Allen Coor -- Limestone

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 22, 2015 2:19 PM

• Print
• Email

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Limestone head baseball coach Chris Wiley has officially opened his pipeline -- as promised -- to Wayne County.

His first recruit?

Allen Coor.

The Southern Wayne alum learned about Coor through conversations with his former head coach, Doyle Whitfield. The two traded notes on Coor, a senior utility player at Spring Creek who hasn't generated much attention from collegiate scouts.

Coor has the tools.

Wiley is eager to refine them.

"Coach Whitfield talking to him about me, that's pretty cool," said Coor, who signed a national letter-of-intent to play for the Saints.

"I'm getting recruited as a middle infielder, but I will play whereever he wants me to play ... no big deal. I'll be glad to be out there, no matter what."

Limestone just completed its first season with Wiley in the dugout. The Saints logged a 15-26 worksheet that included a 10-14 mark against Conference Carolinas opposition. The program's lone regular-season championship occurred in 2005.

The Saints have never advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament.

Wiley is looking for players like Coor to help change the program's culture.

"I'm really happy for Allen," Spring Creek head coach Heath Whitfield said. "He has always dreamed and worked towards playing at the next level. Chris is a good guy and I think Allen will enjoy playing down there.

"Hopefully (he) can help get their program back where it belongs. I think the small school setting will be great for him."

The usually shy and reserved Coor has broken out of his shell within the last year. He helped Spring Creek compile a single-season, school-record 18 wins in 2014. The Gators' campaign ended with a second-round loss to Perquimans County in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs.

Coor stepped onto the summer scene and earned a starting role with Wayne County Post 11 -- as a designated hitter at first and then eventually as a field position player. He -- along with SC teammates Chad Spurgeon and Logan Miller -- helped Post 11 secure the Area I East title and reach the final four of the N.C. Senior American Legion state tournament.

It was a beneficial experience for Coor.

"With Senior Legion, I saw a lot of pitching that was like college pitching and I didn't do too bad with that," said Coor, who occasionally showed impatience at the plate.

"I probably won't be a big power guy, but I can get some singles ... maybe a double every now and then. Defense, I have experience playing every position so I think can adapt pretty much anywhere."

Coor doesn't anticipate any trouble adapting to the 24/7 grind of college baseball that includes stringent workout sessions along with a short fall season. But he admits his leadership skills and meeting new people in a bigger environment will present some challenges.

"That's going to be a big change," said Coor.