BASEBALL TAB -- Goldsboro feature

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on March 15, 2014 11:12 PM

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astevens@newsargus.com

First-year Goldsboro head baseball coach Mike Harper knows has inherited a program pointed in the right direction.

He plans to keep the Cougars on course.

Harper replaced Jackson Massey, whose efforts to rebuild Goldsboro's once-storied program didn't always show up in the win column. He emphasized fundamentals and the Cougars proved to be more competitive during Massey's second season.

The players' knowledge of the game has dramatically increased, too.

"Coach Massey did a great job," Harper said. "He built a base and a foundation for the program. He had them knowing how to be in the right place and understanding situations and bunt defense and all of those types of things.

"He really did a good job of bringing out the best in the kids."

Goldsboro returns nine players from a team that finished 2-20 last season.

Harper and his players have set a goal of winning 10 games this spring. He sees a lot of baseball talent walking the hallways of Goldsboro High School, and he knows that it takes winning to restore the interest of the student body in the program.

"I see a lot of potential in kids, but I also see somebody that needs to know you care," Harper said. "They don't care how much you know until they know how much you are. I try to go around and let them know that baseball is a sport that can help you out in basketball and football.

"I want to build a program that plays hard-nosed, class baseball. Once you win, kids love to be a part of that."

The Cougars' strength offensively should be their speed. Lead-off man Isaiah Core possesses good speed and the ability to get on base either with a bunt or a base hit.

Cayce Herring, Jared Howard, Zack Falconer and Sterling Dodson each have the capability to drive in runs.

"We're going to have to play small ball," Harper said. "We're going to have to be aggressive on the base paths and play good situational baseball. We need to lay down bunts and be focused and never relaxed on the base paths."

Herring, Core and Howard are expected to anchor the pitching staff. With a solid defense behind them, the key is throwing strikes and letting their teammates do the work. Core and Herring are interchangeable at second base and shortstop.

Falconer and Kenny Stempien provide reliable gloves at the corners.

The outfield is stocked full of speed.

"Our biggest thing is working on throwing and fielding," Harper said. "The middle of our defense is going to be crucial. We have a good defensive team. We just have to iron out those two issues."

Harper has been pleased with his team's chemistry.

His main goal, however, has been to instill confidence in his players. His role as defensive coordinator on the Cougars' football team has helped him earn the trust of his players.

"They give max effort," Harper said. "They only thing that they have to accomplish themselves is actually having the confidence. I like they way they're together. They have a brotherhood and they encourage each other.

"I really didn't have to earn their trust because they understand the effort and body of work I've put together with the football team. They know that I'm going to prepare them to play."