The HiToms Modern Era

The 2008 Season
If the HiToms 2007 season was characterized as the year of the long ball, the 2008 campaign should be recognized as the season of pitching, no check that, defense, nah let’s just say hitting.

Yes, Matt McCay’s HiTom squad will forever be known as the team of balance. Winning 41 games, the CPL Western Division title (five titles in the last 6 years), the Coastal Plain League Championship (3rd year in a row) and a line-up that garnered four of the league’s top 10 prospect designations by Baseball America and 11 of the top 25 rankings by pgcrosschecker.com, the 2008 squad thrived on performing equally well in all ‘phases of the game’.

Let’s see, pitching, yes, second in the Coastal Plain in team E.R.A. (3.07), with two starting pitchers in the CPL Top 5 lowest E.R.A .: Justin Sarratt, 1.06 and Jesse Haney, 1.61; and, to boot, the CPL Defensive Player of the Year, Justin Sarratt (7-1, 59 K’s in 57 IP).

Defense, check that too as the HiToms finished with the league’s highest fielding percentage (971), fewest errors (53), most double plays turned (53) and the few stolen bases allowed (41).

Finally, there’s the offense. No, the HiToms didn’t smash 69 home runs like the long-ball monsters of 2007, but the HiToms did lead the league in round trippers (52 - second all-time in CPL history) and runs scored (330) and finished second in hits (504), third in walks (237) and doubles (92) and fourth in batting average .(266). And, just like in the player pitching categories, the HiToms shined in individual hitting statistics as well. Second-year Citadel outfielder Sonny Meade finished fifth (.325) in hitting, North Carolina A&T outfielder C.J. Beatty finished as the runner-up in league R.B.I. (44) as well as Appalachian State second baseman Wes Hobson in runs scored (70) and Tennessee catcher Blake Forsythe in home runs (9). Beatty also hammered nine runs in 2008 which was good enough for a third-place finish in the league’s home run race.

Coastal Plain League Player of the Week honors were balanced as well with the HiToms collecting three offensive and defensive designations. Offensively, HiTom hitters racked up player of the week honors in Week #3 – Sonny Meade, Week #6 – C.J. Beatty and Week #8 – Wes Hobson. On the mound, Justin Sarratt showed why the Defensive Player of the Year Award came his way by earning Pitcher of the Week honors in Week # 3, #4 and #6. The All-Star game in Asheboro was also heavily represented by HiToms players with Beatty, Forsythe, Chris McGuiness (The Citadel), Meade and Sarratt selected to play in the CPL’s mid-summer classic.

Despite all of the team statistical accomplishments and individual honors, there is no question that the 2008 edition of the HiToms will also be characterized as a team of success. Winning 37 regular-season games and the Petit Cup’s number one seed, the HiToms reeled off an impressive 21-7 second-half record and an astonishing 22-5 home record. Ironically, four of the HiToms home losses occurred in one week (June 9 – June 14th), and following the loss to Gastonia in mid-June, the Tommies managed to post 18 Finch Field wins and just one loss.

Traveling to Columbia, SC for the Petit Cup, McCay’s squad squared off with number eight seed and host franchise the Columbia Blowfish. Playing a day later due to rain, the Blowfish led the HiToms 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth when shortstop Ben Thielsen laced a single to right field scoring Josh Liles( Tennessee), J.D. Burgess (Clemson) and Jeff Arnold (Louisville). HiToms reliever Thomas Girdwood (Elon) closed the door in the ninth with three strikeouts to preserve the win and move the HiToms into a Friday night match-up with the Peninsula Pilots.

Justin Sarratt received the start in Game Six and the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year lived up to his regular-season honor with a masterful complete game. Scattering 10 hits, Sarratt allowed just one run en route to an eight strikeout and no walk performance. The offense kicked in for the HiToms as well with the Tommies posting eight runs on two home runs (Forsythe and Jones), a double (Jeff Arnold – Louisville) and a triple by Burgess.

The 8-1 victory advanced the HiToms to the winner’s bracket final against the tournament’s number two seed, the Florence Red Wolves. Paced on the mound by Bobby Doran, the Red Wolves turned in a strong performance shutting out the HiToms and plating three to run their tournament record to 3-0 and advance to the Petit Cup final on Sunday. The loss moved the HiToms to the semi-final against Game #6 foe, Peninsula.

Another HiTom veteran, Wes Wren (The Citadel), got the start for the Tommies in Game #9 and just like Sarratt, Wrenn turned in a performance of a life-time. Hailing from High Point and cutting his teeth at Finch Field, Wrenn took control of the game early and limited the offensive-minded Pilots to just five hits and two runs. Catcher Jeff Arnold registered the game’s biggest blast in the bottom of the fourth when the Louisville Cardinal stroked a three-run home run to left-centerfield to post a 4-2 HiToms lead. Wrenn iced the game following the Arnold three-run blast by allowing just two hits and no runs over the final five innings to advance the HiToms to Sunday’s championship match-up with the Florence Red Wolves.

Like the balancing act performed all season, the HiToms unveiled Sunday that pitching was not the only weapon in the defending champion’s arsenal. Scoring four runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of a 2 RBI single by second baseman Wes Hobson, the HiToms weathered an intense Red Wolves rally in the third and fifth. Facing a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the fifth, the HiToms scratched out the go-ahead run when Citadel designated hitter Richard Jones popped a single through the right-side to score fellow Citadel teammate Chris McGuiness.

This Citadel/HiToms magic was not over, however. Stepping to the plate in the bottom of the sixth was leading HiToms hitter and 2006 CPL Championship star Sonnny Meade. Nursing a twisted knee, the Goose Creek, SC native smashed a two-run home-run over the left-field wall extending the HiToms lead to 7-4 and setting up the stage for a bullpen save.

Entering the game in the top of the fifth with two outs, Boston College, lefty Pat Dean extinguished the Red Wolves offensive rally by throwing two and two-thirds of three hit ball and allowing no runs.

The eighth and ninth were left to HiToms reliever Chase Stewart. The Miami of Ohio product rallied in the second half of the season with a string of consistent performances and his hot hand continued in the championship game as the tall, right-hander allowed struck out two while allowing no runs en route to cementing the HiToms third straight Coastal Plain League championship.

The victory by the 2008 HiToms signified the first time in league history that one franchise has won three consecutive league titles.

The 2007 Season

From Chris Swauger's first pitch four-bagger in his sophomore season debut to Jorge Castillo's title game walk-off, the HiToms’ 2007 season will forever be remembered as the "Year of the Home Run."

Sixty-nine, that's right 69 long balls were blasted by HiTom hitters in 2007. To put this in historical perspective, one must consider that in the HiToms firt Coastal Plain League championoship run in 2006, the Tommies established a new league, home run record with 38. The new league record eclipsed the HiToms previous high of 26 when current minor leaguers Steve Singleton and Shane Buschini thrilled Finch Field crowds by leading the squad to 26 team round-trippers. Interestingly, in 2005, the HiToms recorded their third straight western division crown with a whopping four home runs.

Chris Swauger with 14, Rich Poythress with 13 and Kyle Roller, Richard Jones and David Thomas with 9, the 2007 HiTom squad forever scripted their legacey in HiToms lore with their powerful display of tape measure home runs and their penchant for consistency and success. Winning 39 regular season contests and 43 games overall, the HiToms snatched both the first and second half division crowns by winning four games in a row on five different occassions and losing more than two contests in a row just once.

After an opening night exhibition win with over 2,000 spectators in the stands at the Finch, the HiToms won their first four league games and jumped out to a 13-3 record. Closer Aaron Lorio (LA Tech) paced the HiToms attack by recording five saves in the first nine games en route to winning Week One CPL Pitcher of the Week honors. Offensively, the HiToms emerged with the appearance of Georgia product Rich Poythress. Belting 11 home runs in the first half alone and winning Week Two CPL Hitter of the Week Honors, Poythress even deliverd on a Father's Day promise to his Dad by crushing an opposite field home run in the Tommies 5-3 victory over the Asheboro Copperheads.

The hot streak continued through the first month of the season as the HiToms collected their fourth Western Division crown in five years with a 19-8 record. Not surprisingly, the first half was punctuated on June 27 in true '07 HiTom fashion. Entering the contest in Spartanburg with five home runs, The Citadel's Chris Swauger took aim at former Citadel and HiTom teammate Zach Brown's modern-era career, home run record (12). Hitting not one, not two but three home runs, Swauger tied Brown's career mark with a CPL first, home-run hat trick. Ultimately, Swauger's penchant for power would propel the Tampa, FL native to first on the HiToms modern-era, career home run list (18).

The second-half of the season got underway with a bang on July 4th; both on the field and in the sky. A HiToms-record 2,826 fans witnessed a 5-2 win over the Spartanburg Stingers and an eye-opening fireworks show as the HiToms learned that seven team members were named to the CPL All-Star Team: Kyle Roller (East Carolina), David Thomas (Catawba), Richard Jones (The Citadel), Rich Poythress (Georgia), Wade Broyles (Ole Miss), and Aaron Lorio (Louisisana Tech, and Head Coach Ryan McCurry was tabbed as the National squad's manager.

The second-half was much of the same for the HiToms as the navy and blue sluggers took dead aim on the CPL's outfield fences. Kyle Roller was named CPL Hitter of the Week for week six while Swauger collecetd his second Hitter of the Week honor with a week nine designation. Finishing 20-8 in the second half and 39-16 overall, the Tommies entered the Petitt Cup in steamy, Florence, SC with a #2 seed and a date with the home-standing Redwolves.

Battling record heat - 105 degrees - and a feisty Redwolf squad, the HiToms entered the ninth inning down by two and searching for a late-game revival. However, an interesting thing happened with two outs, the wind shifted, an infield pop-fly dropped and the HiToms fortunes changed.

Sensing difficulty in the infield, the Clemson product anticipated an opportunity and raced from second base sliding across the plate as the fly ball dropped harmlessly between the mound and third base. With the win continuing to howl, Adam Fuller (Georgia) made the most of his pinch-hit opportunity by delivering a sharp single to right-center field and a late-night, first-round victory to the HiToms.

After a tough loss to Peninsula Saturday morning, the HiToms’ bats came alive against the #1 seed Fayetteville Swampdogs. Facing elimination, the HiToms collected 21 hits en route to a 16-0 win. Justin Sarratt (Clemson) threw an amazing complete game shutout, allowing only six hits, and throwing only 94 pitches in nine innings.

Martinsville was next for the HiToms on Championship Sunday. The Tommies jumped to an early 5-1 lead only to see Martinsville respond with a grand slam and a 10-5 lead. Once again, howeer, the HiToms persevered. A Jorge Castillo (Louisville) grand slam in the seventh tied tied the score at 10 and the HiToms pushed across four more in the eighth to collect a 14-11 victory and force a rematch of 2006's championship game against Peninsula.

With the championship game tied at three entering the bottom of the ninth and a gutty pitching performance by Matt Reifsnider (Citadel) and Blake Ketner (Catawba)in the rear-view mirror, players and fans again sensed a story-book ending. Like a great writer, Castillo delivered a memorable tale by blasting the first pitch he saw over the right field fence and cementing the HiToms second consecutive Coastal Plain League Championship.

Not surprisingly, Castillo was named Offensive Player of the Tournament with his remarkable 10 for 20 performance that inlcuded four home runs, 12 RBI and of course his historic, walk-off four-bagger. Sarratt was named Defensive Player of the Tournament for his performance against Fayetteville.

Overall, the HiToms finished with a 43-17 record and surpassed the franchise record 37 win total of 2006. In addition, the HiToms gained national recognition by finishing the summer as the third ranked franchise in the finall 2007 collegiate summer baseball ranking by Perfect Game Crosschecker. PG Crosscheck puts out a Top 16 poll of the best college summer baseball teams in the country which includes teams from over 20 different leagues.

Many other team and individual franchise records were broken in 2007. The team set records in batting average (.293), hits (543), runs (347), RBIs (310), slugging percentage (.457), and, of course, home runs (69).Kyle Roller’s .351 batting average is now an all-time franchise-record. Roller’s 66 hits and David Thomas’ 65 rank them #1 and #2 respectively in HiToms’ history. Thomas now holds two HiToms’ records himself; runs scored (49) and doubles (17). His 49 runs scored was also a CPL high this season.

Chris Swauger’s 14 home runs and Rich Poythress’ 13 home runs now rank #1 and #2 in modern-era franchise history. Poythress (49), Swauger (46), and Richard Jones (46) ended at the top of the list of RBIs in the league. Poythress’ 49 was also a new HiToms’ record.Wade Broyles’ remarkable season will go down in the record books as one of the best for a pitcher. His 0.24 ERA is easily a team-record. Broyles allowed only one earned run in 37.2 innings pitched. Aaron Lorio broke the HiToms’ saves record, recording 17 during the year.

The final franchise record was not accomplished on the field, but in the stands. Over 35,000 fans attended HiToms’ games in 2007, proving that the HiToms’ fans are as loyal as any others in the CPL.

“The people of Thomasville, High Point, and the surrounding area helped provide our players with a summer to remember,” said Coach Ryan McCurry. “It was amazing how many times we heard our players saying ‘we have the best fans’ or ‘I wish we were a college team and played here all the time.’ All of us will forever remember the town and the people that make the HiTom community so special.”

Pre-Modern Era

If you trace the pathway of baseball history far enough you might find that its journey started right next door. In 1948, Finch Field was the baseball capital of North Carolina. Sporting a squad that finished first in the North Carolina State League with a 67-43 record, the reincarnated HiToms were a band of veteran ballplayers with big numbers and long pedigrees. Featuring the league leader in wins, Al Jarlett (27), the N.C. State League batting champion, Jimmy Grudzis (.381), and former major leaguer Cliff Bolton, the newly renamed HiToms franchise was a juggernaut between the lines and beyond as well. Steamrolling the likes of Statesville, Mooresville, and Salisbury, the HiToms racked up both wins and fans. Attracting over 100,000 people to Finch Field in 1948, the HiToms easily distanced themselves by 30,000 fans from the league’s second place attendance leader, Salisbury.

Baseball’s transcendent power emanates from its magical storyline, its captivating stars, and its mythical legends. So despite the vast excitement created in 1948, the season ending storyline was like a banana split without whipped cream and chocolate, sweet but not memorable. Nineteen forty-nine, however, was a different story. Inundated with resounding victories and covered with batting titles and sold-out grandstands, the HiToms created a summertime dessert good enough to earn the moniker of “homemade.”

Seventeen. Seventeen years old was Eddie Matthews in 1949 when he strolled into Finch Field’s clubhouse. Years away from his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, 500th home run, 1957 World Series championship, and appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s inaugural issue, Matthews sauntered into Thomasville as a teenager in street clothes and a man in uniform.

Joining a team that would ultimately win 90 of 124 games and the N.C. State League championship, Matthews stole the show. Hitting .363 and 17 home runs in just 63 games, the teenage phenom instantly emerged as a star. Outshining Cliff Bolton, the 42 year-old High Point native and league batting champion (.399), and N.C. State League victory leader Lynn Southworth (21-1), Matthews established a laundry list of great plays and towering home runs. Crushing round trippers that sailed over Finch Field’s back yard neighbor – National Highway – and snagging hard line shots as if suspended in the air, Matthews formulated his Hall of Fame journey through the wisdom of his HiToms teammates and the inspiration of his adoring fans. A true baseball legend was born on the green pastures of Finch Field.

Arguably the second most recognizable player ever to don a HiToms uniform was 15-year major league veteran Curt Flood. A swift outfielder from Beaumont, TX, Flood later emerged as the first major league ballplayer to challenge Major League Baseball’s ironclad reserve clause. Recognized universally by professional ballplayers as free agency’s Joan of Arc, Flood gained nationwide notoriety for his refusal to accept a trade from his beloved St. Louis Cardinals to Philadelphia. Unfortunately, this tussle in the court system has saddled Flood’s epitaph with stories of legal battles and holdouts, not his seven gold gloves and career .293 batting average.

Like Matthews, Finch Field served as Flood’s launching pad. Leading the HiToms to a 91 win season and a first place Carolina League regular season finish in 1956, Flood dazzled the southern Piedmont with his powerful hitting stroke and his electric base running and defense. Patrolling the spacious outfield of Finch Field like an eagle soaring over his prey, Flood dominated the Carolina League with 29 home runs, 133 R.B.I. and a .340 batting average. Flood’s monumental exploits earned him Carolina League Player of the Year honors and a late season call-up to Cincinnati. Although playing only five games with the Reds, Flood’s rapid ascension to ‘superstar’ status earned him a one-way ticket to the big leagues for 14 more seasons.

Two other former HiToms used their tenure at Finch Field as a stepping stone to major league success. Dallas Green, a 1957 HiToms starting pitcher, posted a 12-9 record for the second half Carolina League champions en route to a solid career with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, Green is more widely known for his success as a manager. Leading a scrappy group of future Hall of Famers – Pete Rose, Steve Carlton, and Mike Schmidt – in 1980 to the Phillies first world championship. Green was hailed as a feisty, motivational leader who expected perfection and received excellence.

Interestingly, Green was not the only former HiTom to make a name for himself as a big league manager. Jack McKeon, former manager of the Oakland A’s, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, and of the world champion Florida Marlins, steered the HiToms express to the 1968 Carolina League championship. Piloting the HiToms through a rocky 69-71 regular season, McKeon ignited the troops in the playoffs behind the hammering bat of future major leaguer Tony Solaita. Solaita would rattle the fences of Finch Field with 49 home runs, 122 R.B.I., and a .302 batting average en route to winning Carolina League Player of the Year honors.

Although the professional baseball franchise at Finch Field did not officially become the HiToms until 1948, professional baseball in High Point and Thomasville dates back to 1920. A charter member of the Class D Piedmont League, the Furniture Makers posted a 57-57 record, good enough for a third-place finish. Three years later, the Furniture Makers became the Pointers. Fielding a team for nine more seasons, the Pointers eventually abandoned High Point because of financial problems. On an interesting note, Winston Salem’s entry into the Piedmont League also experienced franchise problems in 1932 and relocated to High Point late in the season. Featuring future veteran major leaguers Hank Leiber and Al Smith, the relocated franchise lasted just a few weeks into the 1933 season.

The actual HiToms organization at Finch Field dates back to 1937. Known as the Thomasville Chairmakers in the Class D League of the Carolina State League, the Chairmakers were Finch Field’s first occupants. Finishing with a 63-48 record in 1937, the Chairmakers changed their name to the Orioles in 1938 and energized their faithful fans in more ways than one. Streaking to a 75-36 regular season record, the Orioles featured the league’s three best players. Second baseman Darr Shealy hit .357 with 114 R.B.I., outfielder Roy Pinkston finished second in the league batting race with a .356 average, and Pitcher Paige Dennis turned in one of the most dominating single season pitching performances ever, with a 28-2 record, 1.33 ERA, and 220 strikeouts.

Ironically, the team’s exploits worked fans into such a lather that the Orioles championship series with Mooresville was suspended with the series tied at 3-3 because of fan violence. Nineteen-thirty nine saw the modern day HiToms change their name once again with the Finch Field nine renaming themselves the Tommies. Except for a two year suspension of league play in 1942 and 1943 because of WWII, the modern day HiToms fielded a team until 1959 when the franchise stopped play. Six years later in 1964, the HiToms resurfaced as a Minnesota Twins organization finishing 73-52 and attracting over 71,256 fans.

Serving as a major league affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals, the HiToms/Pointers organization has featured 41 players who spent time in the major leagues.