All-Area Baseball Capsules

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on June 16, 2017 7:25 AM

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Cody Whaley, Charles B. Aycock -- Pitcher of the Year

Position: Pitcher

Class: Junior

Diamond Notes: In the words of former CBA skipper Charles Davis, the no-frills Whaley is a pitcher -- not a thrower -- and the evidence to support his claim is substantive... used arm-side fastball run and a true 12-sixer to go 7-1 this spring, allowing just nine earned runs while fanning 74 batters... posted an ERA (earned run average) of 1.01 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.7:1.

In terms of potential, he's flush -- stay tuned.

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Jonathan Peacock, Rosewood

Position: Pitcher

Class: Junior

Diamond Notes: An all-area candidate at multiple positions, Peacock was stellar this season in Rosewood's plug-and-play system of interchangeable parts... was sterling on the hill, allowing just 45 hits over 62 2/3 innings pitched... posted an ERA of 1.31 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.71:1... also gave pitchers fits at the plate, batting .348 with 31 hits, 15 RBI and nine extra-base hits... if you're starting a club in Wayne County, look no further.

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Kolby Harris, Rosewood

Position: Pitcher

Class: Junior

Diamond Notes: Economical on the cliff, Harris tendered a 2.30 ERA in 48 2/3 innings tossed this spring -- good enough for a 7-1 mark and second amongst Carolina 1-A conference pitchers... totaled 55 strikeouts over 684 pitches, walked just 12 batters and allowed a mere 16 earned runs... fielded crisply as well, as evidenced by 43 put outs and 31 assists in 78 total chances... batted .337 with 33 hits and 19 RBI.

In short, every ball club needs a guy liks Harris.

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Derek Neal, Rosewood -- Player of the Year

Position: Catcher

Class: Senior

Diamond Notes: Batted .440 this spring with 37 hits, 29 RBI, nine extra base hits and four home runs... filed an OBP (on-base percentage) of .529 and OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.219 -- both tops for catchers in the GNA readership area... a skipper between the chalk, Neal quarterbacked a standing-room-only bullpen to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A east regional championship series... fielded his position cleanly, with just 13 errors in 131 total chances (.977).

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Mitch Turnage, Wayne Country Day School

Position: First Base

Class: Senior

Diamond Notes: Tendered machine-like consistency in the batters' box this spring, posting a video-game like .642 average in just 68 plate appearances... played through a season-long hamstring injury to record 32 hits, 30 RBI and five home runs... also posted an absurd OPS mark of 1.706... lead WCDS to an overall record of 18-6, its first Coastal Plains Independent Conference title since 2010 and a berth in the NCISAA state semifinals... signed to Lenoir Community College.

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Chance Howard, Rosewood

Position: Second Base

Class: Junior

Diamond Notes: A contact hitter extraordinairre, the multi-sport Howard used patience and pop to post a .421 batting average this spring in an All-Area leading 116 plate appearances... diverse spray chart featured 24 singles, 18 double-baggers and three trips to third base... also ran well, swiping 17 pads for an aggressive, free-wheeling Eagle outfit... even worked effectively out of a crowded pen, where he managed an ERA (earned run average) of 1.45 in 19.1 innings pitched.

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Chandler Matthews, Charles B. Aycock

Position: Shortstop

Class: Senior

Diamond Notes: One could set a clock by Matthews, a first-in, last-out sort who held a variety of duties in solid balance for the blues this spring... batted a solid .368 with 32 base knocks and 20 RBI... also fielded crisply, committing just six errors in 98 total chances... earned the official victory in Aycock's 18-0 thumping of Southeastern Home School at Wilson's Fleming Stadium -- which just so happened to be victory number 500 for skipper Charles Davis.

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Christian Yarbrough, Spring Creek

Position: Third Base

Class: Junior

Diamond Notes: Solid from start to finish, Yarbrough compiled a .534 batting average this spring... patient and sneaky powerful, No. 4 banged out 39 base hits (13 for extra bases), 23 RBI and a solo home run during a 4-3 setback to Rosewood on April 27... the hot corner attendant's finest hour, however, occurred at the Deacon Jones Invitational in Princeton, where he went 7-8 with six hits, four RBI and six runs scored over two games -- not too shabby.

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Landon Ginn, Eastern Wayne

Position: P/IF/OF

Class: Freshman

Diamond Notes: Some develop over time, some arrived packaged for success... such was the latter for New Hope's prized utility knife, who rapped out 28 base hits and 11 RBI en route to posting a .406 batting average and .947 OPS this spring... he also scaled the cliff for skipper Walker Gourley, performing ably, fanning 32 batters in 34 2/3 innings with a 2.83 ERA. So, what to expect from the East Carolina commit next season? More, naturally -- and my, is he capable.

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Tucker Chapin, Rosewood

Position: OF

Class: Junior

Diamond Notes: An unsung, yet highly integral member of the Eagle nine, Chapin batted a comprehensive .333 out of the 5-hole this season... produced 27 base hits (six for extra bases), 18 RBI and had nine -- yes, nine -- multi-hit games... played the hero down the stretch in Rosewood's fourth-round playoff victory over Voyager, going 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored... trustworthy in the field as well, committing just a single error over 87 total chances.

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Tanner Wells, Eastern Wayne

Position: /OF

Class: Senior

Diamond Notes: This glue guy did everything but screen-drag the infield at Dub Central this season, and the proof is in the considerable Maxpreps pudding -- a .364 batting average, 24 base hits, nine RBI and four home runs... also battled his way to a 1.120 OPS mark in a meager 79 plate appearances... also flashed glove at multiple positions, committing just seven errors in 51 total chances... signed, sealed and soon-to-be delivered to the coaching staff at High Point University.