SNOW HILL — Greene Central will be well represented in 2013-14 college athletics.
The school had four sign national letters of intent recently, and held a special ceremony for the quartet in its media center on Tuesday.
Baseball players Ben Brann and Chad Murphy have signed with Barton College and Mount Olive College, respectively, track and field star Alexis Robinson will sprint for Western Carolina University and softball standout Jordan Sutton has opted to take her talents to Pitt Community College.
Brann keeps Barton tradition
Alex Brann graduated from Barton College on Sunday, four years after playing baseball for Greene Central.
This fall, Brann’s younger brother will follow in his footsteps.
Ben Brann, the Rams’ ace left-hander, will pitch for the Bulldogs, keeping the Barton tradition alive.
The fact that his older brother had spent four seasons behind the plate with the Bulldogs made it an easy decision.
“I thought it seemed just like a good place to be,” Brann said, “and I got a good offer to go.”
As a senior this year Brann went 8-1 with a 1.27 ERA in nine starts and helped lead the Rams to a share of the Eastern Plains 2A Conference championship and to the state playoffs.
Brann threw seven complete games and five shutouts, and struck out 59 compared to only 28 walks.
“I just hope to be successful,” said Brann, who is undecided on his major, “and if I’m lucky maybe go on to the next level.”
Murphy fulfills dream
Along with Brann, Chad Murphy’s older brother attended Mount Olive College but not as an athlete.
The standout Greene Central shortstop gets to do both.
Murphy, who wants to pursue a degree in agricultural business, will be an infielder for one of the country’s premier NCAA Division II programs next year.
“Ever since I was a little boy I always wanted to play (baseball) and really I always wanted to play at Mount Olive, too,” Murphy said. “Everything worked out for me.”
Murphy was the Rams’ big stick this year at the plate. He led the team in average (.324), plate appearances (85), hits (24), RBIs (19), extra-base hits (nine), home runs (four), on-base percentage (.405) and slugging (.554).
He said he will most likely move from shortstop to second base with the Trojans.
“I just hope to keep my batting average up high like I did at Greene Central and make no errors,” Murphy said.
Robinson makes unexpected choice
Alexis Robinson loves the beach, but ironically enough she’s headed to the mountains.
The lightning-quick sprinter’s decision to run for Western Carolina next year came as a surprise — especially considering she prefers flat land.
“I’m not a mountain person. I love the beach,” Robinson said. “But when I checked into Western Carolina I went up there it just amazed me — the peacefulness and everything, no distractions. I felt like I was home.”
It’s been a big week for Robinson. Not only did she sign her NLI to run for the Catamounts, but she also qualified for the NCHSAA state 2A track and field championships after finishing third in the 400-meter dash at Saturday’s 2A Eastern Regionals at Wilson Beddingfield High School.
Now that her college decision is behind her, Robinson, who plans on majoring in nursing, is focused on winning a state championship at N.C. A&T University on Friday.
“I just hope that my dream-come-true week ends in an actual dream come true,” Robinson said. “I hope that I’m able to bring that state championship back.”
Sutton gets total package
Jordan Sutton really wants to be a dental assistant, and Pitt Community College can help get her started down that path.
The senior catcher will play softball for the Bulldogs next spring while focusing on acquiring a degree to help her earn her dream job. But her true love is softball, which is why she chose PCC.
“I love softball. That’s my one true love,” she said.
Sutton played solid defense behind the plate for the Rams this season. She led the team in fielding percentage at .977 and committed only one error all year.
Sutton, who really wanted to attend Mount Olive, said she got a late start on the process of playing college softball, and after meeting with PCC coaches she chose to wear a Bulldogs uniform over going to Wayne C.C. after being accepted into its dental assisting program.
“I want to get my two years in playing (at Pitt) then hopefully go to Mount Olive or ECU and play,” she said.
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.