It is amazing this world we live in. We can talk while driving, use that phone to call anywhere in the world. Look up any question you might have about anything and get an answer as soon as snapping your finger. I missed Brian Goodwin's first major league hit live as I had a family obligation to take care of. Wednesday night I could go on the Washington National's website and highlights of the game and of course any player getting his first hit ever in the major leagues is a highlight so there is a 30 second clip of the hit.
Major League baseball players and any team sport anywhere teammates have a bond in the case of the major leagues every player knows what it took him to get to the big stage and anytime a teammate has one of those milestones everyone knows what it means to get there. After the sharp single Davey Lopes the National's first base coach asked for the ball and rolled it over to the NATS dugout. Catcher Pedro Severino leaned over the dugout protection scooped it up and jumped up in down celebrating with the ball. Pitcher Max Scherzer took the ball from Severino and already had another ball in his opposite hand and nonchalantly tossed the other ball in the stands as if it was no big deal.
Milesstones are important to all of us. That 16th birthday and getting those driver's license, your first child and for Brian Goodwin being able to say I'm a big leaguer. All his teammates understood the moment and for someone like me who doesn't get to see him much anymore but who had the pleasure to call games on the radio when he played it is a big moment for me too. I still remember the Babe Ruth State Championship game at Stith Park. Brian led off and hit the first pitch over the right field wall an I think it is still floating in the Tar River.
It is easy to understand the excitement from his teammates as they had to go through the same efforts to make it to the big stage. But back here in Rocky Mount he had teammates who went through the sweat with Brian to win Two state titles in Babe Ruth, Southeast Regional titles and a state title in 3-A baseball. Teammates Ben Fish, Gabe Brown, Collins Cuthrell, Grant Johnson, Chris Berry, William Barringer, Jim Leggett, Benton Moss, Dillion Cockrell, Nick Hahula, the Berry twins Matthew and Thomas and so many more who have played with or watched Brian through the years.
Can you even process the thought of how coach Pat Smith feels watching Brian perform? There is no doubt Brian Goodwin has God given talents that through the years coaches have helped develop. Jason Battle, Kent Cox, Travis Ward, Jammie Mitchell and so many more. Each just bust out with a smile any time I have contact with any of them about Brian's progress. Almost on a daily basis Bernie Capps will ask me what did Brian do last night. Can you imagine how many times Bernie Capps has taped Brian Goodwin's ankles? His success means lots to all of us.
Every day for the rest of his professional life all of us who call Rocky Mount and Nash County home will pull for Brian Goodwin to excel. None of us know what his limits will be. There will be many who live and die with every swing of the bat because he belongs to us. He is one of us. He represents us all. He will always now be known as a major leaguer from Rocky Mount North Carolina.
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