University of Mount Olive alum watches a fly ball sail over the fence at Scarborough Field during his career with the Trojans. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
“Captain” Jack Casbarro recalled the fateful afternoon then-University of Mount Olive head baseball coach Carl Lancaster asked to meet with him.
Lancaster said he planned to retire.
The decision stunned Casbarro.
“I was one of his last recruits,” said Casbarro, who received the inaugural Carl Lancaster Award during the recent Wayne County Hot Stove League Banquet.
“When I heard the news, it was tough considering his legacy and everything he means to the program, although I was blessed to play under Coach [Rob] Watt and his staff for the years to come. I want to thank God, my family and all of the coaches that gotten me to where I am today. I’m truly blessed and grateful.”
One of two Trojans to play in all 55 games last season, Casbarro batted .319 with 73 hits, 43 RBI and 10 home runs. The Southern Wayne alum helped UMO claim an unprecedented Carolinas tournament championship and clinch the automatic bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional.
The infielder earned recognition from the following organizations — NCBWA All-Southeast Region (second team), CSC Academic All-District, D2CCA All-Region, ABCA All-Region (second team) and Spring Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year by Hudl.
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Nearly 200 baseball enthusiasts — young and young at heart — recently gathered at Lane Tree Golf Club for the annual event. They watched as local youth received acknowledgement for their outstanding campaigns on the diamond in 2023.
Scott Forbes, head coach at the University of North Carolina, served as the guest speaker.
His passion for the “greatest show on dirt” showed throughout his speech, which included how the new NLI has vastly changed the landscape of college athletics. Athletes can profit from having their names put on college uniforms and other items sold by their respective universities.
“Scott did an awesome job,” said Roger May, who helped found WCHSL more than a decade ago.
May credited Jeff Cannon at LTGC for his assistance in making the banquet a success each year. Jerry Johnson, a member of the NC High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, drew recognition for beginning his “Golden Year” (50th) as an umpire and ambassador to baseball.
Members of the 2023 Wayne County Post 11 team drew applause for finishing runner-up in the NC Senior American Legion State tournament. It was the program’s seventh appearance overall and first since 2011.
Post 11 finished the year 33-8 overall.
Award winners were:
• Doyle Whitfield Award — former Rosewood head coach Justin Willoughby, who guided the Eagles to a share of the Carolina 1A regular-season crown.
• Charles Davis Award — Braeden Collins, who helped Wayne Country Day reach the final four in the NC Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 2A state tournament. Collins also played for Post 11.
• John Thomas Award — Southern Wayne assistant baseball coach Alex Thomas.
• George Whitfield Award — Wayne Country Day’s Gavin Johnson, who earned all-state recognition.
• Clyde King Award — North Duplin alum Erik Rosas, who earned a spot on the NC Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A all-state team. The right-hander sported a 1.61 earned run average (ERA) with 117 strikeouts in 65-plus innings on the bump.
• Jerry Narron Award — Greene Central’s Braden Burress and Wayne Country Day’s Rett Johnson. Burress logged an 11-0 record and microscopic 0.56 ERA on the mound. The Rams won the 2023 Eastern Plains 2A crown. Johnson played on the Chargers’ final four team.
Here is a list of previous award winners:
• Jerry Narron Award: 2007 — Sthil Sowers; 2008 — Garrett Davis and Collin Parker; 2009 — John Wooten; 2010 — John Wooten; 2011 — Connor Narron; 2012 — Kevin Wise and Jon Taylor; 2013 — Adam Pate; 2014 — Adam Pate; 2015 — Reed Howell; 2016 — Luke Jackson; 2017 — Josh Jernigan; 2018 — Derek Neal; 2019 — Blake Gipson and Jack Casbarro; 2020 — Logan Price; 2023 — Mason Moffett.
• Clyde King Award: 2007 — Joey Moye; 2008 — Sthil Sowers; 2009 — Grant Sasser; 2009 — John Alphin; 2010 — Josh Frederick; 2011 — Matt Neal; 2012 — Zack Mozingo; 2013 — Jeremy Taylor; 2014 — Benjamin Braun; 2015 — Landon Letchworth; 2016 — Bobby Hampton; 2017 — Kyle Davis and Will Rouse; 2018 — Cody Whaley; 2019 — Quinton Pittman; 2020 — Josh Hartsfield.
• John Thomas Award: 2007 — Ed Spence; 2008 — Chad Pate; 2009 — Randy Pate; 2010 — Heath Smitherman; 2011 — TJ Smothers; 2012 — Michael Stewart; 2013 — Jimmy Duke; 2014 — Joey Paul; 2015 — Alan Nichols; 2016 — Buddy Davis; 2017 — David McSwain; 2018 — Steve Reese; 2019 — Keith Waller; 2020 — Joey Duke.
• George Whitfield Award: 2008 — Brandon Price; 2009 — Walker Gourley; 2010 — Will Edgerton; 2011 — Cambric Moye; 2012 — Zach Harrell; 2013 — Collin DuBose; 2014 — Ashton Cox; 2015 — Tim Naughton; 2016 — Zack Smith; 2017 — Sawyer Smith; 2018 — Mitch Turnage; 2019 — Christian Yarbrough; 2020 — Ryan Sullivan; 2023 — Daniel Weeks.
• Charles Davis Award: 2020 — Peyton Howard; 2023 — Will Pennington.
• Doyle Whitfield Award: 2007 — Jim Montague; 2008 — Charles Davis and Bruce Proctor; 2009 — Jabo Fulghum; 2010 — Jabo Fulghum; 2011 — Jason King; 2012 — Jabo Fulghum; 2013 — Charles Davis and Michael Taylor; 2014 — Scott Jones; 2015 — Jason King; 2016 — Heath Whitfield; 2017 — Charles Davis and Heath Whitfield; 2018 — Jason King; 2019 — Michael Taylor and Jackson Massey; 2020 — Jason King; 2023 — Adam Pate and Jackson Massey.
