Sasser-Price reunited at NC State

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on March 25, 2010 1:46 PM

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Friendship is bigger than baseball for Grant Sasser and Brandon Price, who starred together at Charles B. Aycock High School.

The duo has been reunited this spring in the dugout at North Carolina State, and by all accounts, the relationship has had positive affects on both young pitchers.

"Having Brandon here has been fun because we have known each other since we were five years old," said Sasser. "I'm looking forward to having him here and working with him to make this team the best it can be."

Sasser is a staple in the Wolfpack bullpen and has been a big part of the team's success over the past three seasons. After winning a state championship with the Golden Falcons in 2007, Sasser nearly reached the pinnacle of the college game as a freshman.

"My freshman year we were one game away from the College World Series," said Sasser. "And when you get that close it leaves a taste in your mouth. It makes you want to get there even more."

So far this season, Sasser has tallied a 2-1 record in six appearances.

Pitching in both situational appearances and long relief keeps Sasser on his toes during the stretch run of Atlantic Coast Conference games. Having good practice habits and an unyielding work ethic has been essential to Sasser's development.

"I don't really think about what is going to come next," said Sasser. "As a pitcher there is that element of not knowing if I'm going to face one batter, one inning or seven innings so I just try to be prepared for anything."

With dozens of Division I innings under his belt, Sasser has found a successful routine that he has helped Price learn in his first year at N.C. State. A former Lenoir Community College standout, Price transferred to Raleigh to pursue an engineering degree and decided to try out for the team as a walk-on.

"The whole process is tough because you come in and start working, and you never really know where you stand," said Price. "There is the uncertainty of maybe making the team or redshirting or even getting cut."

Price made the team as a reliever and immediately turned to his old friend for advice.

"I definitely think having Grant here helped me transition," said Price. "All of the routines and the practice stuff that I had questions about, he was there to answer them."

Though he is yet to make his first pitch as a member of the Wolfpack, Price has had no trouble making the most of his opportunity.

"I am really enjoying it here and I hope to keep getting better every time I step on the field," said Price. "I don't really have any personal goals because I think that personal accomplishments take care of themselves when the team does well."