Alumni game, HR derby, clinic scheduled at MOC

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on October 17, 2008 1:46 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive's baseball team received plenty of support from the community during its run to an NCAA Division II national championship last season.

Now it's the Trojans' turn to give back.

Mount Olive and the United Way will host a free baseball clinic for youth ages 5-18 from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday at Scarborough Field.

Registration for the clinic begins at 12:30 p.m. and the first 25 youth will receive a scholarship to the 2009 George Whitfield Baseball Clinic, scheduled for January 10, 2009 at Goldsboro High School. In addition, free baseballs will be given to clinic participants during registration while supplies last.

"David Perry, the Chair of the United Way and I are good friends," said Trojans head coach Carl Lancaster. "We've always tried to do something in the community. He and I were talking and we just felt like it would be a good experience for the kids. We're hoping we have a good draw."

The clinic will be followed by a home run derby featuring former Mount Olive first baseman and current member of the Staten Island Yankees Erik Lovett. Lovett currently holds the school record for career home runs.

Joining Lovett will be current Trojans Rich Racobaldo and Alex Vertcnik, along with East Carolina standouts Kyle Roller and Devin Harris.

Rounding out the field are former Trojan and Southern Wayne head baseball coach Trae McKee, his brother Scott McKee, Craig Hurba, Dustin Richardson and Carl Whittington.

Kids participating in the baseball clinic will be allowed to shag fly balls in the outfield during the home run derby.

The home run derby will be followed by an alumni game featuring former Mount Olive players against the Trojans' current roster. As Mount Olive continues to produce players with successful minor league careers, the former Trojans have typically dominated the alumni game.

"They beat us every year," said Lancaster of the alumni. "Typically the alumni do quite well and right now there's a lot of them that are still active. We have about 20 to 25 boys coming back and I think most of the guys off the championship team are going to be back.

"It's just a great evening to get those guys back."