Category: Apprentice

Apprentice Snaps Losing Skid with 20-3 Rout of MACU

HAMPTON, Va. – Apprentice snapped a four-game losing skid in a big way Friday afternoon, taking down MACU 20-3.

The Mustangs struck first in the top of the third inning with a single run, but the Builders answered with the next 20 runs, five of which came in the third. Jeremy Harmon started the scoring with a RBI double before Caleb Russell kept it going two batters later on a RBI single to give Apprentice a 2-1 lead. Hunter Johnson then doubled, setting the table for Mason Cox to clear the bases on a triple that made the score 5-1.

The Builders tacked on 14 more runs in the fourth inning, sending 20 batters to the plate in the frame. The inning was highlighted by a Jett Winslow two-run blast early in the frame before AS added 10 more runs after the homer to push the score to 19-1. Another Cox RBI single pushed the score to 20-1 after five innings of work. MACU pushed two more across in the sixth to get to the final score.

Johnson finished the game going 5-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI. Russell went 4-for-5, while Cam Weston, Cox and Harmon each had three hits.

Nick Redman (2-1) got the win, going five innings, allowing just one run off three hits.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Builders Score 12 in Second to Rout Bryant & Stratton (VA)

HAMPTON, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team scored in each of the first five innings, including 12 in the second, as they run-ruled Bryant and Stratton Friday afternoon, 20-6.

The Builders wasted little time getting on the board, using a defensive miscue and a two-run bomb from Jeremy Harmon to take a 3-0 lead out of the first inning. The run parade started in the second inning for Apprentice as the home team sent 18 to the plate in the frame.

In the second, the Builders had just four hits, taking advantage of walks and four Bobcat errors. Apprentice loaded up the bases before a walk preceded another Harmon hit, this time a two RBI single that doubled the lead to 6-0. Two walks and two hit by pitches with the bases loaded came next to push the lead to 10-0, and, after an error scored another run, Nate Yeary came through with a two-run single that made the score 13-0.

After a pair of fielder’s choices finished off the 12-run frame, the Bobcats scratched a run across in the third before the Builders struck back again in the bottom of the inning. Harmon collected another RBI on a single to make the score 14-1 before Matt Phoebus hit a missile to left center in the fourth to push the lead even further out to 18-1. After four Bobcats runs came across in the fifth, Hunter Johnson got a pair back in the bottom of the inning to get to a 20-5 score.

Harmon finished the day 3-for-4 with six RBI and a pair of runs scored. Yeary was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored, while Johnson was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair scored.

Zander Mizelle (4-0) got the win, going three innings of one-run and four-hit baseball.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; Image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Apprentice Sweeps MACU to Improve to 4-0

HAMPTON – The Apprentice School baseball team opened up New South Athletic Conference play Tuesday by sweeping MACU, 10-0 and 4-2.

In the opening game of the twinbill, the Builders pushed a run across in the second on a Jett Winslow RBI single before the wheels fell off for the Mustangs in the third. Apprentice scored nine runs in the frame, pushing them across on just three hits and two MACU errors. Winslow was the highlight of the frame with a bases-clearing double that pushed the score out to 5-0 at the time.

In game two, it was much more of a pitcher’s duel. The Builders struck in the bottom of the first on a Matt Phoebus RBI double followed by another Winslow RBI single to take the early 2-0 lead.

MACU answered in the fourth, getting runners on base and pushing two across off an RBI groundout and a single to tie the game at 2-2. After a scoreless fifth frame, Apprentice got the final word in the sixth as they found a pair of runs to get to the final score. Nate Yeary brought home Winslow on a single to take the lead before Mason Cox got a sacrifice fly to push Hunter Johnson across home plate.

Winslow finished the day 3-for-6 at the plate with five RBI and two runs scored.

Story courtesy Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Apprentice Sweeps Championship Saturday to Claim First NSAC Baseball Title

WILSON, N.C. – After being shut out by Lighthouse Christian in the opening round, The Apprentice School came back with a vengeance on Saturday to win both games against the Makos and claim its first New South Conference baseball title.

A deeper bullpen proved the difference with both games being decided by the 10-run rule, 19-9 in the first and 15-3 in the second.

Apprentice (39-8) came into the tournament ranked eighth in the final USCAA regular season baseball poll and now awaits to see its opponent in next week’s Small College World Series.

Lighthouse (5-29) stunned the Builders 5-0 on Thursday, holding Apprentice scoreless for the first time this season. The Makos then followed that with an 11-9 win over Virginia State on Friday, only the fifth win for the first-year baseball program from Pensacola, Florida. The Builders advanced to the championship round by downing VSU 11-1 in Friday’s elimination game.

But Lighthouse’s magical run was to end there as the Builders, already touting the best record in school history, pulled away from the Makos in both games on Saturday.

Builders Roll Over Trojans, Advance to Saturday’s Finals

WILSON, N.C. – Top-seed Apprentice School kept third-seed Virginia State off the plate until the eighth inning while keeping their own bats humming enroute to an 11-1 win Friday at Historic Fleming Stadium.

The victory launches the Builders (37-8) into Saturday’s NSAC championship against upstart Lighthouse Christian (5-27). The Makos stunned AS 5-0 on Thursday before slipping past VSU Friday afternoon 11-9, marking the first winning streak in the first-year program’s short history.

The first pitch is set for 12:00 noon on Saturday. Should Apprentice win, the second winner-take-all contest will begin at 3:30 pm.

Winslow Leads Builders over Mustangs in Elimination Game

WILSON, N.C. – Apprentice infielder Jett Winslow had the big bat for the Builders Thursday night with a homer in the third inning and a walk-off RBI in the ninth to lift top-seed Apprentice to a 3-2 win over second-seed Mid-Atlantic Christian at Historic Fleming Stadium.

The win keeps the Builders’ (36-8) hopes for their first NSAC baseball championship alive after falling to Lighthouse 5-0 in the tourney opener. Meanwhile the Mustangs (23-22) have to wait until Tuesday to see if they will receive a bid to the USCAA Small College World Series. Only eight teams are invited, and MACU is ranked 8th in the final regular season USCAA poll released before Thursday’s two losses.

The Builders will face the loser of Friday’s noon contest between Lighthouse and Virginia State, both upset winners on Thursday. That elimination game is set for first pitch at 4:00 pm Eastern time.

Lighthouse Shocks Apprentice 5-0 in NSAC Opener

WILSON, N.C. – Eli Lowery pitched 5-hit ball in a complete game as fourth-seed Lighthouse Christian shocked top-seeded Apprentice 5-0 in the opening game of the 2024 NSAC Baseball Tournament on Thursday.

The win advances the Makos (4-27) to Friday’s second round to face the winner of the Mid-Atlantic Christian-Virginia State game.

The loss is the first shutout of the year for the Builders (35-8), who drop into an elimination game at 6:30 tonight against the MACU-VSU loser.

Redman, Lee Head 2024 All-Conference Selections

Nick Redman of Apprentice and Jalyn Lee of Mid-Atlantic Christian lead a stellar group of 19 players which have been selected by the league coaches as the 2024 NSAC All-Conference Team.

Redman, the Pitcher of the Year, led the Builder pitching staff with a sparkling 2.39 ERA with eight wins against no losses on the season. In 49 innings pitched, the sophomore lefty from New Kent, Virginia gave up only 36 hits and 13 earned runs.

Lee was named Player of the Year by virtue of a team-leading .391 batting average with 40 RBI. The 6-2 senior from Smithfield, North Carolina finished the regular season with seven homers and a .461 OBP.

Congratulations to Redman, Lee, and all the members of the 2024 NSAC All-Conference Team!

The Apprentice School

  • Nolan Edwards, INF
  • Jeremy Harmon, C
  • Isaac McAllister, P
  • Caleb Russell, C
  • Nick Redman, P
  • Camden Weston, IF
  • Nate Yeary, OF

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

  • Dakota Jacobsen, P
  • Colin Langley, P
  • Jalyn Lee, 1B
  • Adam Schell, INF
  • Travis Snell, OF

Virginia State University

  • Joe Hastings, P
  • Chris Henderson, 3B
  • Norman Jackson, 2B
  • Victor Johnson, OF
  • TJ McGowan, 1B
  • Jamari Pooler, SS
  • Jimmyll Williams, UTIL

Images courtesy Apprentice Athletics and MACU Athletics

Builders’ Jones Named Coach of the Year

After leading Apprentice to the most wins in program history, the Builders’ Ben Jones has been named the New South Athletic Conference Baseball Coach of the Year.

Jones, in his third season at the helm, guided the Builders to a 35-7 record in just the regular season, surpassing the 34-14 mark set by the 2018 team which finished second in the USCAA.

A native of Lawrenceville, VA, Jones graduated as an outside machinist apprentice and played baseball for The Apprentice School from 2003 to 2006. During Jones’ career, he was named a three-time USCAA All-American. He is the winningest pitcher in the modern era of Apprentice School baseball with 39 wins and a Virginia College Division record of 501 strikeouts. Jones was selected to the 2006 USCAA National All-Academic Team and the CoSIDA Academic All-District. He was also selected VaSID All-State Division II-III in 2004 and 2006 and was honored as Apprentice School Athlete of the Year in 2006 when he went 13-3 with 166 strikeouts.

Jones led the Builders to the USCAA Small College World Series title in 2022, the year he won the inaugural NSAC Coach of the Year award.

Congratulations, Ben!

Image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Builders Take Weekend Series from Makos

HAMPTON, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team improved to 32-7 on the season with a four-game sweep of Lighthouse Christian this weekend at War Memorial Stadium. With the four wins, the Builders improved to 10-2 in New South Athletic Conference action this season.

On Saturday, the Builders jumped on the Makos early and often, winning 22-2 and 11-1 in five and six innings, respectively. The Builders continued the onslaught on Sunday with an 11-1 six inning win before holding on for a 9-6 win in the series finale.

Nolan Edwards went 9-for-14 on the weekend with three homers and nine runs scored. He also brought in eight RBI on the weekend as well. Camden Weston went 6-for-10, and Jeremy Harmon hit two homers Sunday, the first of which ended game one of the twin bill by the run rule.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics