VSU’s Morgan Earns 400th Win in Split with AS

HAMPTON, Va. – Virginia State baseball coach Merrill Morgan earned his 400th career victory when the Trojans downed Apprentice, 14-1, in the first game of today’s doubleheader.

In a topsy-turvy game two, the Builders walked off with a 9-8 win that featured 13 runs scored in extra innings.

In the first game, the Trojans logged 15 hits, including seven extra-base hits, en route to the 14 runs. Markeefe Beckett and Liam Simpson were dominant at the plate, combining for six hits, nine RBIs, and a home run each. Jody Morris was on the mound for VSU and pitched five innings, allowing just one earned run with two strikeouts.

The second game was tied at 2-2 at the end of the seven scheduled innings, but then came the fireworks with the Builders claiming the walk-off win, scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth. Before it became runs galore, Aldrewvonte Jackson was shutting down batters to the tune of four innings pitched with no earned runs (one unearned) and four strikeouts. Logan Mize earned the victory for Apprentice.

Today’s games marked the end of the conference regular season for all NSAC teams with the conference tournament starting Friday at Whaley Colbert Field in Ettrick, Virginia. In the 3:00 pm matchup, 2nd seed Mid-Atlantic Christian will face 3rd seed Apprentice, and 4th seed Virginia State is set to take the field at 5:30 p.m. against top-seeded Salem University.

Story and image courtesy govsutrojans.com

Hammond, Redman Lead All-NSAC Team

VSU’s Tahraun Hammond

Virginia State’s Tahraun Hammond and Apprentice’s Nick Redman have been selected as the New South Conference Baseball Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, to lead the All-Conference voting.

Hammond, a sophomore shortstop from Tappahannock, Virginia, enters the conference tournament batting .322 with 37 hits, 32 runs, 16 RBIs and 34 BBs. He also pitched 59.2 innings with a 3-2 record and four saves.

Apprentice’s Nick Redman

Redman, a freshman leftie from New Kent, Virginia, has a sparkling 8-1 record in 13 appearances with 64.2 innings on the mound. Nick has given up only 16 earned runs for an ERA of 2.23 and 84 strikeouts (11.69 per game).

Congratulations to Tahraun, Nick, and all the members of the 2023 NSAC All-Conference Team!

First Team

  • Tahraun Hammond, SS, Virginia State — Player of the Year
  • Nick Redman, LHP, Apprentice — Pitcher of the Year
  • Alex Miller, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Hunter Johnson, INF, Apprentice
  • Caleb Whitley, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Ricky Jones, OF, Virginia State
  • Nathan Kuhn, OF, Salem
  • Jalyn Lee, INF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Riggs Ellis, INF, Apprentice
  • Colin Langley, P/C, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Sam Schmitt, LHP, Salem

Second Team

  • Luis Angarita, 2B, Salem
  • Joe Hastings, P, Virginia State
  • Jaryd Lund, LHP, Salem
  • Bryce Post, RHP, Apprentice
  • Liam Simpson, LF, Virginia State
  • Travis Snell, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Anthony Torres, MIF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Camden Weston, SS, Apprentice
  • Nate Yeary, CF, Apprentice
  • Kaiden Zacharias, 1B/OF, Salem

NSAC Honors 2023 Baseball All-Academics

Each season, the New South Conference is proud to recognize its student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and the field. The following young men have all achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4-point scale while also displaying excellence on the diamond.

“This is my favorite award,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “Athletic achievement is hard enough, but it’s compounded when combined with the rigors of academics. I’m proud to say that our member schools do not sacrifice one for the other.”

The 2023 New South Athletic Conference Baseball All-Academic Team:

The Apprentice School

  • Jack Daszkowski
  • Thomas Ellis
  • Logan Mize
  • Matthew Phoebus
  • Bryce Post
  • Jake Sanchez-Tiller
  • Braxton Wallace
  • Kyle Whitlock
  • Tyler Winegrad

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

  • Titus Bleckley
  • Bobby Brown
  • Josiah Collado
  • Drew Copeland
  • Trey Dail
  • Riane Franklin
  • Aidan Guise
  • Sean Henry
  • Giovanny Mendez
  • Landen Miller
  • Ryan Mitchell
  • Jamel Moss
  • Anthony Torres
  • Syler White

Salem University

  • Max Atkinson
  • Jacob Barcikowski
  • Evan Bell
  • Liam Conway
  • Tommy Downey
  • Brett Her
  • Memphis Elliott
  • Chase George
  • Frankie Gulko
  • Tyler Gump
  • Alex Harper
  • Gavin Hissam
  • Trey Hissam
  • Ryan Hopping
  • Jackson Hutchison
  • Zach Kendall
  • Nathan Kuhn
  • Travis Lavendier
  • Jaxon Lehr
  • Hayes Lightsey
  • Jose Lojo
  • Jordan Mosley
  • Adlai Muench
  • Haidyn Norman
  • Keegan Oliver
  • Gabe Ross
  • Tyler Sammons
  • Sam Schmitt
  • Ben Sitarenios
  • Tyler Shinn
  • Keith Wallace
  • Kaiden Zacharias

Virginia State University

  • Rahzel Atkinson
  • Avante Banks
  • Thomas Chandler
  • Justis Crawley
  • Alexander Dayle
  • Tahraun Hammond
  • Joseph Hastings
  • Dawsyn Hock
  • Aldrewvonte Jackson
  • Norman Jackson
  • Ricky Jones
  • David Johnson
  • Gene Ligon
  • Ryan Messer
  • Jody Morris

Salem Sweeps VSU, Earns Top Seed for NSAC Tournament

NUTTER FORT, W.V. – The Salem baseball team played host to the Trojans of Virginia State for a 4-game weekend series at Frank Loria Memorial Field in Nutter Fort. The Tigers also took the opportunity to celebrate the graduating team members with Senior Day festivities ahead of Sunday’s matchups, and they celebrated with style as they beat the Trojans in all four weekend contests, and in the process secured the top seed in the upcoming New South Baseball Tournament.

The teams battled both their opponents and some wet conditions for Sunday’s matchups. In Game 3 of the weekend, Salem starter Alden Halfinger got the win with 5 innings of work with 7 strikeouts while allowing just 2 Trojan hits in a 3-1 victory.

Salem uncorked its strongest offensive outing of the weekend in the final contest when the Tigers plated 5 runs in the fifth inning, cruising to an 8-2 win.

Salem ends is conference schedule at 6-0, earning the Tigers the top seed in the NSAC Baseball Tournament beginning Friday, May 5 in Petersburg, Virginia.

Conference regular season play will conclude on Tuesday when Apprentice hosts VSU for a doubleheader.

Story and image courtesy Salem athletics

Tigers Take Two from Trojans

NUTTER FORT, W.V.- Saturday’s doubleheader between Virginia State and Salem University featured one-score games entering the sixth inning but the Tigers pulled away  to secure a pair of wins over the visiting Trojans.

In the first game, Virginia State found themselves trailing 5-4 entering the sixth inning before the Salem added three runs as insurance. In the second game, the Tigers struck sixth inning magic again, flipping a 4-2 Trojans lead into a 5-4 Salem victory.

Salem improves to 23-24 overall and 4-0 in the NSAC, while the Trojans drop to 18-24 and 1-7. The two teams will face off in another doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

Story and image courtesy govsutrojans.com

Redman Fans Nine as Builders Knock Off MACU 5-4

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Nick Redman threw eight innings and struck out nine as the Apprentice School baseball team took down Mid-Atlantic Christian 5-4 Tuesday afternoon.

The Builders got on the board in the first inning, scoring two runs on a Caleb Russell single up the middle. After the Mustangs scored in the bottom half of the first to cut the lead to 2-1, Apprentice scored two more in the second on a pair of MACU errors.

The Mustangs again cut the lead to one in the fourth on a Travis Snell two-run blast over the left field fence, but the Builders answered in the top of the fifth, scoring on another MACU error to extend the lead to 5-3. The Mustangs pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as Apprentice handed MACU its first New South Athletic Conference loss of the season.

Redman improved to 8-1 on the season, while Logan Mize picked up his seventh save of the year. Jeremy Harmon led the Builders at the plate, going 3-for-4, while Nate Yeary and Riggs Ellis each had a pair of hits.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

Johnson Hits His Way into Record Book, POW Honors

Hunter Johnson went 4-for-5 at the plate with six RBI’s, tying him for sixth in the Apprentice record book for RBI in a single game, as the Builders pounded out a 21-6 win over Paul D. Camp last Wednesday. Hunter’s individual performance earned him the NSAC Player of the Week honor.

Hunter also crossed the plate three times in the win.

Congrats to Hunter Johnson, our NSAC Player of the Week!

Image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

Final Week of NSAC Play will Determine Seedings

With just one week of baseball left in the regular season, all seeds are up for grabs for the 2023 New South Baseball Tournament scheduled to begin on Friday, May 5 at Whaley Colbert Field in Petersburg, Virginia.

A total of six games remain in conference play beginning with today’s Apprentice – Mid-Atlantic Christian matchup slated for 3:00 pm in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Salem opened its NSAC play this past weekend by sweeping Virginia State, but the Trojans can bounce back this weekend when they make the return trip to Nutter Fort.

Then next Tuesday May 2, the regular season concludes with VSU traveling to Newport News to face the Builders.

Langley, Lee are NSAC Weekly Honorees

Mid-Atlantic Christian pitcher Colin Langley had another outstanding week for the Mustangs. The freshman from Williamston, North Carolina pitched 7.1 innings with 5 strikeouts against Apprentice, plus 5.1 innings against Carolina U with 9 SO’s, to earn NSAC Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season. For the week, Langley allowed just 2 earned runs and 8 hits.

MACU’s Jalyn Lee was swinging a big bat for the Herd this week. The redshirt junior from Smithfield, North Carolina went 7 for 12 with 4 RBI’s, 2 runs scored, and a homer, earning Lee the NSAC Player of the Week Award.

Congrats to Colin and Jaylin!

Tigers’ Schmitt Named Pitcher of the Week

Salem pitcher Sam Schmitt chalked 13 strikeouts and allowed only 4 hits as the Tigers took down Mansfield 5-0 last week, earning Schmitt Pitcher of the Week honors from the New South Conference.

The sophomore leftie from Traverse City, Michigan got a 7-inning complete game win in shutting out the Mounties.

Congratulations to Sam Schmitt, our Pitcher of the Week!

Image courtesy Salem Athletics