North Duplin’s Tanner Kornegay tosses his bat toward the dugout after drawing a walk during a game this past spring. Kornegay was named to the 2023 Class 1A All-State team selected by the NC Baseball Coaches Association. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin graduates Richard Noble, left, and Erik Rosas, right, were named to the 2023 Class 1A All-State team selected by the NC Baseball Coaches Association. Noble is currently playing with the Kinston Wingmen, while Rosas will continue his career at the University of Mount Olive. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Take talented players and put them in position to succeed has been Colton Chrisman’s goal since he took over the North Duplin baseball program two years ago.
This past season proved Chrisman’s work.
Seven Rebels recently earned well-deserved recognition from the NC Baseball Coaches Association.
Graduates Erik Rosas and Richard Noble, along with rising senior Tanner Kornegay, were named to the Class 1A All-State team. Teammates Wesley Holmes, Brady Byrd, Austin Duff and Hunt Pate each drew a nod on the Class 1A All-Region 2 squad.
“It’s definitely an honor for them and I’m glad they’re getting the recognition that is well deserved [after] an incredible year,” Chrisman said. “Coaching is plugging, pulling, moving and adapting to what you have…put them in spots where they can be successful.”
The Rebels posted 21 wins and co-owned the Carolina 1A regular-season title — their second with Chrisman and fourth overall in program history.
Rosas and Noble emerged as the team’s workhorses on the mound. The duo combined for 204 strikeouts in 120 innings of work, according to updated stats online. Rosas logged a 1.28 earned run average, while Noble turned in a 1.61 ERA.
Noble batted .397 and pounded out a team-leading 31 hits. The Lenoir Community College signee collected 24 RBI and stole 16 bases.
Kornegay rebounded from an early-season injury to hit .455 in 17 games. He recorded 20 hits, 10 RBI and swiped 16 bags.
“Erik was a tremendous force on the mound, set some goals for himself and those were achieved. He got rewarded for that,” Chrisman said. “Richard brought so much to the table, not only on the mound, but at shortstop and he played the last part of the season injured.
“Tanner got injured in the middle of February, came back and wreaked havoc. He held down center field for us and we’re excited that he’s coming back.”
Pate embraced his role as lead-off batter in the lineup.
The rising junior led the team in stolen bases (23) and runs scored (33). He batted .353 with 24 hits and 18 RBI.
A multi-sport athlete like most of his teammates, Byrd turned in a .351 average. He stole 17 bases, cranked out 20 hits and knocked in 13 runs.
Duff handled duties behind the dish. The catcher notched a team-leading 234 putouts and registered 24 assists. Offensively, he batted .281 that included 18 hits and a season-high 26 RBI.
Holmes provided 19 hits and 15 RBI. The rising junior hit .288 at the plate and stole 19 bases.
“They’ve all bought into what we’re trying to do as a program and we put them in a great spot to be successful,” Chrisman said. “Our younger guys see that now and it’s always been that way at North Duplin. Come to do what we ask you to do, and you’re going to be inspired to succeed.
“We’re just thankful that we have athletes we do come through and make an impact like that. When we get back out there next year, we’ll start from the bottom, work our way to where we want to go. We [always] set the goals high.”
