Teco Echo, April 30, 1932
Although the Teachers have had only a few weeks practice on the diamond in which to learn the wrinkles of the field and the eccentricities of the old sphere, Coach Deal is gradually turning out a well-rounded team. None of the players have had previous experience other than high school and a little semi-professional baseball except Bill “Lou” Brown. From this raw material the present team has evolved.
Billy Brown, 1st baseman, was an all round good ball player in high school. His bulk, his left handedness, his amazing ability to move over space rapidly, and his ability as a hitter gained him the position as first baseman on the Greenville High School team in the years ’24, ’25, and ’26. Along with his baseball playing, Brown also made monograms in basketball and football! After leaving high school, he entered U.N.C., where after and unsuccessful attempt during his freshman career, he made both the basketball and baseball squads his sophomore year. During his junior and senior years he was varsity left guard on the the basketball team which went far in the Southern Conference, varsity 1st baseman on the baseball team. After graduating from U.N.C. in ’30, he was basketball and baseball coach at this Alma Mater, G.H.S., for 1931, and now he is our “Lou” at E.C.T.C.
Our 2nd baseman is John Hodges, who has played both 2nd and shortstop on the G.H.S. team during ’28, ’29, and ’30.IN ’30 he was co-captain of the team which made an enviable record by winning the majority of the games in the Eastern Conference.
The position of short stop is held by Jack Barrett of Farmville. Jack too has had more experience than the majority of our players, but none on a college nine. Along with three years high school experience, he has had two summers’ experience in semi-pro baseball in Eastern Carolina.
Bill Barker, 3rd baseman, has played with his high school team in Trenton. Barker played outfield in high school and still shows his ability afield by his garnering of high fouls, of nasty hops around the corner. He is beginning to feel at home at 3rd.
C.M. Thomas, our catcher, has never participated in organized ball playing, but he has played “back up” in his home town of Clayton. Even though he never caught before, he is rapidly learning to master the nooks, hops, and slow balls of our pitchers, by his garnering of high fouls. of nasty hops around the corner. He is beginning to feel at home at 3rd.
Charlie King, who is starring in right field, has also starred in ally-baseball and has won many home runs from cops after windows in the back of several Greenville stores have been broken. Now he is responding wonderfully to Coach Deal’s Tutoring and it appears as though Babe Ruth will have to look to his laurels afield or some big league scout will be taking him away, for Charlie has a way of starting out in a run and making hard ball look easy.
Farmville High has added another valuable player to our ranks, Captain Charles Rumley. Charles played first base in high school, but now has been converted into a center fielder of merit. In high school he covered the initial bag in such a way as to arouse interest throughout the Northeastern Conference, and now he handles his chances afield with a polish which is hardly ever developed in such a short space of time as Teachers have been practicing.
“Red Forbes is at home in the left garden. Throughout his baseball playing career, he has played left field, and from the way he is now playing , there is no reason why we should allow him to become lost. He is tilling his garden well and when a ball comes in his direction, few weeds have a chance to grow before he fields (feels) it. Red played for Winterville High for two years and also for Winterville town team.
Of pitchers we have four: Bill Hearne, Eric Tucker, Pete Hunsucker, and Jimmy “Skippy” James.
Bill Hearne played for G.H.S. in numerous positions, and is now at home pitching, at 1st, at 3rd, and afield.
“Pete” Hunsucker, with his fast ball and its quick break, pitched for Winterville High in ’28 on a team which won all its games. Hunsucker took his regular turn in the box and now the old boy seems able to carry on his winning even after a lapse of four years.
“Skippy” James was a star pitcher in high school his senior year. He won quite a few of the games he pitched and defeated Greenville High’s ancient rival, Washington, in a pitchers duel. His has marvelous control, good breaking curves so is earning his uniform and a position on the Teachers squad.