Former Rocky Mount pitcher Chad Womble (RMHS '07) is flying for the first time in his life this week. But what a destination for his maiden flight - HAWAII! Womble (6-1, 175), who graduated from Florence-Darllington Technical College a few weeks ago (AA in Business Administration), got an offer to play summer baseball in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League. He'll be playing for the Kamuela Paniolos - one of six teams in the league.
In case you're wondering, a paniolo is a cowboy or horseman.
His first practice is Thursday morning - only hours after his flight arrived. Players from all over the country make up the team's roster - including two players from N.C.'s Gardner-Webb. On average, they will play a game a day six days a week. The season concludes with a tournament the last week of July.
From looking at their schedule, Womble and his teammates play the majority of their 35 games in the late morning or early afternoon which leaves plenty of time for surfing and sightseeing.
Womble, who had a career record of 22-7 while at RMHS, will be staying pretty close to home when he gets back home. He has decided to close his final two seasons of college baseball at N.C. Wesleyan, the first Gryphon baseball player in years to play for the Battling Bishops.