Weaverville – North Buncombe High School baseball is swinging up for a great season. The Tribune spoke with NB Head Coach Charlie Harrison. Last year, the 2020 season was brought to an abrupt halt at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, baseball has continued following health protocols. If one player tests positive, the entire team must quarantine and miss any games in the meantime. Fortunately, North Buncombe has not had any scares.
“We’ve had to really adjust and adapt to [COVID-19 regulations]. So, it’s been tough but, you know, we’ve grown through it,” Harrison says.
Through the tumultuous year, a strong team has emerged, says Harrison. Five seniors are going on to play college baseball. Two have committed to University of Virginia’s College at Wise, one to Caldwell. Others have committed to colleges for football and basketball.
“We got some athletes that are fortunate enough to be going to the next level, and are there to help us. And then we got some guys that are adamant about working hard and are very competitive too. All around, I feel like we got all the pieces that we need,” Harrison says.
As in previous years, T.C. Roberson is their biggest competitor. Harrison anticipates that North Henderson, West Henderson and Tuscola are also stiff competition. Usually in the conference, a team will play the same team twice in a week. Next year, North Buncombe will switch conferences.
The team had their first scrimmage on April 23 and first game on April 29. They are hoping to fixate themselves in the top three of the conference and head into the playoffs.
“We’re very lucky in this community to have support, especially in this time. If it wasn’t for the community, the parent, player support, it’d be very difficult to try to get through this COVID time,” Harrison says.
Varsity Roster
Bell, Jackson 7
Chandler, Ayden 9
Clark, Chad 6
Cole, Trent 32
DeNeef, Jake 18
Kirkpatrick, Cody 23
Lanning, Eli 33
Lominac, Caleb 22
McCurry, Garett 14
McCurry, Grayson 11
Meinert, Ian 8
Mull, Max 5
Nix, Dallas 34
Peters, Bryson 12
Rash, Trent 3
Riddle, Marley 24
Kirchner, Dalton 15
Jones, Joe 44