago Cubs (29th round - No. 641)
Doug Henley, Rocky Mount - Class of 1975 - Wake Forest, Georgia - signed with New York Mets (free agent)
Greg Clark, Rocky Mount - Class of 1978 - NC Wesleyan - signed by Los Angeles Dodgers (18th round - No. 462)
Bill Merrifield, Rocky Mount - Class of 1980 - Wake Forest - signed by California Angels (2nd round - No. 53)
Greg Bobbitt, Northern Nash - Class of 1989 - St. Augustine's - signed by Chicago Cubs (free agent)
Duane Thomas, Rocky Mount - Class of 1991 - signed with Baltimore Orioles (free agent)
Carl Payne, Northern Nash - Class of 1982 - signed with Kansas City Royals (free agent)
Chris Bryant, Southern Nash - Class of 1992 - NC Wesleyan - signed by Baltimore Orioles (14th round - No. 388)
Jeremy Ward, Rocky Mount - Class of 1996 - Wake Forest/Long Beach State - signed by Arizona Diamondbacks - (2nd round - No. 71)
Maurice Cobb, Rocky Mount - Class of 2002 - signed by Montreal Expos - (27th round - No. 767)
Xavier Macklin, Nash Central - Class of 2008 - N.C. A&T - signed by Oakland A's - (12th round - No. 376)
Brian Goodwin, Rocky Mount - Class of 2009 - UNC/Miami Dade CC - signed by Washington Nationals - (Compensation round - No. 34)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Paul Bauer and Chuck Davis 1981 - Lenoir CC

Anonymous said...

Does Duane Thomas count?

Anonymous said...

I think Carl Payne (Northern Nash and N.C. Wesleyan) was signed by the KC Royals about 1985 or 1986.

Randy Wheeless

Anonymous said...

Brian Massey SN '01 Mt. Olive, NCWC
Will Tyson SN '01 Barton
Luke Murray SN '02 NCWC

Fr: Rick Taylor

Rick Taylor said...

Charles,

Greg Bobbitt NN '89 Played in the Cubs organization I think

I also think he played at St. Aug's

Duane Thomas from RM about the time I came through played in the Orioles organization if I am not mistaken

Anonymous said...

NNSH - David Wells 1981? - - ECU

Anonymous said...

Mike Leonard 1977 NNSH - Was it Chowan?? Louisburg? He went somewhere...Also Terry Leonard his brother played BB in College I think...

Anonymous said...

Charles...I keep thinking of people...How could you forget Tommy Crocker at NC State! I'm ashamed of you! Just kidding.. I'll keep sending these names. Who am I?

Wes said...

Marvin "Sonny" Wooten played at ECU...

Anonymous said...

Charles,
Not sure but I thought Eddie Coats, Marshall White and Barry Butler signed from the class of 83.

Charles Alston said...

UPDATE - Bauer and Davis added. Duane Thomas added to signing list, although he may not have played for the Gryphons. Payne has been added to the signing list - thanks! Massey, Tyson, Murray added. Bobbitt added. Eddie Coats left the NCWC team just before his freshman season started. Still researching the Leonards. Updated Sonny Wooten, added Butler. Still researching David Wells. Tommy Crocker also added.

Charles Alston said...

Mike Leonard and Terry Leonard have been added to the list. As has RMA's Adam Hodges!

Charles Alston said...

Just added: Eric Gazaway, David Joyner, Byron Evans, Kelvin Whitaker, John Bonner and Mark Worsley!

Charles Alston said...

Bobby Ellis, Harold Gilbert - both RM alums - come on down!

Anonymous said...

Ralph Millfield (sp?), Scott Lewis...both from RM and Wayne Matthews (NN) played at Lenoir CC

Anonymous said...

Garrett Strickland from Middlesex 2011 graduate of wilson christian 2012 wake tech