6 Teams Lineup to Strikeout ALS at Doak Saturday
April 20, 2018
On Saturday, North Carolina State’s Doak Field will host three high school games aimed at bringing awareness and raising money for the fight against ALS. The Chris Combs Baseball Classic will feature 6 teams from the Greater Triangle Area, each playing at Doak Field.
The 2nd Annual Chris Combs Baseball Classic is part of the Strike Out ALS effort and will feature Broughton HS, Middle Creek HS, Southern Lee HS, Garner HS, Millbrook HS, and Sanderson HS. 100% of the proceeds, from each game played at Doak Field will benefit the ALS Association of NC.
Chirs Combs flourished on the field for Broughton HS in the early 1990’s, later taking his talents to North Carolina State. The 6-foot-7 left handed hitter and right handed thrower struck fear into both opposing hitters and opposing pitchers on the diamond. Drafted in 1996 by the Rangers, Combs returned to NC State for the 1997 season where he was drafted again, moving up 9 rounds to be the 5th round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Combs would play into 2001 and eventually returned to NC State where he works in the Wolfpack Club. In May of 2016, Combs was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Almost immediately, Combs, his family, and his friends began to attack and work to raise money to battle ALS, giving hope for those with the diagnosis that a breakthrough will come soon.
The one day event at NC State may play a small part in the continued fight against ALS, but when you look at all of the small fights that are being organized each week, through efforts similar to #StrikeOutALS you can see that the efforts of Chris Combs will be rewarded, and we hope in the near future.
Chris Combs Baseball Classic
*All games at NC State’s Dail Park at Doak Field, home of Wolfpack Baseball
12:00pm Broughton HS vs. Middle Creek HS
2:15pm Southern Lee HS vs. Garner HS
4:30pm Millbrook HS vs Sanderson HS
Broughton Caps (9-9, 4-4 in Cap 7)
+Currently 4th in the Cap 7
+Won the Bobby Murray Spring Break Tournament
Players to Watch:
Kyle Ehlers, INF – Pitt CC commit
Xander Hamilton, RHP/1B/OF – VA Tech commit
Penn Sealey, 3B/RHP
Middle Creek HS (11-8, 4-3 in South Wake 4A)
+Currently 3rd in South Wake 4A
+2 game win streak entering Saturday
Players to Watch:
Ryan Chasse, LHP – Campbell commit
Dominick D’Ercole, 3B/RHP
Jake Wolf, RHP – UNC Greensboro commit
Southern Lee HS (15-5, 7-1 in Tri-County 3A)
+Currently leading the Tri-County by 2 games
+Enter on a 4 game win streak
Players to Watch:
Drew Bryan, C, 2020
Hayden Cross, C, 2018 – App State commit
Cameron Wells, OF, 2018 – Wake
Garner Magnet HS (14-4, 5-2 in South Wake 4A)
+Tied for the lead in the South Wake 4A
+Currently No. 5 in PBR/NCBCA Coaches Poll
Players to Watch:
Brett Banks, RHP, 2019 – ECU commit
Xavier Bussey, OF, 2018 – South Carolina commit
Tyler Gillespy, SS, 2018 – Campbell commit
Nolan McLean, C/RHP, 2020
Millbrook HS (13-6, 7-2 in Cap 7)
+1 game lead in Cap 7 race
+Won 4 of last 5 games
Players to Watch:
Brian Pearce, RHP, 2019
Tyler Snead, OF, 2018
Greg Strickland, SS/RHP, 2018 – Brown commit
Sanderson HS (5-10, 3-3 in Cap 7)
+Currently 5th in Cap 7
+Spartans have played well at home this spring with a 4-1 record
Players to Watch:
Jordan Blalock, RHP, 2018 – Lynchburg commit
Alim McNeill, OF, 2018 – NC State commit (Football & Baseball)
Baxley Holshouser, RHP, 2020