2015 Wayne County Hot Stove: Individual award winners

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 3, 2015 1:48 PM

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The past, present and future success of Wayne County baseball is developed by its coaches, players and umpires.

Six individuals were recognized and each received a plaque for either their achievements or contributions on the baseball diamond in 2014.

* Jerry Narron Award -- Reed Howell, a freshman at Appalachian State and Rosewood alum. He compiled an 11-2 record and 0.90 ERA on the mound, and helped guide the Eagles to the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional championship series.

* Clyde King Award -- Landon Letchworth, a freshman at Gardner-Webb University and North Lenoir alum. His father, Dana, and mother, Stephanie, accepted the award on his behalf since Landon could not attend the ceremony due to practice. Named the Eastern Carolina 2-A player-of-the-year, Letchworth fashioned a 7-0 record and 0,85 ERA on the mound for the Hawks, who advanced to the eastern 2-A regional championship series.

* Doyle Whitfield Award -- Rosewood head coach Jason King and Spring Creek head coach Heath Whitfield. King guided the Eagles to their third Carolina Conference regular-season title in the past six seasons. Whitfield's Gators manufactured a program-best 18 wins, a team ERA of 1.02 and surrendered just 16 runs total in 14 league games.

"To get an award from a guy I've idolized and has been my hero my whole life with his name on it, to me, it just doesn't get any better than that," Whitfield said.

* John Thomas Award -- Allen Nichols, who has spent 20-plus years volunteering his time to coach numerous teams in different capacities for the Spring Creek community. Nichols is the clock operator for home basketball games and scoreboard keeper during baseball season.

"When smart people are talking, you listen and I try to listen to all of y'all," a modest Nichols said. "I've tried to learn a little something. Richard Harrell has been with me about 90 percent of those years and my wife (Debbie) knows just about everything in the game."

* George Whitfield Award -- Tim Naughton, a freshman at N.C. State and Charles B. Aycock alum. Naughton compiled a 4.9 grade-point average in the classroom and graduated third out of his 258-student senior class. He is a walk-on with the Wolfpack baseball team and received a $500 scholarship.

Long-time umpire Jerry Johnson presented Rodney Bell with an NCHSAA Service Award, and recognized Leo Lockhart as the recipient of the Bill Suggs Award.

Hot Stove organizer Roger May presented three special awards -- a plaque to King and his RHS team for their outstanding season, a $300 donation to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in honor of Mr. King and a $300 donation to the Wayne County Babe Ruth Association.