Cabarrus - 1971 NC 3A baseball playoffs

does anyone recall this playoff? it involved one of the Cabarrus teams, NW or Central? an Eastern NC finals game played at Laurinburg.

thanks.

 

I don't remember the exact year, but I would have to ask you if your team won or lost in 1971? Either way the Cabarrus County team your referring to was Northwest Cabarrus. Northwest won the NCHSAA 3A State Championship in baseball somewhere around 1971 and they were state runnerups either the year before or year after ('70 or '72)...

This particular Northwest Cabarrus team back in the early 70's was LOADED,,,, had 2 players who later got drafted (George Marshall- Mets and David Caldwell- Orioles). Big George was a lefted handed pitcher who won about 36 games during his HS career. Was drafted by the Mets straight out of high school. Caldwell was a tremendous hitter who went on to Clemson where he was an All-American before being drafted by the Orioles. (Caldwell is currently the Concord Legion Head Coach). George Marshall also had 2 brothers on this same team who started (Gary-inf. and Gerald-catcher) and all 3 of those brothers could PLAY. Sammy Boger-inf. went on to play at Pfeiffer and later tragically passed away at an early age right after college. Alton, Russ, that Lathom boy,,,, man this team simply had a starting 9 who could just about bat anywhere in the lineup and they would be just as strong. Lots of power and speed. Of course most great "successful" teams usually have a great coach and this team was no exception. Head Coach Bernie Edwards led NW Cabarrus teams to many conference championships during the late 60's-late 70's before he got out of coaching to become a principal around 1978-79. Coach Edwards still ranks as one of the best coaches I've ever seen at the high school level. He knew how to communicate to his players, he really understood how to teach the game of baseball, and then he knew how to put it all together in order to win...

 

i was a freshman that year and remember it very well... i was at the try-outs , thought i made the team and grades all of a sudden came into play.

Taught me a valuable lesson about slacking off....
That team was great.. I thought they beat scotland county for the title... guess i was mistaken..

 

Int.Coach,,, well it makes me feel better to know that you are actually older than me. I was just a little leaguer when those boys (I mean YOU boys) were in high school.....

 

I knew all along i was older , but it was nice someone thinking i was younger, so i kept my mouth shut.

 

'71 3A eastern finals

tj-21:
I had a brother that played for South Johnston in this game vs. NW Cabarrus, played at Laurinburg. It was a hard fought contest. Do you recall much about the game? SJ was undefeated (18-0) coming in to the game, but NWC got them. I think the score was 4 - 3?
thanks.

 

EastofRaleigh,,,,,, I too was related to one of the NW players, so I was at a lot of the games, but sorry I can't remember many details about that specific game. Remember as I stated above, I was only little league age (maybe 10-11) at the time.

Btw, if NW beat you guys in 1971, then NW must've finished 2nd in the state in 1972. Do you know what eastern team beat NW for the state title in 72?

Also, I mentioned some of NW's key players above,,,, did any of your South Johnston's players ever go on to play much beyond HS?

 

1972 3A champ

TJ-21:
The '72 state champ in 3A baseball was Greene Central ; I got this off the NCHSAA website. Greene Central (at Snow Hill, NC) was coached by "Rabbit" Fulghum, a legend in eastern NC baseball. I think he won state titles in 4 different decades, & retired just a few years ago.

As for the '71 South Johnston team, pitcher Jimmy Honeycutt (Campbell) , CF Steve Coats (Louisburg JC & UNC-CH) , & LF Stan Coats (ECU) played college ball. The Coats boys were brothers; their dad was the head coach, another HS baseball legend, Bruce Coats.

Thanks much for the discussion on this.