In
2009, I was writing a full page a week for one of our local Morris Publishing
newspapers on the Savannah Sand Gnats.
I
also was responsible for putting out an additional sports page per week on local
sports in both Jasper and Beaufort County, South Carolina. It included covering
the Hardeeville High School baseball team.
Stay
with me here.
Hardeeville
made the playoffs in 2009 and an away game opening game against State
powerhouse, Bamberg Ehrhardt, in Bamberg, South Carolina. This was the school
that both ex-Mets Mookie Wilson and his son, Preston Wilson attended and played under long term
legendary coach David Horton (who eventually
retired at age 74, leaving behind 14 state championships, 889 wins, two
national coach of the year honors and a legacy that might never again be
matched in this state.
So,
I had this great idea. Drive update, do an interview with Horton with emphasis on
his days with the Wilson family. Then, I’ll cover that playoff game between the
two team, I'm then told that the pitcher for Bamberg would actually be their
ace and ironically was drafted by the Mets.
Wow!
The story’s getting even better.
So
I call the school, talk to the coach, drive up for the game, and I spend the
afternoon with Coach Horton on the field prior to the game.
At
game time, someone points out to me that the Bamberg pitcher’s mother is
standing over in the corner, smoking a cigarette. I go over, introduce myself and
ask her what it was like having her son be drafted by the Mets.
She
looked at me fuming and began a diatribe on how the Mets drafted her son in the
50th round (!), called him on the phone and told him that, not only
would there be no bonus, but that they wouldn’t even be offering a contract.
They did say that the kid was welcome to hop a train, at his own expense, go down
to the Florida complex and tryout for the organization.
She ended by telling me that the Mets could go do something to themselves that is physically impossible.
She ended by telling me that the Mets could go do something to themselves that is physically impossible.
Well,
I put this end of the story to bed, went back to watching my home team
Hardeeville have their head handed to them and returned home.
The
pitcher?
Oh.
He went on to pitch the 2010 season for Spartanburg (SC) Methodist College, He
then sign on with the University of Tennessee for three years, was drafted in
the 10th round (2013) by the Cubs, bounced around both the Cubs and
Arizona’s system for four years… and ended up last night getting his fourth
victory of the year, throwing 7.1 innings against…
the New York Mets.
His
name is Zack Godley.
I
love baseball.
8 comments:
Fascinating story from a fascinating writer....Godley is 9-3 in his major league career - Mets blew that one!
Mack every time I see you post an article, I want to ask you the question you once asked me: Would You Like To Write For Mack's Mets?
Hopefully we see articles with more frequency from you going forward, sir.
I don't think we can afford him...I mean after what we earn from our regular contributions, there's not enough left to supersize his fries :)
That's funny, Tom.
To be honest, I really enjoyed writing this post.
I can't promise any regularity, but, if I feel good the night before, I'll try and jot down my thoughts once in awhile.
Reese -
you might have to suspend me for 100 games for all the drugs I take.
Mejia was on less PEDs than you, Mack, and you know what happened to him. (BTW, wouldn't it have been nice to have him in the pen lately, the bonehead?)
Funny story Mack
Mack,
I just love your posts and echo Tom's sentiments.
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