The North Carolina Baseball League (NCBL)

[VARoadstter]

Now we profile the Durham Dragons:



Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8189-8012 (.505)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 19
Number of State Championships: 6 (2008, 2026, 2028, 2031, 2036, 2050)
Best Season: tie, 99-63 .611 (2026, 2028) Won State Championship
Worst Season: tie, 62-100 .383 (2043, 2054)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Burt Crouch, Durham SP from 2025-2039, 192 wins (played entire career in Durham)

Originally a 12th round draft pick by the Raleigh Cardinals in 2021, Durham moved quickly to acquire the youngster from Rocky Mount. Perhaps the scouts understood that at 6' 7", Crouch hadn't yet grown into his large frame and that better days lay ahead for the man with the herky-jerky delivery. Regardless of the reason, they had a plan for Crouch that involved giving him time to develop before being brought to the big club. For the next 5 years, Crouch worked his way through every level of the Dragon's minor league system and made the most of every opportunity. By the time Crouch had reached the majors he had developed 5 legitimate pitches that he could throw at any point in the count. His arrival in Durham at the start of 2025 was a key event in the Dragon's World Championship puzzle, as he anchored the staff that won in 2026, 2028, 2031, and 2036. Along the way, he picked up a lot of recognition as he picked up 4 Pitcher of the Year awards and was selected an all-star 9 times. His best season was in 2034 as he compiled a spectacular 22-4 record with a 3.03 ERA. He struck out 207 while walking only 62 batters on the season. Crouch padded his resume on July 4th, 2032 when he no-hit the Wilmington Warriors.

Best Position Player: Don Rogers - Durham 1st Baseman from 2045-2062, lifetime .317 BA, 735 HR (694 with Durham), and 2222 RBI (2077 with Durham)

MLB has Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth, the NCBL has Don Rogers. The career leader in HR, RBI, and total bases (6399) dominated the NCBL for 19 seasons. The Hall of Famer was drafted with the fourth pick in the first round of the 2041 draft after the Northwest Guilford High School star had led the team to a state championship in 2040. Rogers was both dominating and reliable throughout his entire career. Rarely out of the lineup, Rogers terrorized the leage with his powerful bat and menacing presense.

Rogers best season came in 2047 when he hit .356 with 56 HR, and 150 RBI. Altogether he managed 9 seasons with 40+ HR and 8 seasons with 120+ RBI. He was a member of only one State Championship team (2050) but won the Hitter of the Year 4 times, won a gold glove, and appeared in a record 19 all-star games.

Rogers was a lock to become a Hall of Famer as soon as he became eligible.

Current Roster

Durham finished 2059 with a respectable 86-76 record, good enough for 2nd in the Piedmont Silver division. The Dragons have the best starting pitching in the league, led by 16 game winner Juan Mares, 15 game winner Barry Stevenson, and 15 game winner Joe Evans. Offensively, they rely on 2B Bob Ericson (.292 35 110), C Juan Salas (.308 26 96), and RF Bob Park (.276 30 89) to key the offense. The Dragons expect to see superstar-in-waiting SS Mark Blevins (#36 overall prospect) to see time with the big club this season.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Kinston Islanders (61-69)
AA: Morehead City Kings (67-53)
A: Tarboro Raptors (73-47)
Short Season A: Washington Bandits (23-31)
Rookie League: Mebane Wolves (32-30)


2100 Projected Finish
100-62 First in Piedmont Silver Division

[VARoadstter]

Fayetteville Patriots:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8329-7874 (.514)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 36
Number of State Championships: 5 (2029, 2032-33, 2035, 2056)
Best Season: 2053 (102-60, .636) Made Playoffs
Worst Season: 2020 (60-102, .370)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: John Price, starter for Fayetteville from 2032-2049, 268 wins (223 for Fayetteville)

Some players, even great players, can wear out after season after season of grueling games while others seemingly go on forever. In the case of John Price, his career lasted for over 21 seasons. In that time he collected the 3rd most wins in the history of the NCBL, set the Career Record for Games Started with 682, but also set the Career Loss Record with 221. Price was reliable and occasionally dominant as he played a major role in the State Championship teams in 2032, 2033, and 2035. Of all his seasons, though, his 2039 effort (17-8, 3.34 ERA 178 k/52 walk) was the best.

John failed to win a Pitcher of the Year award but was selected to participate in 11 all-star games.

Best Position Player: Willie Pace, catcher for Fayetteville from 2009-2017.

Willie Pace was a member of the Patriots for only 8 seasons of his 14 year career but what seasons those were! Pace was a powerful bat in the lineup and helped remove the "perennial loser" label that had plagued Fayetteville until his arrival. Although they failed to win any State Championships while Pace was there he forever changed the way the team was percieved and inspired confidence in the younger and coaches that would begin to reap the benefits of such hard work a few years later. Make no mistake, there wasn't a GM in the league that wouldn't have gladly brought Pace on board.

Pace managed to win the Hitter of the Year once (2009) as well as earn two gold gloves (2009, 2010). Indeed, 2009 was the best of all his seasons as Pace tore up the league with a .344 55 170 season. For his career, Pace finished with a .252 average, 306 HR, and 994 RBI.

Current Roster

Fayetteville finished a close second to Concord in 2099 with a record of 85-77. They have some good young arms in the rotation that could step forward this season to help Fayetteville make a pennant run. 24 year old Allen Williams is proving to be the best of them as he went 12-6 in 26 starts last year and could easilly win 17 or 18 this season.

Offensively, they have some nice parts as well, with 1B Ryan Cole (.314 32 107) and RF David Bright (.318 32 108) providing the power in the middle of the lineup.

The Patriots have several young pitchers in their farm system who are developing into future stars but it is unlikely that any of them will make it to the majors this year.


Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Hickory Bats (61-69)
AA: Roanoake Rapids Rivermen (61-59)
A: Indian Trail Guides (51-69)
Short Season A: Oxford Red Sox (40-14)
Rookie League: Conover Vikings (44-18)

2100 Projected Finish

86-76 2nd in Appalachian Platinum Division

[VARoadstter]

Gastonia Kings:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8199-8022 (.506)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 25
Number of State Championships: 9 (2003, 2012, 2043, 2054, 2057-58, 2071, 2092-93)
Best Season: 2059 (110-52 .679) Made Playoffs
Worst Season: 2040 (55-107 .340)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Michael Coleman, starter for Gastonia from 2052-2073, 303 Wins (290 with Gastonia)

Michael Coleman, born in Raleigh in 2033, and an alumni of Independence High School, is only the second pitcher to eclipse the 300 win milestone in the NCBL. Given the nickname "Turbo" by his teammates as a sarcastic commentary on the methodical way he prepared each and every pitch, Coleman gave away nothing to the opposition regardless of the score or situation. He pitched as hard when he was up by 10 as he did when it was a one run game. A 7 time Pitcher of the Year and a 12 time all-star, Coleman had a long career with Gastonia and then continued with 4 other teams before he finally decided it was time to leave the game he loved so much. Coleman revelled in his role of staff ace and he led his team to 4 State Championships.

Michael is the Career Leader in Strikeouts with 4520 and VORP at 1173.1. He is also the Single Season Leader in WHIP (0.88 in 2059), Opponent OBP (.238 in 2059), and Opponent OPS (.534 in 2059). Indeed, the 2059 was his best season as he recorded a record of 22-3 with an ERA of 1.96 while striking out 303 batters while walking 33. It is hard to imagine a pitcher ever having a better individual season than that one.



Best Position Player: Javier Vasquez, 2B for Gastonia from 2017-2031

Vasquez was the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft. The teams that bypassed Javier made a huge mistake as he turned out to be a dominating performer in the NCBL. Overall he finished with a .303 BA, 497 HR, and 1526 RBI. His best season, in 2026, saw him hit .329 with 44 HR and 134 RBI.

Vasquez was never on a championship team, but he did win the RoY in 2017, a Most Valuable Hitter Award in 2018, as well as appearing in 11 all-star games. Javier holds the Career 2nd Baseman Records for Runs (1424), Hits (2710), Total Bases (4614), Singles (1835), Home Runs (497), and RBI (1526). He holds the single season 2nd Baseman Records for Total Bases (393) in 2018.

Vasquez is in the Hall of Fame.

Current Roster

Gastonia finished a dissapointing 3rd in the Piedmont Silver division with a record of 84-78. They have returning starter Dennis Anderson (15-12, 4.91) leading the staff. Offensively, they rely on the bats of 1B Brendan West (.347 32 119), 2B Dan Jones (.299 31 125), and OF Jack Bullock (.254 26 71). Looking at the farm system, SP Ed Bell and LF Roger Sanders will be seeing time with the big club this season.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Sanford Bulldogs (68-62)
AA: Mooresville Giants (74-46)
A: Clemmons Tigers (66-54)
Short Season A: Lincoln Travellers (26-28)
Rookie League: Brevard Cougars (34-28)

2100 Projected Finish

89-73, 2nd in Piedmont Silver Division

[damientheomen3]

Originally Posted by VARoadstter

Here is how the teams have fared over the last 100 years:

sorry to quote an old post, but how do you get to this screen?

[VARoadstter]

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

sorry to quote an old post, but how do you get to this screen?

From the League screen, select history. Then on the history screen, select the menu for Teams.

[VARoadstter]

Greensboro Gladiators:



Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 7849-8355 (.484)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 18
Number of State Championships: 2 (2022, 2096)
Best Season: 2096 (98-64 .605)
Worst Season: tie 2030, 2036, 2049, 2089 (61-101 .377)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Eugene Jackson, starter for Greensboro from 2003-2017, 140 wins (entire career with Greensboro)

Jackson was the 2nd overall pick in the 2000 amateur draft. After a quick run through the minors, Jackson was brought up quickly to help a struggling Greensboro team. He looked overwhelmed his first season as he posted a terrible 0-7 6.97 season in limited action. Management decided that he should make another stop at AAA to get his confidence back before they brought him back up in 2044. This time, things looked more promising as he posted a 9-7 3.31 line in about a half season's work. From that point on, Jackson didn't look back and went on to become the staff ace for the next decade or so. He finished with a career mark of 140-127 and an ERA of 4.27.

Best Position Player: Gary Lucas, RF for Greensboro from 2079-2090

The Gladiators have been the least successful team in the NCBL in their history. Having only won two titles in 100 years, they have struggled to put all the pieces together at once to challenge for a title. Fortunately for the Gladiators, they drafted Gary Lucas with the 14th pick of the 12th round in 2076. Lucas proved to be a tireless worker and solid team player and when he made his way to the big club, he made an immediate impact. In only 12 seasons with the Gladiators, Lucas hit 391 HR and drove in 1128. His finest season was in 2083 when he hit .364 with 41 HR and 104 RBI.

Current Roster

Greensboro finished 2099 with an 81-81 record, good for 3rd place and 5 games behind division leader Concord. There are some reasons to be optimistic in 2100 as the team has some quality pitching and offense. The pitching staff is led by starter Monte McClellan (14-6 3.85 ERA) and closer Jeff Morris (37 saves in 47 opportunities). Offensively they will be led by 1B Erci Hunt (.277 36 82), CF Bruce Richards (.267 33 118), and RF Eduardo Garcia (.310 28 91).

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Huntersville Woodsmen (77-55)
AA: Eden Lions (58-62)
A: Laurinburg Pistols (70-50)
Short Season A: Dunn Foxes (35-19)
Rookie League: Summerfield Suns (29-33)

2100 Projected Finish

82-80 3rd in Appalachian Platinum Division

[VARoadstter]

Greenville Mallards:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8258-7946 (.510)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 25
Number of State Championships: 6 (2009, 2025, 2042, 2044, 2048, 2055)
Best Season: 2042 (104-58 .642) Won State Championship
Worst Season: 2028 (61-101 .377)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Bill Johnston, starter for Greenville from 2043-2057, 229 wins (249 career)

Simply put, Johnston was a winner. He won championships with Southern Wayne Saints (HS), Clinton Nationals (Short Season A), Burlington Millers (AAA), and Greenville Mallards (3 times - 2044, 2048, and 2055). He was a prototypical ace, rarely missing a start over his career and pitching deep into each start. He had his best season in 2050 when he went 24-4 with a 2.43 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 281/57. His career record was 249-144 with a 4.35 ERA. He struck out 3729 batter while walking 1018.

Individually, Johnston won the Pitcher of the Year twice and appeared in 11 all-star games.

Best Position Player: Travis Lane, 1B for Greenville from 2039-2051

Travis was the 5th overall pick in the 2036 after 4 all-star seasons with the Harding (HS) Rams. Lane advance through the minors quickly, finally earning his cup of coffe with Greenville in 2039. Starting in 2040, Lane remained the starter at 1st base until he was traded to Cary in 2051. He continued to play until he finally broke down physically in 2053, retiring in the offseason. When it was over, Lane had compiled an impressive resume with a .328 BA, 394 HR, and 1243 RBI.

Travis won the RoY in 2040, 4 Gold Gloves, and 5 Most Valuable Hitter Awards while also appearing in 12 all-star games.

Current Roster

Greenville made the playoffs in 2099 with a record of 92-70. They are led by starter Trevor Aldridge (13-7 3.41) and starter Bill Lloyd (13-10 4.27). Offensively, they have many contributors, including:

RF Mike Morrison (.315 39 104)
CF Josh Harris (.294 30 102)
SS Tony Evans (.276 24 86)

Prospects OF Curtis Clark (#23 overall prospect), 1B Michael Martin (#24), and P Les Mack (#52) will see some time with Greenville this season.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Burlington Millers (69-61)
AA: Carrboro Cowboys (60-60)
A: Southern Pines Renegades (66-54)
Short Season A: Clinton Nationals (30-24)
Rookie League: Elon Golden Eagles (35-27)

2100 Projected Finish

90-72 2nd in Appalachian Copper Division

[VARoadstter]

High Point Renegades:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 7861-8342 (.485)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 16
Number of State Championships: 2 (2034, 2099)
Best Season: 2097 (109-53 .673) Made Playoffs
Worst Season: 2093 (51-111 .315)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Clarence Davidson, starter for High Point from 2021-2036, 168 Wins (172 career)

High Point has a history of being one of the poorest performing teams in league history. Indeed, without having won the 2099 Championship, they would have been alone at the bottom of the league for State Championships. Normally, when a team has such a history of failure, they would have a steady parade of high draft picks which eventually turn into all time great players. For one reason or other, High Point has not been good/lucky with their drafts. The best pitcher to ever have played in High Point was the 8th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Clarence did not have a hall of fame career, but he did perform ably for High Point for 15 seasons before finishing up with Durham in 2037. He finished his career with a record of 172-138 and a 4.08 ERA. Ironically, Davidson was injured for almost the entire season in 2034 when High Point finally won a State Championship. His best season was in 2031 when he went 17-13 with a 3.85 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 258/33.

Davidson did manage to win the Pitcher of the Year in 2030 and appear in 6 all-star games.

Best Position Player: Arnold Palmer, 1B/OF for High Point from 2017-2028

Palmer began his career as a leadoff hitter for Winston-Salem, where he debuted in 2011. He was acquired in an off-season trade in 2016. Palmer continued to provide a solid presence in the leadoff spot for High Point. For his career, Palmer hit .325 with 139 HR, 1308 RBI, 1878 Runs, and 365 SB.

Palmer won 2 gold gloves and appeared in 15 all-star games.

Current Roster

High Point had a dominant season in 2099, going 101-61 (winning their division by 26 games). They look primed to return to the postseason again, with super-ace Greg Butler (20-9 2.93) and all-star #2 starter Ray Pierce (21-12 4.12). Offensively, CF Max Orlebar (.319 25 88) and 3B Jaime Rodriguez (.259 24 78) lead a steady, balanced lineup. High Point will likely give some playing time to prospects SP Steve Murphy (#1 overall prospect), LF Don Fleming (#4), SP Wayne Lawson (#24), and SS Dirk Watson (#33). Even if the young blood is not quite ready to produce, High Point is the likely winner of a below average division.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Matthews Bandits (85-45)
AA: Kernersville Panthers (67-53)
A: Graham Settlers (55-65)
Short Season A: Belmont Arabians (27-27)
Rookie League: Black Mountain Black Sox (35-27)

2100 Projected Finish

98-64, 1st in Piedmont Gold Division

[VARoadstter]

Jacksonville Jesters:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8190-8013 (.505)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 28
Number of State Championships: 8 (2038-39, 2051-52, 2081, 2083, 2095, 2097)
Best Season: 2052 (108-54 .667) Won Championship
Worst Season: tie 2026, 2070 (60-102 .370)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Gerardo Perez, starter for Jacksonville from 2008-2026, 206 Wins (spent entire career with Jacksonville)

After graduating from Providence HS, Perez was drafted by Jacksonville as the 2nd overall pick in the 2005 amateur draft. Perez was overmatched when he first reported to Single A Boone, going 1-6 with an ERA over 7 his first year. His second season, however, was a completely different story as he turned in a 7-4 record with a 2.94 ERA which earned him a promotion to AAA Kannapolis to start 2008. After proving his readiness, Gerardo was brought up to the big club in mid season and never looked back. Gerardo had many fine seasons with Jacksonville, particularly his 2010 season where he went 20-4 with a 3.29 ERA and a K/BB ration of 238/75.

For his career, Perez earned 2 Pitcher of the Year awards and a Gold Glove. He appeared in 9 all-star games.

Best Position Player: Theodore Myers, OF for Jacksonville from 2015-2030

If ever there was a player who was a can't miss prospect coming out of high school, it was Myers. In four years at Eastern Wayne HS he hit 19, 25, 16, and 28 HR - a man among boys. To everyone's surprize, he was not honored with the first overall selection in the 2012 amateur draft, instead falling to the 3rd spot where Jacksonville greedily snapped him up.

Once he became a professional, he proved himself over and over again in the minors, shooting through the minors until being promoted to the NCBL late in the 2015 season. In 2016 he assumed a regular lineup spot and became the starting right fielder. In his rookie season, he served notice to the league, batting .339 with 38 HR and 108 RBI. Starting in 2017, he recorded 10 consecutive seasons with 40+ HR, highlighted by his best season in 2024 when he hit .317 with 59 HR and 157 RBI. In a surprize move, Jacksonville traded Myers to Wilmington following the 2030 season. Apparently the team knew what they were doing, as Myers suffered a dramatic loss of skills after leaving Jacksonville. He retired after the 2032 season with a career BA of .311, 623 HR, and 1793 RBI.

Myers won 6 Hitter of the Year Awards, 5 Gold Gloves, and appeared in 13 all-star games during his career.

Myers was elected to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot.

Current Roster

The Jesters won their division with an 88-74 record, beating out Durham by two games. Coming into 2100, they have no real stopper in the rotation and will rely heavilly on SS Julian Rivera (.297 43 126) to lead the team. 1B Brad Phayer (#2 overall prospect) and speedster LF David Albright (#14) will likely make the top squad early in the season.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Kannapolis Racers (63-67)
AA: Thomasville Crafters (56-64)
A: Boone Trappers (63-57)
Short Season A: Waynesville Parrots (25-29)
Rookie League: Oak Island Islanders (33-29)

2100 Projected Finish

80-82, 3rd in Piedmont Silver Division

[VARoadstter]

Raleigh Cardinals:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8149-8054 (.503)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 26
Number of State Championships: 8 (2006, 2066-69, 2074, 2094, 2098)
Best Season: 2096 (106-56 .654)
Worst Season: 2000 (53-109 .327)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Lloyd Johnston, starter for Raleigh from 2001-2016, 252 Wins (304 Career)

How can you describe Lloyd Johnston? Imagine for a moment Cy Young, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, and Phil Niekro all combined into a left-handed, knuckleballing, no-hitting, strikeout machine. Johnston almost single-handedly took the worst team in the league in 2000 and got them to the playoffs in 2 years, winning a championship in 5. Along the way he set records that still stand to this day. Here's a list of the all-time records still owned by Johnston:

Wins (Career): 304
Complete Games (Career): 71
Shutouts (Career): 22
Innings Pitched (Career): 4246
Wins (Season): 27 (2008)
Complete Games (Season): 7 (2019)
Innings Pitched (Season): 273 (2008)
Strikeouts (Season): 336 (2008)
VORP (Season): 107.4 (2008)
Opponent Slugging (Season): .280 (2003)

Johnston finished with one State Championship, 4 Pitcher of the Year Awards, and 14 all-star selections. He pitched a no-hitter against Cary in 2006, striking out 13 and walking only 1 batter. His best season, 2008, ended with a 27-5 record, a 2.04 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 336/50.

Best Position Player: Kenny Baker, RF/Util for Raleigh from 2067-2082 (entire career with Raleigh)

Baker demonstrated at Rose HS that he was going to be a special talent. Drafted by Raleigh with the 4th overall pick in 2063, Baker spent a few years growing into his body and developing a major league power stroke. Finally, in 2067, at the age of 22, Raleigh could wait no longer and brought him up mid-season. Baker was a starter in Raleigh from that point until he retired from baseball following the 2082 season. In that time he compiled a .307 BA, 436 HR, and 1261 RBI. Baker was a member of 4 State Championship teams, won 3 Hitter of the Year awards, 2 Gold Gloves, and appeared in 7 all-star games.

Current Roster

Raleigh finished the 2099 season in 2nd place in the Appalachian Copper Division, 5 games behind Greenville. Raleigh has a veteran pitching staff led by starter Pete Hopkins (15-10 4.56) and closer Darrell Morris (2-5 33 saves 3.70). Offensively they have many weapons, including:

LF Doug Orton (.298 49 130 35 SB)
3B Dana Harris (.280 28 95)
1B Ed Hodgson (.308 23 76)
RF Joe Massey (.261 22 64, 38 SB)

The farm system is stocked with more hitting talent which could be packaged for a front line starter. Assuming the pitching staff can remain steady, Raleigh has the offense to take over the division.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Asheboro Smokies (56-74)
AA: Lexington Colonials (44-76)
A: Reidville Broncos (52-68)
Short Season A: Clayton Marlins (20-34)
Rookie League: Siler City Gunslingers (29-33)

2100 Projected Finish

94-68, 1st in Appalachian Copper Division

[VARoadstter]

Rocky Mount Rough Riders:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8037-8165 (.496)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 24
Number of State Championships: 4 (2037, 2040, 2065, 2089)
Best Season: 2058 (102-60 .630) Made Playoffs
Worst Season: 2097 (58-104 .358)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Darren Dennis, starter for Rocky Mount from 2024-2033, 2036-2042 - 205 Wins, (234 Career)

Darren Dennis had two tours with Rocky Mount, interrupted briefly in 2034-34 when he left for Chapel Hill after mysteriously losing his effectiveness. Immediately after arriving in Chapel Hill, he returned to his former effectiveness and pitched well for the Saints for 2 years. Ties to Rocky Mount were strong, however, and Dennis decided to return to the Rough Riders and finish out his career. The return engagement started poorly but Dennis persevered and managed to finish out his career respectably, even helping Rocky Mount win their 1st State Championship in 2037 and another in 2040. For his career Darren had an ERA of 4.18 with a record of 234-175. Dennis was the Pitcher of the Year twice and appeared in 10 all-star games.

Best Position Player: Leeland Wood, LF for Rocky Mount from 2074-2088 (entire career with Rocky Mount)

A true Hall of Famer, Wood started his career as the 3rd overall pick in the 2070 amateur draft after an all-world career at Providence HS. Wood took the majors by storm after a 4 year run through the minors before debuting at the age of 22. Starting in 2075, he went on an offensive tear that didn't let up until his age finally started to catch up to him in 2087. In his career, he managed to record a .305 average, 578 HR, and 1646 RBI while also stealing 276 bases. He won a whopping 6 Batter of the Year Awards, 3 Gold Gloves, and was a 15 time all-star. He holds the single-season record for Slugging Percentage (2080) at .777 and the single-season record for runs (2076) with 166.

Current Roster

Rocky Mount is in full rebuilding mode after finishing 4th in 2099 with a 64-98 record with only offensive standout 1B Alex Romero (.284 34 99) continuing to draw a crowd. The Rough Riders have #3 overall prospect Geoffrey Robinson but he is beginning the year in Single A Smithfield and may not be ready to help the big club this season. Speedy defensive whiz kid Pepe Sanchez (#16) should make the Rocky Mount club at some point in the season and play LF.


Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Laurinburg Friars (63-67)
AA: Lenoir Pirates (57-65)
A: Smithfield Packers (48-72)
Short Season A: Spring Lake Blues (16-38)
Rookie League: Davidson Dukes (19-43)

2100 Projected Finish

56-106, 4th in Appalachian Copper Division

[VARoadstter]

Wilmington Warriors:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 7904-8292 (.488)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 19
Number of State Championships: 5 (2002, 2053, 2080, 2082, 2086)
Best Season: 2043 (99-63 .611) Made Playoffs
Worst Season: 2088 (54-108 .333)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Glenn Haley, starter for Wilmington from 2011-2028 - 200 Wins (210 Career)

Haley was one of the youngest players ever to play at the major league level in the NCBL, debuting at the age of 19 in 2011. He looked overwhelmed at first but managed to find himself quickly and by 2014 (23 years old) he had become one of the better pitchers in the league. Rarely on a team with any real talent, Haley posted a 19-8 3.01 record in 2020, easily his most impressive. For his career, he was 210-144 with a 4.07 ERA.
For his effort, Haley was selected to 5 all-star teams.

Best Position Player: Eugene Robinson, 1B for Wilmington from 2073-2083

Robinson came to Wilmington as the 4th overall pick in 2068 out of Richmond HS. Not a prototypical basher, Robinson nevertheless managed to command the attention of the opposing pitching staff as he expertly drove balls to the gaps to drive in runs. For his career, Robinson finished with a .328 BA, 341 HR, and 1506 RBI in a 15 year career playing with Wilmington and Jacksonville. Robinson led the Warriors to 2 championships (2080, 2082), won 4 Hitter of the Year Awards, one gold glove, and appeared in 12 all-star games.

Current Roster

Wilmington finished 2099 2nd to High Point by 25 games (75-87). There's little reason to believe that they will make much of a run at the Renegades this season. Only starter Kevin Williams (15-8 4.10) is all-star quality among the returning players. Rookie 1B Jerry Houston (#12 overall prospect) demonstrated a good power stroke in a brief audition with the Warriors in 2099 but needs to improve his pitch selection if he is to progress toward becoming a top-flight batter. The division, except for High Point, is struggling currently so Wilmington should be able to hold off Charlotte for the 2nd position.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Havelock Gamblers (60-70)
AA: Henderson Suns (39-81)
A: Albemarle Rockies (61-59)
Short Season A: Holly Springs Falcons (29-25)
Rookie League: Fuquay-Varina Saints (31-31)

2100 Projected Finish

79-83, 2nd in Piedmont Gold Division

[VARoadstter]

Winston-Salem Twins:




Historical Statistics

Overall Record: 8222-7979 (.507)
Number of Playoff Appearances: 28
Number of State Championships: 5 (2011, 2062-64, 2075)
Best Season: tie 2037, 2063, 2086 (102-60 .630) Won Championship in 2063
Worst Season: 2094 (56-106 .346)

Best Players

Best Pitcher: Michael Murphy, starter with Winston-Salem from 2068-2082 - 183 Wins (216 Career)

Murphy arrived in Winston-Salem as the 7th overall pick in 2066 and quickly found himself pitching for a good Twins club that had recently won back to back to back championships. He wasted no time establishing himself with his hometown team, winning 14 games in his first full season with the big club at the tender age of 21. He led the team back to the championship in 2075 in his most dominant season where he posted a 20-6 3.25 ERA season and won Pitcher of the Year (his only time winning the award). Murphy won 2 Gold Gloves and appeared in 2 all-star games in his career.

Best Position Player: Jack Shattuck, 1B for Winston-Salem from 2002-2013

Shattuck would have likely gone down as an all-time great had he not been ravaged by injuries starting at age 27. Prior to that time, Shattuck had battered opposing pitchers continuously, averaging 40+ HR a season and over 120 RBI. He finished with a career .272 BA, 333 HR, and 1131 RBI. He held on long enough to see the Twins win their first championship in 2011. After leaving the Twins via trade to Rocky Mount in 2014, he continued to suffer from injuries until he finally called it quits after the 2015 season. He won 3 Hitter of the Year Awards and appeared in 10 all-star games.

Current Roster

Winston-Salem finished in 4th in 2099 with a record of 81-81. Going forward, they look to be a team on the decline, with only 1B Francis McGehee (.268 29 121) a true threat. The Twins will look to the minors to restock their depleted lineup, potentially bringing up promising SP Phil Christensen (#19 overall prospect) and catcher Kevin Pearce (#30). Superstar in waiting SP Justin Standley (#64) is likely a year away from helping the big club. The Twins will not be contenders barring a major shakeup and FA binge by team management.

Minor League Affiliates

AAA: Goldsboro 49ers (61-69)
AA: Shelby Mustangs (64-56)
A: Wake Forest Aztecs (54-66)
Short Season A: Kings Mountain Saints (26-28)
Rookie League: Atlantic Beach Tides (35-27)

2100 Projected Finish

64-98, 4th in Piedmont Silver Division

[VARoadstter]

2100 Season Begins!



Series to Watch -

Greenville @ Raleigh, 4/5 - 4/7 - In a battle of the top two teams from last year's hotly contested Appalachian Copper Division, Raleigh and Greenville will do battle to start the season. Here's the pitching matchups:

4/5 - T Aldridge (13-7 3.41 in 2099) vs. K Green (8-7 4.13 in 2099)
4/6 - B Lloyd (13-10 4.27 in 2099) vs. M Moss (5-2 5.28 with Concord in 2099)
4/7 - G Woodard (10-6 4.71 in 2099) vs. P Hopkins (15-10 4.56 in 2099)

Other Games -

High Point @ Wilmington
Chapel Hill @ Charlotte
Jacksonville @ Winston-Salem
Gastonia @ Durham
Cary @ Rocky Mount
Fayetteville @ Greensboro
Asheville @ Concord

[VARoadstter]

Today is a light day on the schedule, with only 4 games to be played.

Today's Games -


Wilmington (3-0) @ Chapel Hill (1-2)
Charlotte (0-3) @ High Point (2-1)
Rocky Mount (2-1) @ Cary (1-2)
Greenville (1-2) @ Raleigh (2-1)

[VARoadstter]

[VARoadstter]

Players of the Week -


Appalachian League:
There's nothing like being in the prime of your baseball career -- and playing like it. Just ask Jack Strafford, the Raleigh second baseman, who swung a sweet bat all week to not only aid his team, but also pick up the Appalachian Player of the Week honors.

Strafford piled up 11 hits in 24 at-bats, no home runs and 8 RBIs while hitting .458.

-------------------
Piedmont League:
At the age of 32, Jim Taylor might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The Durham second baseman put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .500 batting average. For his efforts Taylor collected the Piedmont Player of the Week Award.

He racked up 5 hits in 10 at-bats, 3 home runs and 5 RBIs last week in 4 games.

-------------------

Today's Games

Jacksonville (2-4) @ Winston Salem (4-2)
Gastonia (3-3) @ Durham (3-3)
Chapel Hill (3-4) @ Charlotte (1-6)
Raleigh (4-3) @ Rocky Mount (5-2)
Concord (3-3) @ Asheville (4-2)
Greenville (3-4) @ Cary (2-5)

[Celtic Forever]

Originally Posted by VARoadstter

Way to represent, Ken!

[VARoadstter]

This Week in Baseball -

Headlines:

The season is two weeks in now, and today marks the debut of our weekly feature, This Week in Baseball. In this segment we will break down the league from many different angles, bringing to the viewer a capsule of the daily goings-on within the league.

This week, we will highlight the High Point Renegades. Last season's State Champion is off to a blazing start, sporting a gaudy 11-2 record. They have already opened up a 5 game lead over the rest of the Piedmont Gold division as the early season schedule allowed High Point to take on their division foes directly. The Renegades completed an undefeated week, going 6-0 with sweeps against division foes Wilmington and Jacksonville from the Piedmont Silver division. High Point leads the Piedmont League in runs scored with 85 (average of 6.5 runs/game) and fewest runs allowed with 42 (team ERA of 2.72).

Individually, High Point LF Max Orlebar leads the NCBL in RBI and total bases. Starting pitcher Greg Butler is tied for the league lead in Wins (3) and innings pitched (23). If no team can step up and challenge High Point, they will walk away with their second consecutive State Championship.

The Week in Review:

As evidence of the athleticism required and the strain encountered when playing baseball, several players were struck down with injuries this week, including:

RF Bob Park, Durham - out 5-6 weeks with a torn knee meniscus
SP Ray Pierce, Jacksonville - out 2 weeks with shoulder trouble
SP Harvey Walker, Asheville - out 4 months with a torn labrum
RF Don Fleming, High Point - out 6 weeks with a torn knee meniscus

Here's hoping that the rehabilitation goes well for these men and that they can return healthy to their teams. In the meantime, the managers will have to adjust to the loss of their players.

Signings:

RP Vic Ross, High Point - 3 years, 11.6 million
SP Bob McFarland, High Point - 3 year, 18.8 million
SP Chris Reynolds, Jacksonville - 3 years, 23.7 million

Game of the Week:

4/12/2100 - Chapel Hill 5, Charlotte 4 (12 innings)

Chapel Hill stormed out to a 3-0 lead after 3 innings against Charlotte as Starter Bryce Baker pitched a strong 6 innings, allowing only 3 hits and a walk over 6 innings. He left the game after six with his shutout intact but the bullpen let him down as they allowed Charlotte a run in the seventh and 3 in the eighth. Chapel Hill had also scored a run in the eigth to knot the game at 4-4 going into the ninth. RP Truman Wynn was handed the ball in the bottom of the 10th and he shut out the Royals the rest of the way and secured the win with the help of RF Kevin Swanson's RBI single.

Players of the Week:

This week he let his bat do the talking. That's why Max Orlebar of the High Point Renegades was named the Piedmont Player of the Week.

For the week the 28-year-old left fielder batted .458 (11-24) with 3 home runs, 9 runs and 10 RBIs.

------------------------------------------

Ken Raymond must have thought he died and went to heaven this week. First he went on a remarkable batting rampage, hammering the ball at a .545 clip, then the Cary third baseman finds outs he has been voted the league's top performer and gets the APP Player of the Week Award.

For the week Raymond batted .545 (12-22) with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs.

Down on the Farm:

1B Rodger Noble of AAA Statesville (Cary) leads AAA with 8 HR but his accomplishments are dwarfed by the offensive display of AAA Burlington (Greenville) RF Curtis Clark who is dominating offensively with a .471 5 HR 13 RBI mark so far in this young season. AAA Hickory (Fayetteville) SP Mike Vance (1-0) has yet to yield an earned run this season with 9 IP, 7 Hits, 2 BB, and 7 K.

SP Craig Taylor (0-1) of AA Roanoake Rapids (Fayetteville) is off to a tremendous start in 2 outings this year with a 0.59 ERA, 15 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 23 K.

RF Ken Rice of Single A Albemarle (Wilminton) leads the league in most offensive categories with a .450 BA, 6 HR, and 12 RBI.

Weekly Power Rankings:

Rank Last Week	Team	Points	Tendency	Record	PCT	AVG	ERA	Pyt.Rec	Diff
1st (1st)	High Point	169	o	11-2	.846	.288	2.72	10-3	1
2nd (2nd)	Winston-Salem	125	o	8-4	.667	.287	3.75	8-4	0
3rd (5th)	Rocky Mount	119	+	9-5	.643	.238	1.91	10-4	-1
4th (11th)	Fayetteville	108	++	7-5	.583	.255	3.60	6-6	1
5th (7th)	Durham	98	+	7-6	.538	.293	3.76	8-5	-1
6th (6th)	Concord	98	o	7-6	.538	.274	3.43	7-6	0
7th (4th)	Raleigh	96	--	7-6	.538	.261	4.31	7-6	0
8th (12th)	Gastonia	92	++	6-6	.500	.233	4.63	4-8	2
9th (8th)	Asheville	91	-	6-6	.500	.276	4.79	6-6	0
10th (15th)	Cary	82	++	6-7	.462	.249	4.15	5-8	1
11th (3rd)	Wilmington	78	--	6-7	.462	.244	3.88	7-6	-1
12th (9th)	Chapel Hill	76	--	6-8	.429	.242	5.14	5-9	1
13th (10th)	Greenville	68	--	5-8	.385	.231	4.38	6-7	-1
14th (13th)	Greensboro	55	-	4-8	.333	.247	4.07	5-7	-1
15th (16th)	Charlotte	51	+	4-9	.308	.220	4.54	5-8	-1
16th (14th)	Jacksonville	37	-	3-9	.250	.248	6.88	3-9	0

Looking Forward to Next Week:

In a battle of the top two teams in this week's power rankings, Winston-Salem is scheduled for a 2 game set at High Point pitting the two division leaders in the Piedmont division against each other. Here's a look at the pitching matchups:

4/19 WS Benny Leville (0-0, 7.50) vs. HP George Smith (1-0, 3.07)
4/20 WS Phil Christensen (0-0 5.40) vs. HP Greg Butler (3-0, 3.57)

[VARoadstter]

This Week in Baseball -


Headlines:

Welcome to our week 3 edition of This Week in Baseball. After storming out to a big lead last week, High Point has come back to the field and teams are stepping up to challenge. Surprisingly, Winston-Salem now has the best overall record in the league including a sweep of a 2 games series with the previously #1 ranked High Point and will be the focus of this week's headline.

It's still early in the season but Winston-Salem is beginning to make believers out of the other teams in the league. Predicted to finish near the bottom of the league this season, the Twins have shown that they have a lot more going for them than originally thought. All five starters have records over .500, with Ken Simpson (3-0 1.59) the best of the group. In 28 innings pitched, Simpson has limited batters to 22 hits and 8 walks offensively, leading to only allowing 5 earned runs this season. Simpson has also struck out 19 batters. Of course, starting the season out with a no-hitter is a sure-fire way to get your season statistics off to a good start but this 25 year-old offspeed artist has been dazzling hitters in every start this season. All of this comes as no surprise to him as he reminded writers that he was the North Carolina College Pitcher of the Year in 2094 with the NC Central Eagles.

The Twins have had outstanding offense so far this year as well, as they currently rank 1st in the Piedmont League (tie with Durham) in HR with 26, 1st in runs scored with 118, and 1st in stolen bases with 16. They have also been excellent in the field so far, having committed only 6 errors in 18 games (2nd in the Piedmont League). With all of that good news coming from the team it may be time to revise the early season projections for this club.

The Week in Review:

As mentioned before, Winston-Salem got off to a fantastic start this week, taking two in a row from High Point on their way to a 6-0 record. A 4 game sweep against struggling Charlotte secured the top spot for the Twins in this week's power rankings.


Signings:

SP Greg Butler, High Point - 2 years, 16.02 million
RP Aaron Lynch, High Point - 2 years, 9.38 million

Injuries:

RP Nathaniel Knight, Winston-Salem - out 2 weeks after being bitten by a rabid dog
SP Raul Garcia, Concord - out 11 months with a torn UCL
RF Roger Sanders, Gastonia - out 1-2 weeks with an undisclosed injury while running the bases

Game of the Week:

4/25/2100 - Chapel Hill 11, Jacksonville 10 (10 innings)

This game played out more like a championship prize fight than a baseball game with both teams landing big shots on each other all game long. Early on, it looked like a rout for Chapel Hill as they sprinted out to a 5-0 lead after two innings but Jacksonville answered in the bottom of the third with 3 runs to tighten up the score. Chapel Hill reasserted itself with 3 runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 8-3. Jacksonville would not go away, however, as they plated a run in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to close to 8-5. With both starters long gone from the game, the bullpens scrambled to keep the other from scoring but there was further offense to come.

In a dominating bottom of the 7th inning, Jacksonville jumped all over Saints reliever Mark Johnson and plated 5 runs to take over the lead, 10-8. Suddenly finding themselves on top, Jesters manager Brett Beach brought out closer Ramon Torres to finish the game. Chapel Hill responded by drawing a leadoff walk and then a double after a ground out to put the typing run in scoring position. SS Jacob Ramsbottom stepped up and delivered a bases clearing triple to tie the game. Torres gathered himself and then struck out the last two batters in the inning to keep the game tied at 10 each. Jacksonville failed to score and the game went to extra innings.

Now brimming with confidence, Chapel Hill CF Artie Ross came to bat in the top of the 10th and pulled a 1-0 fastball, driving it over the fence in right to hand the Saints the lead in the seesaw game. With regular closer Padilla unavailable to pitch, the Saints handed the ball to setup man RP Mike Hart who retired the Jesters in order to seal the game.

Players of the Week:

There's nothing like being in the prime of your baseball career -- and playing like it. Just ask Rick Bryant, the Winston-Salem third baseman, who swung a sweet bat all week to not only aid his team, but also pick up the Piedmont Player of the Week honors.

Bryant piled up 9 hits in 22 at-bats, 3 home runs and 13 RBIs while hitting .409.

This season Bryant is batting .279 with 17 hits and 5 home runs. He has scored 7 times and has 15 RBI.

-----------------------------

Doug Orton is respected by most Raleigh Cardinals fans for his no-frills style of play. The 28-year-old left fielder went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Appalachian Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .500 average (12-24) with 3 home runs, 6 RBIs and 6 runs scored.

So far on the season Orton is hitting .297 with 5 home runs, 17 RBIs and 11 runs scored. He has 22 hits and played in 19 games.

Down on the Farm:

AAA Wilson (Concord) RF Victor Sutton had an outstanding week including a spectacular game against AAA Salisbury (Asheville) where he blasted 4 HR in the game. The hometown boy was happy to have been able to have such a great game in front of his family and friends. He received several curtain calls during the game and another when they announced his name as player of the game. Wilson lost the game however, so Victor wasn't able to celebrate too much.

AAA Matthews (High Point) SP Ben Sullivan was called up during the week after going 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA in the minors and won his first major league game with a 6-1 win over Durham. He went 7 innings giving up only 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out six. He did not allow an earned run.

AA Carrboro (Greenville) 1B Ian Thompson is making a strong case to be returned to the majors as he is dominating offensively at AA. He leads the league (by 5 HR) in HR with 10 in 16 games. With those numbers, it is hard to believe that Greenville can't find a spot for the 31 year old veteran with the big club, or at least give him the opportunity to further impress at AAA.

AA Garner (Asheville) SP Jim O'Quinn has impressed team management with his fast start, going 4-0 in 4 starts with a 1.82 ERA and a sub 1.00 WHIP. Expect to see him moving up in the near future.

A Newton (Charlotte) SP Rusty Cunningham looks ready for a move up soon. The former 4th round draft pick in 2097 out of Duke has dominated at Single A. From what scouts have told us, it appears the extra seasoning is needed to encourage Cunningham to add another pitch to his repetoire. Even so, with his outstanding numbers (3-0 in 4 starts, 1.80 ERA with 41 K in only 25 innings) it's unimaginable that Charlotte would not find him more suitable competition to sharpen his skills.

Weekly Power Rankings:

Rank Last Week	Team	Points	Tendency	Record	PCT	AVG	ERA	Pyt.Rec	Diff
1st (2nd)	Winston-Salem	155	+	14-4	.778	.290	3.56	13-5	1
2nd (1st)	High Point	123	-	13-6	.684	.280	3.74	13-6	0
3rd (11th)	Chapel Hill	120	++	12-8	.600	.262	4.92	9-11	3
4th (4th)	Durham	108	o	11-8	.579	.295	4.10	12-7	-1
5th (7th)	Concord	105	+	11-8	.579	.263	3.57	11-8	0
6th (8th)	Raleigh	105	+	11-8	.579	.277	4.50	10-9	1
7th (12th)	Cary	102	++	11-9	.550	.258	4.01	9-11	2
8th (3rd)	Rocky Mount	98	--	11-9	.550	.260	2.69	12-8	-1
9th (5th)	Asheville	91	--	9-9	.500	.264	4.32	8-10	1
10th (13th)	Wilmington	91	++	10-10	.500	.263	3.83	11-9	-1
11th (6th)	Fayetteville	87	--	9-9	.500	.261	4.42	8-10	1
12th (9th)	Gastonia	79	--	8-10	.444	.223	4.87	6-12	2
13th (14th)	Greensboro	67	+	7-12	.368	.251	4.26	10-9	-3
14th (10th)	Greenville	61	--	7-12	.368	.241	4.39	9-10	-2
15th (16th)	Charlotte	24	+	4-15	.211	.227	5.64	6-13	-2
16th (15th)	Jacksonville	24	-	4-15	.211	.269	6.83	6-13	-2

Looking Forward to Next Week:

Chapel Hill (#3 this week) has two key series this week against #1 ranked Winston-Salem followed by #2 High Point. If they can come out of the week with a winning record they will be in good position to move up to the #1 or #2 overall spot in the rankings.