Best friends at Aycock, Hampton and Smitherman each follow their heart

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 28, 2014 1:51 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Good friends since their Babe Ruth years, Charles B. Aycock seniors Hank Smitherman and Bobby Hampton followed their heart during their respective recruiting campaigns.

Hampton opted for the mountains, an area he has always loved since he was four years old. He'll don some Appalachian State University baseball gear next spring.

Smitherman, a slick-fielding and smooth-throwing shortstop, is headed to the foothills of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains to play baseball at Lenoir-Rhyne College.

Each signed a national letter-of-intent and officially announced their intentions with their parents, siblings and Golden Falcons administrators and coaches in attendance Tuesday afternoon.

"Appalachian State, in my opinion, is getting one of the best left-handed pitchers in the east," CBA head baseball coach Charles Davis said. "Bobby has got the potential to do very well and he works at it. The thing about Hank is he's improved every year (and) defensively, he's been getting better and better for us.

"He will make the routine play for us and that's all we ask from our shortstop, and then he'll make that spectacular play for us. Both of those guys have done a lot of work in the offseason to get bigger and stronger."

Now they get the chance to extend their respective careers on the collegiate level.

Smitherman entertained offers from numerous schools, but felt a certain connection with L-RC. During his official visit, he got a chance to take infield with the team. A natural infielder, he gobbled up ground balls and zipped throws to either first or second base in an effortless manner.

He felt right at home.

"For me, since I was able to go and practice with the team, I was able to see what they have and didn't have," said Smitherman, who received attention from Davidson, Duke and Wingate.

"I know they have one other infielder signed who is a second baseman, and Coach (Tom) Fleenor said he could see me coming in and hopefully getting a lot of playing time at short. He seems like a very respectable guy ... made it feel like it was the best place to be."

Hampton isn't quite sure what his role will be with the Mountaineers. He could emerge as either a starter or closer during mid-week games and weekend series.

Regardless, the southpaw -- who throws in the low 80s -- anxiously awaits the chance to pitch in a higher altitude.

"(Head) Coach (Billy Jones) has been talking with me, depending on the situation, to come in for an inning or two and try to shut down (the other team) or start a game ... try to get a win," said Hampton, who courted North Carolina, UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington.

"He's told me I can come in as a freshman and get things done depending on my performance."

Davis will depend on Hampton and Smitherman to lead an experienced team this spring. The Golden Falcons return their starting lineup nearly intact and will look to improve upon last year's heart-breaking fourth-round exit in the playoffs.

Aycock ended the year 18-10 overall.

Smitherman played in all 28 games and batted .279. He drove in 14 runs and cranked out four extra-base hits -- including a home run against Southern Lee in third-round playoff action. Defensively, he recorded 39 putouts and 53 assists.

Hampton posted a 1.43 earned run average on the bump and fanned 112 batters in 68-plus innings. Offensively, he delivered 23 hits, 10 RBI and swiped a team-leading 13 bases.

"I'm looking for big things from them this year and I think they'll do very well at the college level," Davis said.