Annual Whitfield Baseball Clinic In Goldsboro

GOLDSBORO– The baseball clinic run by North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Famer George Whitfield is set for its 40th annual renewal. 

The clinic is scheduled for Goldsboro High School on Saturday, January 14, 2012, and features another tremendous lineup. Registration is scheduled from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m, and then the clinic will run until 6 p.m.

The clinic is open to all players from Little League through high school, and all coaches at any level are welcome.

Mark Johnson, who has retired as the head baseball coach at Sam Houston State, will be the kickoff speaker at 9:05, followed by Dr. Ken D. Keesee, who will speak on injury prevention for today’s baseball players. 

Here are some of the other outstanding baseball people and topics that will be covered at this annual event:

• “What College Coaches and Scouts Are Looking for in Today’s Athletes” will be discussed by Bloomsburg University assistant Corey Bachman, Maryland head coach Erik Bakich, North Carolina assistant Scott Jackson, Louisburg College head coach Mike McGuire and Virginia Commonwealth assistant Joe Palumbo.

•”Practice Organization for the High School Coach” will include Hal Bagwell, head coach at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, and Peanut Langston, head coach of South Central High in Winterville.

• “Indoor and On-Field Drills To Become a Better Player” will be discussed by Ohio head coach Joe Carbone, Campbell head coach Greg Goff, and Wingate head coach Jeff Gregory.  

• Pitching will be covered by East Tennessee State assistant coach Kyle Bunn, North Carolina assistant coach Scott Forbes, Charlotte associate head coach Brandon Hall; retired Elizabeth High School (NJ) head coach Ray Korn;  and East Carolina assistant Dan Roszel.

 •Catching will feature Pitt Community College head coach Tommy Eason, Virginia Military Institute head coach Marlin Ikenberry, Charlotte assistant coach Kris Rochelle, Liberty head coach Jim Toman, and Marshall head coach Jeff Waggoner.

• Infield play instructors will be Central Florida retired head coach Jay Bergman, Old Dominion head coach Chris Finwood; retired Sam Houston State head coach Mark Johnson; North Hall High School (GA) head coach Trent Mongero; and  UNC-Wilmington head coach Mark Scalf.

• Outfield play will be covered by Methodist head coach Tom Austin; East Carolina  director of baseball operations Brian Cavanaugh; Washington Nationals scout Paul Faulk; former major league star outfielder Trot Nixon; and Winthrop head baseball coach Tom Riginos.

• Base Running will retired Virginia Tech head coach Chuck Hartman; North Carolina Wesleyan head coach Charlie Long, High Point assistant Bryan Peters; N.C. State assistant Brian Ward; and Mount Olive assistant Rob Watt.

• Hitting will be discussed by Atlanta Braves area supervisor Billy Best; Dave Bristol, former major league manager with the Reds, Brewers, Braves and Giants; East Carolina head coach Billy Godwin, Notre Dame assistant Joe Hastings; and Lenoir Community College head coach Stoney Wine.

Coach Whitfield will mail information to schools across the state in November. The only charge for the clinic is a pre-registration fee of $55 per person, which includes lunch.  Any school   or team that registers six or more people will be charged $45 per person.

Registration at the door will be $65.

Players 15 years of age and under may have their fathers attend for free, and they can eat lunch for just seven dollars.

Questions about the clinic may be directed to George at (919) 778-6013 or write him at 216 Hardingwood Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534.