Tyler Antwine is having a blast at Bethel Christian Academy, and the Trojans baseball team is having a blast with him.
Antwine, a senior, transferred to the private school from North Lenoir following his sophomore year to “increase my Biblical knowledge,” he said. He also wanted to hone his skills on the diamond.
As the Trojans (9-6, 6-1) put their first place standing in the conference and four-game win streak on the line this afternoon at Greenville Trinity Christian, Antwine leads the team in most offensive categories. He’s also one of their go-to guys on the mound.
All told the right-hander is enjoying himself.
“We’ve been putting in a lot of work out here. The pieces are just finally coming together offensively, and that’s helping us a lot,” Antwine said.
“The opportunity I’ve had out here is a lot better. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Antwine has a team-best .475 average, and is first in plate appearances (59), runs scored (27), hits (19), extra-base hits (3), walks (18), stolen bases (eight), on-base percentage (.644) and slugging (.550). He’s second in RBIs at 12 behind Austin Croom’s 15.
On the mound, he’s 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA in seven appearances — six starts. He leads the team in strikeouts with 26.
Not bad for a kid who hadn’t pitched ever, in his life, before last season.
“He’s been a real workhorse for us this season, both on the mound and at the plate,” Trojans coach Kenny Sutton said.
“We’re glad he’s here. He’s having a great senior year.”
Today’s game marks the anniversary of Antwine’s first career start.
It’s also a reminder of just how far he’s come.
Antwine pitched a complete-game win in extra innings at Trinity last season, but it wound up being his last outing of the year. Antwine said he injured his throwing shoulder at some point during the game and never quite recovered.
Not only did he not take the hill again as a junior, the pain in his shoulder affected his defense at shortstop and his hitting.
“I didn’t really do that well last year because I got hurt,” Antwine said, “but this year I’m doing pretty good.”
Today, Antwine’s shoulder is completely healed and so has his game. The Trojans have three games left in the regular season — all this week — and then it’s on to the playoffs.
Bethel won back-to-back N.C. Christian School Association state 2A titles in 2010 and 2011, and in Antwine’s first year it came up short.
He isn’t planning on coming up short this year.
“It’ll be a happy end to all this hard work I, and my team, have been putting out,” Antwine said. “We have a lot of potential, and we haven’t even begun to meet it yet.”
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.