Crumpler likes Rebels' 'makeup' so far this season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 22, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

CALYPSO -- Young talent mixed with experienced upperclassmen has helped filled the void left by a trend-setting senior class.

And North Duplin hasn't skipped a beat on the baseball diamond this spring.

Heading into tonight's home clash against Rosewood, the Rebels (5-2 overall) are one of four unbeaten in Carolina 1-A Conference ranks. They share the league lead with the Eagles (6-3), Princeton and 2015 regular-season champion Spring Creek.

North Duplin, so far, has lived up to one goal.

"The team's potential is, I believe, to be very competitive in the conference this year," second-year ND head coach Chuck Crumpler said. "I personally think that we're slightly above average in all aspects of the game. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement day in and out."

Six starters return -- junior infielder Copeland Brickhouse, senior Dustin Carter, senior DJ Morrisey, senior Caleb Cashwell, senior Hunter Thurston and sophomore Colby Bass.

Carter and Morrisey take over a bullpen that lost a key all-conference performer, Trey Pate, to graduation. Pate signed with the University of Mount Olive after helping guide the Rebels to a fourth-round appearance in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs a year ago.

The Rebels finished 12-9 and advanced to the eastern semifinals for the first time in program history, according to Association records. Crumpler's team played all four games on the road, including a third-round triumph at Rosewood.

Five versatile players moved up to the varsity -- senior Ethan Brock, junior Chase King, sophomore Josh White, sophomore Dylan Jones and sophomore Ricky Cameron. White, Jones and Cameron will share the pitching duties with Carter and Morrisey.

North Duplin has tallied 53 runs this season and has the league's second-best scoring defense (2.67 runs/game) behind Princeton, which has three conference shutouts.

Rosewood has yielded just nine runs in three league outings.

Although the season has 1 1/2 months remaining, Crumpler is optimistic his team can challenge for the program's first league championship since 2013.

"I'd really like to see us finish strong within the conference and make the playoffs," Crumpler said. "(If we) get to the playoffs, maybe we can make a run."

The Rebels have appeared in the postseason every year since 2010 and boast an 11-7 record during that stretch. However, ND has not hosted a playoff game since 2013.