UMO's Lancaster notches 1,000th career win

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 25, 2015 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

SALISBURY -- Justin Manning flashed the sign.

Jose Serrano nodded.

Catawba pinch-hitter Austin Stilley watched as the pitch popped into Manning's glove. The umpire called "strike three," and Manning and his University of Mount Olive teammates had finally done it.

They gave head coach Carl Lancaster career win No. 1,000 -- a nail-biting, 12-10 triumph over the No. 17-ranked Indians at Newman Park on Tuesday afternoon. Lancaster became the fourth active head coach and 14th overall to reach the 1,000-win plateau.

"Finally got it man," Lancaster said. "It's like fishing. You go out there and try and try, and sooner or later you get the big one. It's pretty special. I've been going through my head the last few weeks thinking about what's it going to mean. (And) then you don't know what you're going to say."

Lancaster grew silent.

Emotions nearly overtook the coach, who has spent 28 years building one of the nation's most-respected Division II programs that churn out All-Americans and professional Major League draftees like a factory on a yearly basis.

This one was never in doubt.

Before starter Jordy Farthing even took the mound, his teammates provided him with a four-run cushion. Two sacrifice flies, an error and Stephen Wallace's two-RBI double put No. 22-ranked UMO up 4-0.

Catawba closed the gap to 4-2.

But the Trojans answered with Joe Koehler's two-run homer -- his fourth of the season -- in the second inning. Kilgore Gailmard extended Mount Olive's advantage with a two-run, third-inning double that made the score 10-2.

"I feel like our approach to the plate today was huge for us," sophomore infielder Zak Orrison said. "We came out right away putting pressure on their pitching and it panned out for us. We had big hits and always seemed to have control of the game.

"They are a great-hitting team and our starter really did a great job with them. (Jordy) did very well after mishaps in the field, coming back and giving us another chance to make a play."

UMO added single runs in the fifth and eighth innings.

Winners of 12 consecutive games, the Indians pulled to within 11-8 through seven innings. Catawba swatted three home runs and received a combined seven RBI from Blake Houston, Will Albertson and TJ Wharton.

Serrano, the third reliever called out of the Trojans' bullpen, worked a tedious 22/3 innings. The junior right-hander permitted two runs on three hits and logged two strikeouts -- including the game-ender against Stilley.

"Backdoor curveball on the outside corner," Manning said.

Farthing (3-1) lasted 52/3 innings. Hunter Barnett and Ethan Horne combined for 2/3 innings on the bump until Serrano took over to record his second save of the season.

The quartet benefited from two double plays.

Catawba (23-5 overall) didn't help its cause with an uncharacteristic seven errors on defense. The Indians used eight pitchers, who combined to yield six unearned runs on 14 hits.

There was no dogpile on the mound after the final out.

"(But) there ain't many things better than seeing your skipper get a cooler full of water dumped on him," Stantonsburg native and UMO senior Tyler Farmer said.

Lancaster graciously thanked the late and former UMO President Dr. Burkett Raper, the faith then-athletics director Jimmy Williams had in hiring him, his former assistant coaches, his former players and his current coaching staff -- son Jesse, Rob Watt and Jason Sherrer.

"It's not about the wins, but seeing the guys leave the program, be successful in life and strong leaders in their communities, and raise their own families," Lancaster said. "Thanks to my wonderful wife, Robbie, and the kids for their support over the years. For all the times I was on the road recruiting and how Robbie raised such wonderful kids -- Jesse, Nolan, Leslie and Lee Anna.

"I'm pretty jacked up right now."