Category: News

Trojans Down Mustangs 5-2 to Advance

WILSON, N.C. – Gavin Stevens threw a complete-game 5-hitter and third-seed Virginia State held off second-seed Mid-Atlantic Christian 5-2 in the NSAC Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon at Historic Fleming Stadium.

The freshman rightie kept the Mustangs (23-21) off the board until the ninth inning.

VSU (15-31) advances to face Lighthouse, which stunned top-seed Apprentice 5-0, in the noon game on Friday. MACU and Apprentice meet in an elimination game tonight at 6:30 pm.

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

NSAC Honors 41 All-Academics in 2024 Baseball

The New South Athletic Conference is pleased to recognize the 41 baseball players who have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) this year and have been named to the NSAC All-Academic Team.

“This is my favorite award each season,” said conference commissioner Mike Davis. “It recognizes the dedication and tenacity of each of these student-athletes to achieve a bright future for themselves and their families. Congratulations to each and every one.”

APPRENTICE SCHOOL

  • Jaeden Anderson
  • Justin Bradshaw
  • Riggs Ellis
  • Jeremy Harmon
  • Aiden Henry
  • Hunter Johnson
  • Matt Phoebus
  • Bryce Post
  • Jackson Stratton
  • Kyle Whitlock

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

  • Clay Allen
  • Carlos Brown
  • Robert Gates
  • Trent Knighten
  • Josh Landis
  • Andry Mendez
  • Gavin Neade
  • Quenton Renfroe
  • Jean Quezada Sosa

MID-ATLANTIC CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

  • Dalon Arrington
  • Titus Bleckley
  • Bobby Brown
  • Josiah Collado
  • Trey Dail
  • Aidan Guise
  • Sean Henry
  • Landen Miller
  • Travis Snell
  • Connor Wong

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Decarlos Nora
  • Josh Mahan
  • Thomas Moore
  • Jimmyll Williams
  • Dawysn Hock
  • Alex Dayle
  • Joseph Hastings
  • Avante Banks
  • Justis Crawley
  • Daniel Smith
  • Bryce Wilmoth
  • Coron Wallace

Photo by Raghav Modi on Unsplash

MACU Picks Up Conference Road Win at VSU

ETTRICK, Va. – Virginia State dropped a nine-inning affair to Mid Atlantic Christian on Thursday 13-2. 

MACU managed to load the bases with back-to-back singles and an error by the third baseman. A fielder’s choice would bring one run across, but the Trojans starter Gavin Stevens managed to get out of the jam. The Trojans would get that run back in the second inning after Jaquan Tucker was hit by the pitch and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Matthew May was hit by the pitch and then Avante Banks hit a two-out double to bring across Tucker. 

The Mustangs would add another run in the fourth and then put up five runs in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, Banks hit into a fielder’s choice to bring across Thomas Chandler to score VSU’s second run. However, MACU would score seven more runs in the eighth and ninth innings to make the final score 13-2. 

Jimmyll Williams and TJ McGowan were the only Trojans with multiple hits, and Stevens now drops to 2-5 on the year. As a team, VSU now sits at 11-24 while MACU improved to 21-18.

Story and image courtesy VSU Athletics

Wilson Tobs Set to Host NSAC Baseball Tourney

The schedule is set for the New South Athletic Conference 2024 Baseball Tournament to be held at Historic Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina May 2-4.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the Wilson Tobs as our host for this year’s tournament,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “Historic Fleming Stadium is just that: a piece of sports history. Growing up in nearby Knightdale, I revered Fleming for years and look forward to a great tournament in this quaint setting.”

DateGameAwayHomeTime
Thursday May 21Seed #4Seed #111:00 AM
Historic Fleming Stadium2Seed #3Seed #23:00 PM
3Loser Game 1Loser Game 26:30 PM
     
Date AwayHomeTime
Friday May 34Winner Game 2Winner Game 112:00 PM
Historic Fleming Stadium5Winner Game 3Loser Game 44:00 PM
     
     
Date AwayHomeTime
Saturday May 4ChampionshipWinner Game 5Winner Game 412:00 PM
Historic Fleming StadiumChampionshipIf NecessaryIf Necessary3:30 PM

The seedings will finalized on Sunday, April 28.

From wilsontobs.com:

“Built in 1939 for the Wilson Tobs of the original Coastal Plain ‘D’ League, Historic Fleming Stadium has always served as a stepping stone for some of our country’s greatest ballplayers, entertainers, and politicians.

“From Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle to Elvis Presley, Kevin Costner, and New York City Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, Historic Fleming Stadium’s (85)-year history is lined with the heroes of our national pastime and the cultural leaders of our society.

“Used primarily today as the home of the modern-era Wilson Tobs of the Coastal Plain League, North Carolina Baseball Museum, and Year-Round Baseball Events, Fleming is still vibrantly hosting our national pastime’s past, current and future stars. Fleming’s importance in the baseball community has continued to grow with age by hosting over 150 days of baseball annually and operating from February to November. Historic Fleming Stadium is also host to the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship, NCISA’s Spring Single A Baseball Championships, as well as the CPL All-Star game in 2005 and 2012.“

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

Builders, Trojans Split Twin Bill, Again

HAMPTON, Va. – After splitting a doubleheader last weekend, Virginia State and Apprentice repeated the feat Friday with the Builders taking the opener 12-2 and the Trojans winning the nightcap by the identical score.  

GAME 1: BUILDERS 12, TROJANS 2

  • After Jimmyll Williams got hit by the pitch he stole second before a double play ended the first inning. The Builders hit a triple and brought the runner in on a sac fly to score  
  • In the bottom of the second Newport News was the benefited from an opening walk before a two out double drove him home. A passed ball then let that runner move to third. Another double would put runners on second and third while also making the score 3-0 
  • An RBI ground out, let the third run of the inning come across for the Builders and in the fifth one more run came around to score making it 5-0 Newport News  
  • In the bottom of the fourth the Builders doubled down the line and then advanced on two wild pitches to score 
  • The Trojans answered with a Jaquan Tucker home run. Victor Johnson than tripled and Matthew May hit a sacrifice fly to get VSU on the board 
  • In the bottom of the sixth the Builders get three runs to have a 10-run advantage at 12-2 

GAME 2: TROJANS 12, BUILDERS 2 

  • The two opening batters got on and TJ McGowan hit a bunt single to get the runner on third across. Tucker walked to load the bases and then Jamari Pooler hit a double to score two. Daniel Smith then hit a sac fly to put four up in the first inning 
  • Avante Banks and Williams hit back-to-back singles in the second, McGowan then walked to load the bases with one out. Tucker was hit by a pitch to let a run in, and Pooler hit a 2 RBI single right after. Justus Crawley then hit an RBI single and Smith hit an RBI fielder’s choice 
  • The builders would score in the bottom of the inning, but in the top of the third the Trojans would put up their final three runs of the game with Tucker and Pooler picking up the RBI’s 
  • Apprentice picked up one more in the third, but Joesph Hastings would shut down the Builders for the rest of the game to pick up his second win 

Story courtesy VSU Athletics; image courtesy Chris Waugaman, VSU Athletics

Trojans Hand Builders First NSAC Loss in Twin Bill Split

ETTRICK, Va. – The Virginia State University baseball team split a doubleheader against the Apprentice School on Friday dropping game one 7-1 and winning game two 5-1. 

GAME 1: BUILDERS 7, VSU 1

  • The Builders would go down in order in the first and in the bottom of the inning Jimmyll Willams walked and Christian Henderson singled before both players stole to get runners on second and third. 
  • Then on a two out wild pitch both runners moved up 90 feet to get the Trojans on the board 
  • The Builders would add another run in the second and then in the fourth Apprentice then hung up three runs to widen their margin 
  • Apprentice then added a run in the fifth sixth and seventh innings while and Avante Banks walk and steal of second was the only time the Trojans would get a runner in scoring position 

GAME 2: VSU 5, BUILDERS 1 

  • Neither team would manage much in the first two innings with the only hits being by Williams and Victor Johnson for VSU 
  • Joesph Hastings started the game and was throwing a perfect game through three innings 
  • Banks and Williams hit back-to-back doubles to get runners on second and third with no outs. Henderson hit an RBI-ground out and an error by the 3b would get Jaquan Tucker to second and would score TJ McGowan who got on by a fielder’s choice 
  • The Builders only managed to get two batters on through the fourth and fifth innings via an error and a walk 
  • In the bottom of the sixth Jamari Pooler started the inning off with a double that was just feet from being a home run. Pooler then stole third and a Jody Morris double brought him in to score. Morris then advanced to third on an error by the catcher and Williams walked. Henderson then hit the third double of the inning to score both Morris and Williams 
  • The Builders managed to get a runner on second after a single and a wild pitch. A one-out single put runners on the corners before a two out walk loaded the bases 
  • A wild pitch advanced every runner to finally get the Builders on the board 
  • Hastings earned his first win of the season 
  • The Trojan win was their first NSAC victory of the season and the Builder’s first conference loss