Rose basketball highlights
Ringing in the new year with baseball success
SAT. | 10-30-21 | SPORTS
At the Rose homecoming game, not only were the fans honoring the football victory, but also the Rose baseball team. The 7th state title was earned by the team this past summer as they defeated Cox Mill High School 9-4 in the 2nd game of the 3 game series.
The Rose team received their rings on the field after the first quarter. With these players excited to receive their rings, future varsity baseball players are given hope and excitement for the next season to try and go back to the state championship.
“Everyone in this program now knows that this is an attainable goal,” junior Perry Eveleth said. “They know you have to work hard but also be very fortunate to get to the state tournament.”
Senior Tyler Bonds, the ace of the Rose team, started in the championship game and paved the road to victory with the team putting up nine runs in the seven inning ball game. To finish the Rampants winning season, starting shortstop Wade
Photo by Drew Fields
Jarman was brought into the game to finish off the Cox Mill offense.
“Wade Jarman was put in and faced 5 batters and got 5 outs to finish the game,” head coach Ronald Vincent said.
Jarman is a freshman at Lenoir Community College and is planning on playing baseball at the school this year. Jarman was the starting shortstop and closing pitcher for Rose for the last 2 years. He played an important role in the team's success, especially in high pressure situations and close games against talented teams.
Going into a championship game against a top tier school with players committed to University of North Carolina (UNC Chapel Hill) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) among other D1 colleges. Players and coaches were putting in dedication and hard work at day-long practices to prepare them for the biggest game of the season.
“We took a lot of batting practice to prepare for that level of pitching and learned to hold off on bad pitches and watch the off speed,” Coach Vincent said.
Six of the 25 players on the 2020 state championship team were talking with colleges and had plans to play baseball at the collegiate level. From D2 schools to community colleges, players like Ryker Galaska, starting catcher, and Caleb May, starting second baseman, are now attending Pitt Community College while Lee Watson, a pitcher, is now attending Transylvania University.
The team consisted of mostly juniors and seniors, but a few sophomores were given the opportunity to be on this champion winning team. Eveleth, catcher for the Rampants, was a part of this team last year.
“This was a rare opportunity because most people don't get to be a part of a varsity team as a sophomore,” Eveleth said.
With star player Tyler Bonds and many other starters from the championship team returning this year, Vincent and players are already practicing every day to prepare for the upcoming season in high hopes to return to the state platform again this year.
