Patriots Win Two of Three from Potomac

Rashad Hatcher at the plate against Potomac State (photo courtesy Kenny Webster)

The PHCC Baseball team picked up a series win this weekend over Potomac State on Saturday and Sunday. The teams split a doubleheader on Saturday with PHCC winning game one 12-6 and the Catamounts picking up a 7-0 win in game two. The Patriots won the series with a 13-0 win on Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots overcame a 6-3 deficit by scoring nine runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to score the 12-6 win in game one. Bret Williams went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored and highlighted the nine run inning with a three run home run, his first of the season. Terrell Thompson and Austin Delmotte each had two hits in the Patriot 12 hit attack. Jeremy Fitzgerald struck out 10 in six innings of work while allowing four runs and was strapped with a no decision for his efforts. Shane Flynn picked up the win in the relief working an inning and two-thirds allowing no hits or runs and striking out one.

Potomac starter Cody Ellsworth kept the Patriots bats silent in game two working six innings allowing just five hits while walking one and striking out five. Thompson and Delmotte continued to swing hot bats notching two hits each. Travis Coffman took the loss on the mound for PHCC allowing three earned runs and six hits in two and a third innings on the mound.

The Patriots scored in bunches on Sunday to take the series with a 13-0 win. Bret Williams got the start on the mound and worked seven scoreless innings allowing just five hits while walking three and striking out four. Williams also had a big day at the plate going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Austin Delmotte also had another good day at the plate going 2-for-5 with a three run home run and two-run single. Ralphy Colon also added two hits in the winning effort that moved the Patriots to 10-5 on the season.

The Patriots are back in action on Monday as they host Penn State-Fayette at 1:00 PM at Hooker Field. They travel to Dobson, NC on Tuesday for a doubleheader with Surry C.C. at 2:00 PM.

Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Surry

The PHCC Baseball team split a doubleheader with Surry C.C. on Thursday afternoon at Hooker Field. The visitors scored a 9-8 win in game one but the Patriots got things back on track in game two picking up a 5-4 win in extra innings with the help of a walk-off double from Lucas Signor.

The Knights jumped out to a six run lead in the third inning in game one but the Patriots battled back to tie things up at 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Surry would add three runs in the fifth and sixth innings and held off a late PHCC rally to claim the 9-8 win. Terrell Thompson was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs to lead the PHCC offense. Hunter Kenney added two hits in the losing effort. Chris Horne took the loss on the mound despite not allowing an earned run in two innings of work.

Patrick Henry jumped out to a 4-1 lead after three innings of play in game two but a late rally by Surry would push the game into extra innings. The Patriots right fielder Lucas Signor doubled to left field to score pinch runner Eric Tucker to give the Patriots a 5-4 win, who improved to 8-4 on the season. Rashad Hatcher was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI to lead the seven hit attack for PHCC. Bret Williams was 1-for-3 with two RBIs as well in the win. Nick Sharp picked up the win working a scoreless eighth inning.

The Patriots are back in action on Saturday as they host a doubleheader with Potomac State at 1:00 PM.

Kennedy Powers PHCC to Win

The PHCC Baseball team evened their record at 2-2 as Lance Kennedy was 3-for-3 with two homeruns and five RBI in Tuesday's 13-2 win over Bluefield College at Hooker Field. The Patriots banged out 18 hits and jumped ahead of the Rams by a score of 11-0 after four innings of play. Bret Williams and Rashad Hatcher were also 3-for-3 at the plate with Williams posting two doubles and driving in two and Hatcher adding two doubles and a triple while adding one RBI.

Jeremy Fitzgerald picked up the win on the mound for PHCC working three innings allowing no hits while striking out seven and walking just one. T.J. Brenneman also had a strong relief outing working two innings allowing just one hit while striking out three. Cory Owen, Tyler Marshall, Chris Horne, Kyle Via, and Brandon Chocklette also worked on the mound for the Patriots.

The Patriots return to action on Friday afternoon as they host New River Community College at 3:00 PM at Hooker Field.

PHCC Aims for National Title

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
By CHASE YOUNG - Bulletin Sports Writer

Patrick Henry Community College’s baseball team returns 17 players to what head coach Chris Parker calls “by far the best team ever assembled at PHCC,” prompting the Patriots to aim for the World Series this season. “We want to win the regional tournament, the district tournament and a national championship,” said Parker. “We honestly feel like we’ve got a good shot to win the World Series.”

While Parker said pitching and defense as a whole will be “as solid and reliable as ever,” the Patriots strength resides at the plate. “We have a very powerful and potent offense,” said Parker. “It’s power and speed,” added Parker of the offensive strengths. “Every single person in our lineup has at least one college home run. Every single person can hit home runs, and we’re very, very fast compared to the past and compared to most teams in the region.”

After finishing the season with a 40-17 record (9-7 Region X) during its first season as a National Junior College Athletic Association participant, Parker said the strength of his returners and the addition of a few key transfers make the Patriots confident they can build upon last season’s success. “The quality of the athlete and baseball player together is tremendous this year,” said Parker. “I think that nucleus is very key, but some additions are going to play a big key for us,” he added.

Parker hopes to see a lot of offensive production from a few key transfers, including leadoff hitter Rashad Hatcher, a Pitt Community College transfer who finished last season with a .385 batting average, and Longwood University transfer Mike Stancik, who finished the season with a .348 average. According to Parker, new additions have not changed the Patriots’ philosophy; if anything, they’ve strengthened it.

“We’re gonna try to keep pressure on the opposing teams’ defense,” said Parker. “Try to pound the ball all over the park.” On defense, the Patriots will rely on the starting strength of Jeremy Fitzgerald, a 6-foot freshman from Stuarts Draft, and the closing prowess of Brandon Chocklette (6-0, sophomore) who led the nation in saves last season with 14.

“Very feasible,” said pitcher Austin Delmotte when asked of the chances for a World Series berth. “We have a bunch of pitchers, I think, more than any other team can compete with. “We’re so diverse on the mound, and I don’t think anybody can match our lineup offensively, as well,” he added.

The skipper said Xavier transfer Bret Williams will add strength as a starter from the mound and at first base, while Rhode Island transfer Ralph Colon and Longwood University transfer Ian Harvey will each battle for time in the infield and outfield, respectively.

During fall ball, the Patriots went 13-3. According to Parker, that’s a good sign for PHCC’s upcoming season, which promises to be tough considering the schedule in place. “Our schedule this year is by far harder and stronger than it’s ever been, which will only make us stronger when we play our conference games,” said Parker. “We know what we have, and we know what we’ve got to work with. If things go downhill, we still have enough depth to bring things back together. They all proved themselves worthy of time in the fall,” he added.

The Patriots will play host to the Region X and District 22 Tournament this season at Hooker Field, and while that may put added pressure on the home team to earn a berth considering there are only seven spots, Fitzgerald said confidence is not in short supply. “We’re shooting for the national championship,” said Fitzgerald. “That’s what we want. We all know that we’re good, we just have to get out there and prove it.”

The Patriots start their season at 1 p.m. Saturday when they travel to Spartanburg-Methodist for a doubleheader. Spartanburg is ranked fifth in the NJCAA’s preseason poll released Jan. 29 and finished third in the World Series last season, according to Parker.

PHCC's Kenney to Play Ball for Norfolk State
Thursday, November 19, 2009
By CHASE YOUNG - Martinsville Bulletin Staff Writer

Patrick Henry Community College’s Hunter Kenney recently signed to play Division I baseball for Norfolk State University. “It’s right near the beach. It’s D-I baseball, which is kind of a goal I had since high school,” said Kenney. “I look forward to it a lot. I’m real excited.”

Norfolk State, according to PHCC athletic director Chris Parker, will cover 75 percent of Kenney’s tuition expenses, most of which will be in the form of an academic scholarship.
Kenney is in his second year with the Patriots, and Parker said his ability at the plate was invaluable to PHCC last season.

“He’s a pure hitter,” said Parker. “His glove and his arm are just above average, but his bat is just excellent. You can’t play a game without his bat in your lineup, and I think he’ll fit the same role at Norfolk State.” The lefty recorded 28 RBIs, two home runs and a .385 batting average last season, said Parker, and was the Patriots’ “clutch” hitter.

“He was what we call our ‘clutch’ hitter last year,” said Parker. “He came through in more clutch situations than anybody we had. That’s why his RBIs are so high. He’d drive in run after run after run, hit balls to the gap, hit balls down the line for RBIs.”

Parker added that in the four-game Region X Tournament last season, Kenney recorded eight of his 28 total RBIs. If that doesn’t impress, Parker added that the 19-year-old Culpepper native was the runner-up for first team all-region designated hitter despite missing 10 games last season due to a “severely torn hamstring.”

“He probably would have been the first team all-region DH had he not missed those 10 games,” said Parker.  Kenney will graduate from PHCC with honors this year and will enroll in Norfolk State as a junior.

“He’s one of the finest young men that we’ve had here at Patrick Henry,” said Parker. “We’re very proud of him for his academic success. He’s just a true model of what we want our student athletes to be like.” Park said the future Spartan will most likely man the DH position for NSU, although he spent time at first base for the Patriots as well.

PHCC/City of Martinsville to Host Region and
District Baseball Tournament

Hooker Field and Martinsville, Virginia will be the 2010 site for the NJCAA Region 10 and District 22 Baseball Tournament. It will be hosted by the City of Martinsville and Patrick Henry Community College May 14-18, 2010. The tournament will consist of the top seven teams from the Division II conference of Region 10, which includes North Carolina and Virginia. In addition, L.B. Wallace Community College from Alabama will be receiving an automatic bid to the tournament to finish out the eight team tourney. “The event will bring a new level of athletic excitement to the area and introduce Junior College baseball to the state Virginia,” according to PHCC Athletic Director Chris Parker.

The event is a two game elimination tournament with the winner heading straight to the World Series the following weekend in Enid, Oklahoma. The tournament will attract numerous 4-year colleges, professional scouts, and many fans to the area.
“On average a couple hundred fans will be in attendance for the first few days of the tournament,” Parker said, who also serves as Head Baseball Coach at PHCC. “It is exciting to hold this event in Martinsville. The city has been great to work with and we certainly know the revenue that this event can generate for the Martinsville area.”

Assistant City Manager, Leon Towarnicki is grateful for the opportunity to host the tournament. “We're pleased to be selected to host the Region 10/District 22 Junior College Baseball Tournament at Hooker Field in Martinsville. We look forward to the opportunity to put on a first-class tournament and to showcase our community."

Last year’s tournament was held in Burlington, North Carolina. The Region was unable to secure hosting duties again this year in Burlington due to another tournament taking place, which opened up the opportunity for relocation for the 2010 tournament. Region 10 Baseball Chair Lind Hartsell had this to say about the relocation, “Martinsville has a great sports history with NASCAR, professional baseball, and currently a summer collegiate league team among other sport ventures. Region 10 looks to add to the historical sport perspective of Martinsville with a high level of NJCAA baseball. Again, we are excited about Martinsville hosting this year's tournament and hope to see you at the ballpark.”

Nelson Automotive has been announced as the official sponsor of the tournament and will be recognized nationally. More information on this tournament will be posted on Patrick Henry Community College’s athletic website: www.phccsports.com and on the National Junior College Athletics’ website: www.njcaa.org