Changes With App State Baseball

Kermit Smith on Thursday was named the new baseball coach at App State.  During the first trip to the Division II College World Series by Lander in 2014 I had a chance to shake Kermit's hand when I was introduced to him by Britt Johnson. It really makes no difference to me where Smith goes but what is important to me is his assistant coaches who are friends of mine.  Britt Johnson and Jim Leggett both Rocky Mount High School graduates.

Once you get beyond high school it is a dog eat world in sports.  If you happen to be lucky enough  to be ask by another school to come coach at their place most of the time coaches are fired for lack of wins or maybe they are tangling  with the rules more than their school will allow.

If you are asked like Appalachian State has ask Kermit Smith to be their next head baseball coach most of the time the head coach brings with him his staff those people who have helped him earn the job App St has offered Smith.  I hope that might be the case for both Britt and Jim.  That would be a step up in the world of coaching from DII to DI.

There is also another possible move here.  Britt might become the head coach at Lander taking Smith's place.  For "Baseball" Britt that is a move up the ladder for him.  I don't know what is the better move if it should come to that decision for Britt.

Smith was the head coach at Lander for seven years and during that time had a record of 244-134.  Two of the last three years Lander has been in Cary in the DII College World Series.  When you are successful people notice especially those in need of a coach.

Britt Johnson joined Smith his first year as a volunteer  helper bus driver anything he could get to get into coaching.  He has become the head recruiter and third base coach and in charge of the infield on defense.  Britt is a testament to doing anything to get started and it has paid off.

Jim Leggett was a volunteer coach at Lander in 2015 and pitching coach this year.  He like Britt has done the dirty work to get noticed. 

Monday Kermit Smith will formally introduced at Appalachian State and next week there should be some announcements as to Smith's staff in Boone as well as what might occur in Greenwood South Carolina at Lander.

Rocky Mount and Nash County  is a hotbed for baseball.  We over the years have many that have played at some level in pro baseball and many coaches like Elliot Advent or Billy Godwin have coached major universities. In  Johnson and Leggett the trend continues. The question now is where does it continue?

Last night in the Legion playoffs Garner knocked off Apex to tie that series at 1-1 with a 10-2 win in the Area One Western division playoff.  Over in the east they were rained out with Pitt County leading 2-0.  Both series continue today pending weather.