C14 THE COURIER-TIMES | ROXBORO, NC
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GR ADUATION
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014
‘One game specifically changed my life’
KELLY SNOW | COURIER-TIMES
Roxboro Community School baseball player Jarren Winstead blasted a first-inning home run against future UNC-Greensboro pitcher Chad Sykes when the Bulldogs faced Voyager Academy in the final game of the regular season. Winstead’s home run and his outstanding play in the field that night caught the attention of Louisburg College baseball coach Keith Schumate, and Winstead was offered a place on the Hurricanes’ roster shortly thereafter. BY KELLY SNOW COURIER-TIMES SPORTS EDITOR kellysnow@roxboro-courier.com
One pitch, one swing, one moment and one triumphant stroll around the bases altered the future of Roxboro Community School senior baseball player Jarren Winstead. Winstead, a four-year varsity player for the Bulldogs, knew he’d be facing one of the best pitchers in the state in any classification, Voyager Academy’s Chad Sykes, that Thursday night at the famed Durham Athletic Park. He knew that the future UNCGreensboro pitcher was going to try to get the first pitch of the at-bat over for a strike, which meant he was likely going to see about a 90-mile-an-hour fastball around the plate. He’d been thinking about it all day at school — so when he stepped into the batter’s box, he was ready. And then it happened. The sweet spot on the bat met the ball at that perfect point, all eyes went skyward, and the Bulldog faithful exploded in cheers. Winstead absolutely obliterated Sykes’ fastball, and after he uncoiled, he started his trot around the bases with a high-five from his father, Dante Winstead, as his teammates erupted to celebrate his towering first-inning home run over the wall in right field. As fate would have it, Louisburg College baseball coach Keith Schmate just happened to be at the game and saw Winstead’s bomb and several nice plays at shortstop. A week or so later, offered the
Hurricanes’ skipper offered Winstead a spot on his roster. “One game specifically changed my life,” Winstead said. “I think once he saw that homer, he thought, ‘I really want this kid.’ I had a good game in the field, too. I think he saw that and my heart and I think he knew I could play a little ball.” Winstead is far from oneswing wonder. The senior was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and earned North Central Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors after a tremendous senior season. Winstead hit .368 with 17 RBIs and 29 runs scored and had an earned run average of 1.97 in seven appearances on the mound. “He has a passion for the game, a great work ethic and he absolutely wants to be the best,” RCS coach Pete Tuck said. “Even as a freshman, he was a leader for us. I knew good things, special things, were going to happen for him. He comes from a good family and he’s got a good head on his shoulders. When you’ve got all of that, good things happen.” Winstead will be the first RCS baseball player to play at the college level, just six years into the program’s existence. The Bulldogs’ senior hopes that his time at the nearby junior college will be the next step towards his dream of playing professionally. Louisburg has sent many of its alums to the majors in its fabled history, with more than a dozen players getting drafted in the past decade. “To be the first (RCS baseball player) to sign a Letter of Intent and play at the collegiate level is pretty awesome,” Winstead said. “It was one of those small goals
‘To be the first (RCS baseball player) to sign a Letter of Intent and play at the collegiate level is pretty awesome.’ Jarren Winstead RCS 2013 Graduate that shows me that I can reach the big goals. You know what I want to do. I want to play ball the rest of my life and get to the pros. I feel like this is the best place for me to go and get that done. I feel like I have the talent and ability to be that ballplayer, but I need a few more tools. I feel like Coach Schumate and Louisburg can help do that.” The Hurricanes will be getting a player who can do a lot of things well and can play just about anywhere on the diamond. Winstead started primarily at shortstop as a freshman and sophomore but has played practically everywhere else on the field for the past two years. He’s played all four infield positions during the past two seasons, pitched and was used occasionally as an outfielder. Winstead expects to be used primarily at third and second at Louisburg, but could see time at short as well. Getting Winstead acclimated with playing different positions was not an accident, and was something he adjusted to with ease. “He never complained,” Tuck said. “He understood that in order for him to go to the next
level, he needed to play those other spots. I think Jarren’s a very good high school shortstop, but when you project to the next level, I thought his best spot was third, second or maybe a corner outfielder. When I brought him in at the beginning of (his junior season), and told him what I thought would be best for us, for him to move around the infield and get experience at playing at those spots, he was fine. I told him it would be beneficial for him and he didn’t balk at it one bit. It was always, ‘yes Coach, I’m all in for that.’ I think having a player like that will be very beneficial for Louisburg, and I think the coaches realized that. The most impressive thing for me what that his bat never suffered. In fact, I think he even hit the ball better when we moved him around.” KELLY SNOW | COURIER-TIMES The Bulldogs’ baseball team has steadily improved in the Jarren Winstead signs his National Letter of Intent, while his mother, Gaynelle past four years and spent most Winstead and principal Greg Hamilton look on. of the 2014 season ranked in the top-10 in 1-A. RCS has turned into a consistently strong 1-A and choose to come to your the baseball aspect goes. I told program, and Tuck believes school to play baseball, it’s big. Jarren when he came here that much of the credit goes to his (Winstead) was one of the first we probably weren’t going to be graduating infielder. to decide that he wanted to come good until his junior or senior “I knew it would take a while to RCS. He made that decision, year, but I told him, ‘you really to really be good,” Tuck said. and he’s a big reason why a don’t know what your coming “Once you get quality people lot of other folks decided they here has done for our program that want to come to your school wanted to go to RCS as far as and our school.’”
We are so proud of you girls! We know you will continue to do great things. Love you both! Makayla Maloney Roxboro Community School Class of 2014
Best wishes to all 2014 grads!
Brannsyn Strickland Meredith College Class of 2014
Graduation Keepsakes – Picture Frames – Apparel – Jewelry – Dorm Décor Monogrammed Gifts
KELLY SNOW | COURIER-TIMES
Roxboro Community School baseball player Jarren Winstead recently signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Louisburg College. Joining Winstead for his signing ceremony were: front row (far left) mother Gaynelle Winstead, (second, right) father Dante Winstead, (far right) brother Camden Winstead. Back row: RCS principal Greg Hamilton, RCS baseball coach and athletic director Pete Tuck.
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