[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1391-E1392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SOUTHERN ALAMANCE WINS 3-A CROWN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2005

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, as baseball fans across America anxiously 
wait to see who will win this year's World Series, the Sixth District 
of North Carolina waits no longer for one of its champions to be 
crowned. On June 4, 2005, the Southern Alamance Patriots captured the 
North Carolina Class 3-A state baseball championship by defeating 
Northwest Cabarrus two games to one at Doak Field on the campus of 
North Carolina State University. This year, Southern Alamance captured 
its first state title since 1988 and its third in school history.
  With the series tied at one in the third game of the series, the 
Patriots scored an unprecedented eight runs in the first inning. This 
was an anomaly after the Patriots were held to only three hits in game 
two. The (Burlington) Times-News reported that the Patriots learned 
from their mistakes and took advice from their coach Jason Smith when 
he told them to not try to, ``. . . lift and hit it out. In this big 
park it is not going to happen.'' The players kept the ball on the 
ground and prevailed in what proved to be an exhilarating game.
  Northwest Cabarrus went into game three on a ``high'' after beating 
the Patriots in game two. The game winning ``high'' was soon replaced 
with a ``low'' after the Trojan's starting pitcher, Robbie Gurley, 
walked two people and gave up a single in the first inning. Gurley was 
pulled and replaced by Joe Hubbard. After Hubbard could not get the job 
done and was replaced by a third hurler, the Patriots were confident 
after gaining an eight-run lead in the first inning. Among those who 
scored in the first were Thomas Sappelt, Michael Parker, Roy Albright, 
Brent Haynes, Jonathan Shields,

[[Page E1392]]

and Brad Thornburg. Northwest Cabarrus coach Joe Hubbard was quoted in 
the Times-News saying, ``We couldn't stop the first inning; it just 
snowballed on us.''
  The series' Most Valuable Player Brent Haynes stepped up to the plate 
in the bottom of the fifth inning with runners on second and third. 
Haynes hit a ground ball down the first base line and accumulated a RBI 
as Brad Thornburg whisked across home plate. Much to the dismay of the 
Northwest Cabarrus fans, the game ended under the 10-run rule.
  After the dominating victory imposed by the Patriots, Coach Smith 
should be credited for much of the team's success. After coming off of 
a tough loss in game two, Coach Smith encouraged the players to play 
smart baseball instead of imitating the starlike swings of Barry Bonds 
or Sammy Sosa. Smart baseball for this team was to hit ground balls, 
which proved to payoff. Coach Smith had a strong coaching staff behind 
him that consisted of Eddie Wood, Paul Bishop, Nathan Holcomb, and 
Andrew Thomas.
  Although the players' hard work and commitment to team excellence 
helped them succeed, they would be the first to tell you that the key 
to their success was impeccable leadership. We congratulate the 
players: Jimmy Robbins, Michael Pernell, Dave Sappelt, John Crawford, 
Jonathon Thrasher, Jonathan Shields, Michael Parker, Brad Thornburg, 
Jay Liddle, Reid Straughan, Richard Allred, Roy Albright, Brent Haynes, 
Thomas Sappelt, Gabe Shoffner, Cale Rogers, Zach Robinson, Luke 
Vandall, score keeper Stephanie Smith, and team manager Holden Walker. 
Each member of the team played a valuable role in their commendable 
season, which ended with a 27-5 record and a state title.
  This 3-A state baseball championship brings pride back to the 
baseball program at Southern Alamance, and we congratulate Principal 
Kent Byrd, Athletic Director David Vaughn, the community of the 
Southern Alamance Patriots and most importantly the team and coaching 
staff for a job well done.

                          ____________________