GOLDSBORO– The baseball clinic run by North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Famer George Whitfield is set for its 43rd annual renewal.
The clinic is scheduled for Goldsboro High School on Saturday, January 10, 2015, 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. High school and middle school coaches may receive one unit of continuing education credit.
Clebe McClary, who is a Vietnam War hero, will be the kickoff speaker at 9:05, followed by Dr. Chris Hasty, who will speak on common baseball injuries for players and ways to prevent them.
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 Atlanta Braves scout Billy Best, UNC-Greensboro assistant Joey Holcomb, Mount Olive assistant Jesse Lancaster, Bucknell assistant Jason Nietz and Louisburg head coach Keith Shumate.
•”Practice Organization for the High School Coach” will include Campbell head coach Justin Haire and retired Tulane head coach Rick Jones.
• "Indoor and On-Field Drills To Become a Better Player” will be discussed by North Carolina Wesleyan assistant Zach Alexander, Wake Forest assistant Joey Hammond, and Duke assistant Andrew See.
• Pitching will be covered by Pitt Community College head coach Tommy Eason, N.C. State assistant Scott Foxall, retired Tulane head coach Rick Jones, pitching coach Sam Narron of the Hagerstown Suns of the South Atlantic League, and East Carolina assistant Dan Roszel.
•Catching will feature Richmond assistant Tanner Biagini, Eastern Wayne High School head coach James Fulghum, Virginia Military Institute head coach Marlin Ikenberry, Duke assistant J.J. Jordan, and Liberty assistant Garrett Quinn.
• Infield play instructors will be retired Central Florida head coach Jay Bergman, Georgia Southern head coach Rodney Hennon, UNC-Grensboro head coach Link Jarrett, Campbell assistant Chris Marks, and UNC-Wilmington head coach Mark Scalf.
• Outfield play will be covered by former Reds, Brewers, Braves and Giants major league manager Dave Bristol, Washington Nationals scout Paul Faulk, Coastal Carolina assistant Joe Hastings, Pitt Community College assistant Ben Sanderson and Potomac Nationals minor league player John Wooten.
• Base Running will feature Methodist head coach Tom Austin, Myrtle Beach (SC) High School head coach Tim Christy, Catawba head coach Jim Gantt, North Carolina A&T assistant coach Ben Hall, and Limestone head coach Chris Wiley.
• Hitting will be discussed by New York Yankees major league scout Billy Godwin, East Carolina head coach Cliff Godwin, N.C. State assistant coach Chris Hart, Georgia Southern assistant Chris Moore, and High Point assistant Kenny Smith.
Coach Whitfield will mail information to schools across the state in November. The only charge for the clinic is a pre-registration fee of $60 per person, which includes lunch. Any school or team that registers six or more people will be charged $50 per person. Deadline for the pre-registration phase is January 3, 2015.
Registration at the door will be $70.
Players 15 years of age and under may have their fathers attend for free, and they can eat lunch for just seven dollars. There also will be exhibitors on hand with some outstanding opportunities to purchase baseball equipment. Participants will not need any equipment for the clinic, however.
Questions about the clinic may be directed to George at (919) 222-2018 or write him at 216 Hardingwood Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534.