Wooten eager to share story with Hot Stove League crowd

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 25, 2014 11:22 PM

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Not many Hot Stove Leagues can boast about having an active Major League Baseball player/coach these days.

Wayne County can brag about three -- Rob Wooten, Johnny Narron and Jerry Narron. Wooten was called up by the Brewers late last season after several stellar seasons with Triple-A Nashville. Johnny is a bench coach, while Jerry serves as the team's hitting instructor.

Wooten returns home Monday evening as the guest speaker for the eighth installment of the Wayne County Hot Stove League banquet.

A social/dinner kicks off the evening's festivities at 6 p.m. with the program scheduled for 7 at Lane Tree Golf Club. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

"I'm looking forward to it," Wooten said. "That room is always filled up with great baseball people and I'm honored they asked me to share my story."

The Fremont native made his first-ever Major League appearance in relief against the Colorado Rockies on July 26, 2013. He replaced starter Wally Peralta in the fourth inning and faced 10 batters during a 28-pitch outing.

A right-hander, Wooten coaxed Colorado into three groundouts, three flyouts and one strikeout.

"Something I'll never forget ... words can't describe the feeling," Wooten said to the News-Argus the following day.

Wooten concluded his first stint in "The Show" with a 3-1 record and 3.90 earned run average in 27 2/3 innings of work. He recorded 18 strikeouts and surrendered 12 runs in 27 mound appearances.

"We are excited to have Rob as a guest speaker," said Roger May, who helped organize the WCHSL. "He is a great success story who persevered a lot through his career, but never gave up. Any young player can benefit in hearing his story."

May will also recognize three outstanding area coaches -- University of Mount Olive's Carl Lancaster, former Greene Central and Snow Hill Post 94 coach James "Rabbit" Fulghum and baseball journeyman George Whitfield.

Recipients of the annual WCHSL awards will be unveiled.

More than $1,000 in scholarships is split among a deserving area baseball player, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Wayne County Babe Ruth Association.

The WCHSL provided a $200 equipment supplement for all of Wayne County's high school baseball programs last spring.

"(The WCHSL) was originated to acknowledge Wayne County and high school players in surrounding counties for their success on the baseball field," May said. "Everything we make through the banquet we give back to the community."