Piedmont Pride’s 2016 season begins Wednesday
The Piedmont Pride is returning to Rock Hill to play its second season in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League (SCBL) at Winthrop Ballpark.
Last season the Pride finished with a 32-7 record, clinching first place in the league by eight games. The Pride lost in the second round of the playoffs, a one-game playoff that didn’t sit well with coach Joe Hudak. The league’s playoff format has been changed this summer, making the second round a best-of-three series.
The Pride will play 20 of their 42 games this summer at Winthrop. The team’s players are drawn from colleges across the country, but the roster features just three players from the inaugural season – pitchers Connor Pate, Tristan Helms, and Daniel Sweeney.
Hudak said, “That’s the interesting thing about a summer team, its like Tom Hanks said in ‘Forrest Gump,’ ‘(It’s) like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re gonna get.’ I don’t know a lot about any of these guys; they’re from all over the country.”
After spending a little over a week with the team, Hudak feels optimistic about the summer. The squad is young, consisting of mostly freshmen and sophomores, several of whom redshirted this spring. Hudak said once the guys get reps on the field and at the plate under their belt, the kinks will work themselves out.
Most of them I’ve never seen. I can look at their stats from their school, I can talk to their coaches, so it’s really hard.
Piedmont Pride coach Joe Hudak
The Pride is sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). As a Christian-based organization, Hudak has three goals for the athletes this summer: win, grow in their faith, and give back to the community. Because of its Christian roots, the Pride doesn’t look for the best player, but the right player.
Hudak, the area director for the FCA in Rock Hill, has coached at Winthrop, Mississippi State, Geneva and Kent State, and uses the contacts and connections made during his lengthy career to find Piedmont Pride players. As the Winthrop head coach for 19 years, Hudak led the Eagles to six 40-win seasons, five NCAA regionals, and sent 27 players to pro ball.
Hudak is trying to create a fun and friendly atmosphere. Besides great baseball, the games will feature competitions for fans such as dizzy bat, run the bases, inning-by-inning baseball bingo, and baseball trivia. The team also has a number of promotional nights, including youth nights, firework shows, uniform nights, and dollar nights, for the local community.
Meet the Piedmont Pride
Pitchers
Tristan Helms is a lefty at Appalachian State from Aberdeen, N.C. Based on his past occupations, Helms is your go-to guy for auto detailing, or picking frozen yogurt flavors.
Zach English is a right-hander at LaGrange from Oakwood, Ga. English was a standout pitcher for LaGrange, but also a standout QB in high school. Arm of Thor? Maybe so.
Jason Goe is a right-hander at Morehead State from Dry Ridge, Ky. Appeared in 14 games for Morehead. If you tweet to him - @goejason - he frequently replies with GIFs.
Ryan Huey is a right-hander at Slippery Rock University from Connellsville, Pa. A walk-on, Huey appeared as a relief pitcher this season. Also a Miami Dolphins fan, according to his Twitter account.
Connor Pate is a right-hander at Francis Marion from McColl, S.C. Pate transferred from Coastal Carolina after sitting out the 2015 season as a redshirt. As a chemistry major, he might soon discover how to best remove dirt and grass stains from baseball uniforms.
Zach Shank is a right-hander at Eastern New Mexico from Gallup, N.M. Before playing baseball at Eastern New Mexico, Shank played quarterback at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla. Will battle Zach English for the Pride’s starting job.
Daniel Sweeney is a right-hander at East Tennessee State from Johnson City, Tenn. Redshirted the 2015 season at East Tennessee. Struck out 42 batters in 45 innings his senior year of high school, 2014.
Arien Seymour is a southpaw at Francis Marion from Nassau, Bahamas. Nicknamed Sauce, reason currently unknown. Seymour’s Francis Marion player profile page describes his strong interest in the Fast and the Furious movies and New York Mets standout Yoenis Cespedes. Will Seymour follow Cespedes’ suit and drive a different car to Pride practice every day?
Andrew Corbitt is a right-hander from South Georgia state from Powatan, Va. Corbitt scares batters with his fastball and breaking ball. Major Leaguer Jim Abbott is a major inspiration.
Noah Watts is a right-hander at The Citadel from Huntersville, N.C. Watts shares his name with a little known actor, but hopes to make his own name with the Pride this summer.
Infielders
Ryan Kahl is a catcher at Nyack College from Sebastian, Fla. Florida transplant who has a strong allegiance to Boston sports, according to social media. When not behind the plate you can catch him relaxing with a rod and reel or just enjoying the classic 1990’s movie, “The Sandlot.”
Bailey Montoya is a catcher at Dayton from Farmersville, Ohio. More than likely his favorite commandment is “Thou shalt not steal,” which is coincidentally also the title of his YouTube highlight video.
Justin Sparks is a catcher at Western Carolina from Hendersonville, N.C. Keep an eye out for Sparks at the plate, you’ll see him draw a No. 2 and a cross in the dirt, a small memento to two fallen friends.
Brock Beeler is an infielder at East Tennessee State from Knoxville, Tenn.. According to Twitter, he has - or had? - a pet fish named Chet. Entered college as a walk-on in both football and baseball.
Jonathan Embry is an infielder at Liberty from Louisville, Ky. Embry redshirted for the Flames this spring; he led his high school team in runs, hits, triples, and stolen bases as a senior.
Eric Jones is an infielder at Gardner-Webb from Charlotte Court House, Va. Jones appeared in 37 games during his freshman season, batting .227. Jones hit .549 his senior year of high school.
Chuck Lawing is a first baseman at Lander from Belmont, N.C. His older brother also played baseball at Lander and Lawing is a big fan of Tim Tebow.
Trey Logan is an infielder at Georgia from Swanee, Ga. Logan started 13 games with 42 at-bats during his freshman season at Georgia. When not playing baseball he can be found cheering for the Memphis Grizzlies and Nashville Predators.
Chandler Redmond is a first baseman at Gardner-Webb from Middletown, Md. His favorite Major League player is Chipper Jones, from his favorite team, the Atlanta Braves. Coming out of high school, Redmond also considered playing in the Ivy League.
Outfielders
Derek Horton is a redshirt outfielder at Liberty from Forest, Va. Liberty coach Jim Toman said Horton was one of the strongest and fastest recruits in the school’s 2015 class. Still checking to see if he also hears Dr. Seuss’s “Whos.”
Jake Moebius is a pitcher and outfielder at Western Carolina from Greensboro, N.C. Moebius’ favorite MLB star is Mike Trout, and like any baseball player he is more than a “little-stitious.” Moebius ritually tapes his left wrist before each game.
Mike Morgan is an outfielder at St. Thomas Aquinas College from Middle Village, N.Y. Morgan batted .291 in his first season with the NCAA Division II Spartans and is majoring in accounting. He might even help you with your taxes in the future.
Sam Sustersic is an outfielder at Dayton from Richfield, Ohio. An exercise science major, Sustersic made the Atlantic 10 Honor Roll last fall.
This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Piedmont Pride’s 2016 season begins Wednesday."