Monday, May 16, 2005

Traffic Stop Yields Cache Of Explosives

Investigation Leads To Location Of Bomb, AK-47, Land Mines, Explosives

A Raleigh man is behind bars in Halifax after investigators discovered a bomb and automatic weapon in his vehicle, according to Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
Christopher Cortland Fisk Kent, 29, has been charged with the possession of a concealed weapon following a Thursday night traffic stop, according to police.
But more charges will be forthcoming, Pulliam said.
“This charge was enough to get him into custody while we were able to obtain search warrants to safely continue the investigation,” he said.
The discovery was made after Investigator S.A. Jennings spotted a vehicle parked on the side of U.S. 58 near the Turbeville community.
“Jennings stopped and checked on the vehicle and identified Kent as the driver,” Pulliam said.
Subsequent investigation revealed a 9-mm pistol in the glove compartment and an AK-47 rifle in the trunk of the car.
As additional investigators and deputies arrived on the scene, a homemade bomb was also discovered in the vehicle, Pulliam said.
“As deputies and investigators searched the vehicle, they located ammunition, additional materials for making explosives, maps and survival equipment," the investigator added.
Sergeants with the Virginia State Police assisted investigators with the recovery of the explosives, Pulliam said.
After clearing the scene in Turbeville, investigators were assisted by members of the Danville Police Department and agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Raleigh in obtaining search warrants in the two cities.
“One search was executed in Danville at a storage facility where investigators seized a rifle, ammunition and explosive materials," Pulliam said. “The other search warrant was executed in Raleigh at a storage facility and land mines and various chemicals were seized."
Pulliam said ATF agents and county investigators expect to place additional charges on Kent in the near future.
The suspect is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail without bond.
Sheriff D.J. Oakes said law enforcement and the public were fortunate no one was harmed while Kent was taken into custody.
“The materials and equipment in his vehicle could have resulted in a much different outcome," he said.

$55.9 M School Budget Is Likely

Board Vote Tonight Reflects Half Million Dollar Increase Over Last Years’ Local Funding For County Schools

The Board of Supervisors is expected to pass a school budget tonight that calls for a $12,438, 256 local investment.
While this year’s budget is $1 million less than their initial request from supervisors, it reflects an increase of $567,125 over last year’s local funding.
The action is expected when supervisors meet for their regular joint meeting with the towns tonight at The Prizery.
This year’s budget reflects total revenue of $55,959,138, a more than $2.5 million increase from last year’s budget.
During his presentation to supervisors last Wednesday, Superintendent Paul Stapleton told the Board the county funds represented an “investment in the county.”
“It’s not just for the children,” Stapleton said. “This budget is driven pretty much by personnel costs and raises for our teachers.”
The schools’ initial request called for a five percent increase for teachers, a move that
Stapleton described as imperative to recruiting high-quality staff in the schools.
“The biggest problem we’re having right now is meeting the federally-required highly qualified standard for teachers,” he said. “Where we are right now is not competitive.
“I’m trying to get us in the battle,” Stapleton added. “We may not win the war, but I want us to at least be competitive.”
But supervisors balked at the additional county funds coming on the heels of approving a $53.8 million capital improvement investment in the county’s schools.
Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman told the Board Wednesday that while he supports increased pay for teachers, he recommended the salary increase be cut to match the planned 2.5 percent increase for county employees.
“The School Board probably has some money they can use to make up the difference," Bowman said.
The cuts will come in the form of a reduction of $750,000 in roof repair/operations funds, $125,000 out of the school’s transportation budget and a $125,000 cut in the instruction budget.
Last week, shortly after supervisors cut the planned increase, Stapleton said he would go through his budget to see if there were funds available to make up the difference in the teacher pay increase.
“It still remains a top priority for me to give our teachers a pay raise," he said.
During what is expected to be a brief joint meeting with the towns of Halifax and South Boston, supervisors will receive an update on the water and sewer master plan study and adress regional landfill and solid waste issues.

 

Crowd Gathers At Providence For Noland Country Fair Day

The quaint, historical village of Providence was once again the backdrop Saturday for Noland Country Fair Day, a relaxed and nostalgic neighborhood gathering in northern Halifax County.
A group numbering in the hundreds sauntered in and out of the pastoral village setting, located at the intersections of Morton’s Ferry, Cole’s Ferry and Lake Conner Roads, to hear a variety of music and browse through a large number of crafts vendors.
Home-made desserts and stew, as well as grilled hot dogs, sold out in the first few hours, and children enjoyed everything from hand-cranking an old-fashioned corn shucking machine to horseback riding.
Everything from antique tractors, machinery and cars was on display, and the public had the opportunity to tour a few of the historic homes at the crossroads, including Baldwin house, the home of Wayne and Carolyn Slayton, and the Robert Carr House, which belong to members of the William Carr family.
Knibbs Battery conducted “live-fire” demonstrations of its cannon throughout the day, and Halifax County native Gerald Gilliam made a presentation on the roads leading to and from the Staunton River from the 1750’s to the present.
Noland Day is a unique celebration instituted by the Blanks family. Eighteenth century Prospect Ordinary, several farm houses, the 1732 Afton farm house, the Robert and John Carr farm houses, a store/post office, circa 1800, as well as historic Halifax Church (circa 1830) are all located in the crossroads area.
Halifax Church is the home of the first Presbyterian congregation in Halifax County. Since its restoration, the church has been added to the Virginia Landmarks Register.
Carolyn Slayton, one of the organizers of Noland Country Fair Day, said the event keeps getting larger and larger each year, with more people and vendors, adding most of the food had been sold by early afternoon.
Proceeds from Noland Country Fair Day went towards the upkeep and maintenance of Historic Halifax Church.

 

Obituaries

Edna L. Dunkley

Mrs. Edna L. Dunkley of Halifax died Wednesday, May 11, at Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Maryland.
She was 85.
Mrs. Dunkley was born in Halifax County on March 4, 1921, the daughter of the late Van and Lucy Farrar.
She was married to William Dunkley and was a member of the Bethel Grove Baptist Church.
Mrs. Dunkley is survived by her husband, one son, John Burrell and his wife Paula of Arlington, five grandchildren, two devoted friends, Charlie and Shirley Hill of South Boston, and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Dunkley will be held at 2 p.m. today, with services at the Bethel Grove Baptist Church.
The Rev. L.T. Graves will officiate.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Paul Schoolfield Cassada

Mr. Paul Schoolfield Cassada of Drakes Branch, died Sunday, May 15, at Piedmont Geriatric Center in Burkeville.
He was 74.
Mr. Cassada was born October 15, 1930 in Halifax County, the son of the late Willie “Billy” Cassada and the late Annie Duffey Cassada. He was married to Esther Florine Smith Cassada.
Funeral services will be held at Powell Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Chaplain Robert H. Forrest and Bishop Henry M. Bugg will officiate.
Burial will follow at the Duffey Family Cemetery in Randolph.
Visitation will be held at Powell Funeral Home from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and at other times at his home at 270 White Street in Drakes Branch.
Mr. Cassada is survived by his wife, one daughter, Shelia Caroline Bohannon and husband Jerry of South Boston, one sister, Lucille Virginia Cassada Hazelwood of Scottsburg and one granddaughter, Roxanne Renea Bohannon Rice of Virgilina.
He was preceded in death by three sisters, Bertha Mae Cassada Lefever, Pauline Anna Cassada and Pearl Elizabeth Cassada Hazelwood, and two brothers Walter Howard Cassada and Jim Clifton Cassada.
The family asks that anyone wishing to make memorials pleas consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Virginia, 24592.
Online memorials may be directed to Powell@gcronline.com

Pauline Elizabeth Cage Glass

Funeral services for Mrs. Pauline Elizabeth Cage Glass will be held at 2 p.m. today, with services at the Catawba Baptist Church.
The Revs. Michael O’Shea, David Dickerson, Ed Griffin and Joseph Glass will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Cage Family Cemetery in Nathalie.
Mrs. Glass died Friday, May 13, at her home.
She was 69.
Mrs. Glass was born in Halifax County on June 30, 1935, the daughter of the late George Joseph Cage and the late Gracie Truman Cage.
She was married to the late Arthur Woodworth “Jerry" Glass, was a homemaker and was a member of the Catawba Baptist Church.
Mrs. Glass is survived by one daugher, Donna G. Krausz and husband Rodney of Hopkins, S.C., four sons, Rev. Joseph Henry Glass and wife Kim of Hampton, Va., Robert Lewis Glass and wife Anita of Nathalie, Earl Lee Glass and wife Lori of Danville and Timothy Wayne Glass and wife Kimberly D. of Fairfield, one sister, Francis Louise Cage of Nathalie, one brother, Robert Louis Cage of Brookneal, and 13 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother, John Merritt Cage.
The family as that anyone wishing to make memorials consider the Gideons International or the Catawba Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be directed to Powell@gcronline.com

Lawson Wyatt “Fats” Osborne

Funeral services for Lawson Wyatt “Fats” Osborne Sr. will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with services at the Brooks Funeral Home Chapel.
The Rev. Jack Stewart will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery
Mr. Osborne died at the Woodview in the early morning hours yesterday.
He was 84.
Mr. Osborne was born in Halifax County on July 25, 1920, the son of the late Andrew Bouldin Osborne Sr. and the late Anna Birtie Osborne.
He was the retired chief of the South Boston Fire Department, was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the D-Day invasion in World War II, was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, a life member of the South Boston Fire Company, was a member of the Virginia State Fireman’s Association and was a past president of the Southside Virginia Volunteer Firefighter’s Association.
He was also a member of American Legion Post 8 and Woodman of the World.
Mr. Osborne is survived by his wife, Merle Bradshaw Osborne of Alton, one son, Lawson W. Osborne Jr. of Richmond, one daughter, Lola O. Kerr of Gladestone, Va., one brother, Andrew Bouldin “Bolie" Osborne Jr. of South Boston, three grandhildren, Karen Sydnl Jackson, Sharon J. Syrek and Shannon L. Osborne and one great-grandchild, Cody Syrek.
Anyone wishing to give memorials is asked to consider the South Boston Fire Company, 403 Broad Street in South Boston or the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. To donate to the D-Day Memorial, contact the administrative offices at 1-800-351-3329.

Henry Leslie Gayle

Funeral services for Henry Leslie Gayle Jr. of Virgilina were held yesterday at the High Hill Baptist Church in Roxboro, the Rev. Mike Whitt officiating. Burial took place at the Virgilina Cemetery.
Mr. Gayle died Thursday at his home at the age of 73. He was the son of Henry Leslie Sr. and Vernon Lee Higgins Gayle
The deceased was a former member of the Chuckatuck Ruritan Club. a lifetime and charter member of the Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department and a lifetime member of the Oakland Christian Church.
He retired from the Newport News Shipyard after 32 years and the moved to Virgilina with his wife, Selma (Patsy) Wilkerson to live in his wife’s native community.
While living at Virgilina, Mr. Gayle became active in the High View Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Gayle is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and John Youngk of Virgilina; Nancy and Roger Rice of Roxboro and son and daughter-in-law, Henry Leslie, III and Patricia Gayle of Virgilina.
Also surviving are two brothers, John Higgins Gayle and Vernon Oliver Gayle, both of Suffolk; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Marshall M. Throckmorton

Mr. Marshall M. Throckmorton of Scottsburg, died yesterday, May 15 at his home. He was 74 years of age at the time of his death.
Marshall Throckmorton was born May 3, 1931 in Halifax County, the son of the late Fuller S. Throckmorton and the late Lucy Edmondson Throckmorton, and was married to Nannie Smith Throckmorton.
He was a member of the Scottsburg Baptist Church, was an avid pilot, and was a local businessman, having owned the former Parkway Exxon and Marshall’s Auto Sales of Scottsburg.
Marshall M. Throckmorton is survived by his wife, Nannie Smith Throckmorton of Scottsburg; two daughters, Peggy T. Seamster and husband Wayne of Clover, and Brenda T. Lee and husband Andy of Roxboro, N.C.; one son, Marshall Dean Throckmorton and wife Cheryl of Louisa; two brothers, Bill Throckmorton of Louisa and James Throckmorton of Orange; three grandchildren, Dennis Seamster of South Boston, Russ Seamster of New Market, Md., and Brooke Throckmorton of Richmond.
Marshall M. Throckmorton was preceded in death by one sister, Helen T. Wilmouth; and three brothers, Fuller S. Throckmorton, Aaron Throckmorton and Coris Throckmorton.
Memorial services for Marshall M. Throckmorton will be held tomorrow, May 17, at 11 a.m., at Powell Funeral Home, with the Revs. Terry Scearce and H.V.Conner officiating.
The family will receive friends at his home, 1169 MacDonald Rd., Scottsburg.
For memorials, please consider National Kidney Foundation, 2601 Willard Rd., Suite 103, Richmond, Va., 23294; Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, Va., 24592; or the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va., 24592.
Online condolences may be directed to powell@gcronline.com.

 

Comets Down GW; Stay In District Title Chase

Halifax County Downed GW 6-4 Friday In Danville; Now Needs A Win Here Tuesday Over Franklin County To Create A Deadlock For The District Title

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

Halifax County had a lot at stake when it squared off against GW Friday in Danville. When the cards were played out, the Comets were counting the chips.
Needing a win to stay in the chase for the regular-season Western Valley District title and a berth in the Northwest Region Tournament, the Comets jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first three and a half innings and held on to stave off GW 6-4.
With the win over GW in hand, the Comets (15-3 overall, 6-1 district) now need a win over Franklin County here in Tuesday night’s regular-season finale to secure a tie for first place in the district standings with GW.
A tie with GW in the district standings will force a playoff game between the two teams on Saturday for the regular-season district championship and the automatic regional tournament berth.
Friday’s win over GW (15-2 overall, 7-1 district) was a big one in that it came in a game that concluded a stretch of four consecutive district road games. The Comets won all four of those road games and extended their winning streak to six games in a row.
While the win did not carry with it the same importance of the Comets’ district tournament championship win over GW in Danville last season, Comets coach Kelvin Davis said the win will rank among the top wins he has experienced as the leader of the Comets baseball program.
“It’s right there among the best," Davis said.
“ GW and Halifax County getting together is always a big game. It’s always a big win when we can win one of these."
The Comets showed a complete turnaround from the earlier meeting of the two teams here at Comets Field in early April when GW shackled the Comets with a 12-5 defeat.
“We know we are a much better team than what we displayed against GW at home," said Davis.
“We’re playing good fundamental baseball. We’re doing the little things it takes to win ballgames. We had clutch hits at the right time tonight. Everything is falling to place right now."
The Comets had a good night at the plate, scratching up nine hits including a big two-run homer from Jeremy Jeffress in the top of the third inning that gave the Comets and their senior hurler Tyler Clarke an early three-run cushion.
Jeffress, who had two hits and two RBIs, was one of three Comets players that had a pair of hits. Clyde Brooks had a pair of hits and Blake Waller had a pair of hits and an RBI.
Justin Armistead, David Lacks and Ryan Gieselman each chipped in a hit in the winning effort.
While Clarke yielded eight hits and four walks while fanning four batters, his performance on the hill far overshadowed what the statistics showed as he bailed himself out of adversity on at least a couple of occasions with the aid of some solid defensive play by his teammates.
“He displayed all of his talents," said Davis.
“ He was in some tough situations and he fought his way out. Tyler has been doing a wonderful job for us all year. He’s not going to be the big star as far as striking a lot of people out, but Tyler works his butt off with his change-up and curve ball and keeping guys of balance. “
Defensively, the Comets did what they needed to do, starting with executing a key double play in the bottom of the first inning with GW runners on first and third with one out to squelch what appeared to be an almost certain scoring opportunity for the Eagles.
The Comets took the lead in the top of the second inning. Lacks reached base on a single with two out, advanced when Gieselman reached base on a GW error on a third-strike pitch when the catcher overthrew the ball to first base trying to nab Gieselman, and scored on a hit by Waller.
In the top of the third inning, Armistead walked with one out and scored on the Jeffress round-tripper that made it a 3-0 Comets lead.
The next inning, Waller singled to lead off the inning, advanced on a GW error and scored on a two-out single by Armistead to make it a 4-0 lead.
GW cut the Comets’ lead in half in the bottom of the fourth inning as Clarke gave up a walk and a hit with two out and saw both runners score on a triple by Kyle Grantier.
Halifax picked up a run in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 5-2 score when a double by Gieselman plated Brooks who reached base earlier on a single. The Comets upped their lead back to four runs in the top of the sixth inning with the help of two walks, a single by Jeffress and a GW error.
GW threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning, picking up a pair of runs on a two-out two-RBI double by Cory Moore. But, that was to be all.
Davis brought in Bobby Owens to relieve Clarke on the mound and Owens retired the next batter, John Gregory, as Gregory grounded out to Brooks at shortstop to end the game.
For GW, it was the end of a long night on which the Eagles stranded seven runners in scoring position and committed three errors on defense.
“They (Halifax) got the runs in all the way across (the board) and we just couldn’t get them in," said GW coach Scooter Dunn.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve been getting those guys in every game and we just didn’t do it tonight. And, we didn’t play well defensively. We were throwing the ball around unnecessarily. We just didn’t do anything."

 

Comets Varsity Softball Team Doubles Its Pleasure Against GW

Halifax Gets Two Double Plays, In 6-0 Win

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Comets varsity softball team got a strong pitching performance from Jessica (Moo) Morris, two key double plays from its defense, and a “key" three-run triple from Key Ferrell in a five-run third inning to help beat GW 6-0 here Friday.
Friday’s win gave the Comets a 6-0 record in the Western Valley District, with two big games this week against Franklin County to determine the regular season district champion and an automatic berth in the Northwest Region.
Halifax collected seven hits for the game, Ferrell finishing with a three-run triple and single, Jasmine Parker with two base hits, Lashunda Davis a triple, and Lori Reeves and Tracy Nelson each an RBI single. Reeves added another RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Morris allowed six hits and struck out three batters, fielding six ground balls from her pitcher’s position, and the Comets defense backed her up with the aid of two double plays, one getting Halifax out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning.
Another double play erased a GW scoring threat in the first inning, before Halifax struck for five runs on three hits in the third inning, Nelson and Reeves hitting back-to-back RBI singles, before Ferrell unloaded a three-run triple.
Reeves collected her second RBI of the game in the fifth inning, driving in Davis from third with a sacrifice fly. Davis had tripled to lead off the bottom of the inning.
Comets coach Melanie Saunders said she couldn’t have asked for a better game from her team against their arch rival on Senior Night, with so much riding on the outcome.
Halifax responded to the pressure with a solid game, she added.
“Moo did a great job, and she was probably the most nervous of any of us coming in here, knowing it was a big game," noted Saunders. “But, we just let her know she had the confidence of the coaches and the players.
“She came out and pitched well for us and let the defense work. That’s what we’ve been preaching to them all along, letting the pitchers know we’re all behind them.
“I give credit to Moo and the defense tonight, GW had the bases loaded in two innings, one with no outs, and to get out of that without giving up a run is pretty hard to do."
Saunders added her offense is getting key hits with runners in scoring position, after executing the fundamentals to get them there.
“The bats were a little flat at the beginning, but we took advantage of the [GW] error in the third inning, got a bunt down and the hits started coming. Key has hit well the past couple of games and we needed that hit tonight. It kind of put us over the top and gave us a little momentum."
Halifax turned its first double play to erase a GW threat in the top of the first, after a bunt single put the leadoff runner at first base. Ferrell fielded an attempted sacrifice bunt, and threw to first for one out. Amanda Rogers, rotating to cover the bag, wheeled and threw to shortstop Davis, who caught the runner after a wide turn off second base to complete the double play.
The Comets also stranded a runner after a leadoff single in its first at-bat. Parker got the first of her two hits for the game, advancing to second on Rogers’ sacrifice bunt, but two flyouts ended the inning.
The game remained scoreless through the bottom of the third, when the Comets erupted for five runs to take the lead, Mallory Lawter reaching on an error to start the rally. Jessica Lewis sacrificed Lawter to second, and another error on Parker’s grounder put runners at second and third base.
GW had no play on a grounder by Rogers to load the sacks. GW got a strikeout, but consecutive two-out RBI singles by Nelson and Reeves plated two runs, followed by Ferrell’s triple made it 5-0.
Halifax turned its second double play of the contest during GW’s next at-bat to extinguish an Eagles’ rally. The first three GW batters singled to load the bases, before Morris snagged a comebacker to the mound, throwing home for one out.
The next GW batter hit another grounder to Morris, who again threw home for out number two, Nelson firing a bullet to first baseman Lawter to complete the double play.
The Comets used a leadoff triple by Davis and an RBI sacrifice fly by Reeves to take a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning, before cutting short a final rally by GW in the top of the sixth.
The first two Eagles batters hit singles to reach base, and Morris got a strikeout before a walk loaded the bases. Rogers caught an infield popup for the second out, and Morris caught another grounder and threw home for the force play to end the inning.
Halifax got one more hit for the game, that coming in the bottom of the sixth on a Parker two-out single, and the Eagles were retired in order the top of the seventh to end the game.
Saunders said the Comets are doing the things it needs to do in order to win ball games – execute on both offense and defense – at just the right time.
“Different players are stepping up each game, and that’s a plus coming down the stretch," said Saunders. “You can’t focus on any one or two players in our lineup, and we’ve had different people in different games laying down the bunts and producing for us.
“It’s a real positive going into the two games with Franklin County, and both of us are pushing for first-place and home field advantage. “Franklin County is good, but our kids are right where they need to be, they’re hitting well and playing good defense.
“You just don’t know what will happen, this district is so tight, you never know on given night who will produce what or when, everyone’s pitching is pretty solid.
“We’ll just come in next Tuesday with all we’ve got and hope that’s enough to put us over the top."
The Comets play the first game against Franklin County on the road tomorrow at 7 p.m., before returning home Thursday to face the Eagles, the game here scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

Campbell Univ.’s Priest Lands Baseball Academic Honor

Former HCHS Baseball Standout Mike Priest Is One Of Two Campbell University Players Named To The First Team Of The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 3 Baseball Team

By Stan Cole
Campbell University SID

Campbell University red-shirt junior first baseman Mike Priest senior outfielder Jeff Blick have been named to the ESPN The Magazine/Academic All-District 3 University Division Baseball first-team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The selection of Blick and Priest marks the second-straight year that a Fighting Camel has been named to the team. Nic Ewing was honored on the 2004 Academic All-District squad. As first-team honorees, the Campbell duo will represent District 3 on the national ballot.
For the first time in the Campbell baseball program’s history, two Fighting Camels earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in he same year. Only Campbell and the College of Charleston had two players named to the District 3 first-team. CU had at least one all-district baseball performer in six-straight years from 1994-99.
CoSIDA’s 1800 members in the United States and Canada nominate players for ESPN The Magazine / Academic All-America® recognition. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and be a starter or key reserve on his or her team.
CoSIDA members vote on the all-district teams, then a national panel selects the Academic All-America squads. District 3 includes all NCAA Division I schools in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The national ESPN The Magazine / Academic All-America® team will be announced on May 31.
In just two years since transferring to Campbell from the University of Virginia, Priest has already established himself as one of the top power hitters in Fighting Camel history. He already ranks eighth among the school’s career leaders in slugging percentage (.599) and is just two home runs (22 in 102 games) shy of moving into Campbell’s all-time top 10 in that category.
This season, the Vernon Hill native ranks among the national leaders in home runs per game (42nd, 0.28) and slugging percentage (31st, .694).
Entering this past weekend’s Atlantic Sun Conference series at Lipscomb, Priest is batting .366 (67-183) with 17 doubles, 13 home runs and 39 RBI while starting all 47 games at first base.
Priest rates among the A-Sun leaders in homers (3rd), doubles (3rd), total bases (127, 3rd), on-base percentage (.451, 7th) and slugging percentage (3rd).
Priest owns a 3.904 grade-point average as a biology / pre-med major and has been named to the Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team in each of his two years at CU. He is also a member of the Epsilon Pi Eta Honor Society.
He played one year at Virginia (2002) before sitting out the 2003 season as a red-shirt, then transferring to Campbell prior to the 2004 campaign. Last year, Priest (who graduated from Halifax High School in 2001) batted .302 and led the Fighting Camels with nine home runs, 39 RBI and a .513 slugging average.
Blick, a three-year starter in center field, is batting a career-high .335 (52-155) with 40 runs, 8 doubles, two triples, one home run and 20 RBI. The Greenville, N.C., native ranks 10th in the Atlantic Sun Conference in stolen bases with 17, which stands seventh in Campbell’s single-season thefts record book.
A 2001 graduate of J.H. Rose High School, Blick has started 94-consecutive games over the last two seasons. For his career, Blick is fourth on Campbell’s all-time steals list (54) and tied for ninth in games played (186). His 20 stolen bases in 2004
rated as the fifth-highest total in Campbell Division I (since 1978) history.
In the classroom, Blick owns a 3.813 grade-point average as a criminal justice / pre-law major. He is a four-time member of the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic Team as well as a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership and the National Social Sciences Honor societies.
“I’m proud and honored to have the opportunity to coach Jeff Blick and Mike Priest. Not only are they outstanding baseball players, but they are outstanding young men, who have the focus and drive to succeed in life,” said 10th-year Campbell head coach Chip Smith.
“Jeff will graduate from Campbell and follow in his dad’s footsteps as a lawyer. Mike will graduate next year and pursue a career in the medical profession as a doctor. I will forever cherish the memories I have had during my association with these two student-athletes. With all the ups and downs in coaching, knowing people like Jeff Blick and Mike Priest make this job rewarding in itself.”
In Smith’s 10 years in charge of the Fighting Camel program, Campbell players have been awarded Academic All-District honors seven times.