Richmond Senior hurler headed to Methodist University
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — Dylan Carpenter committed on Monday to attend Methodist University in Fayetteville and further his studies and his baseball career for the Monarchs.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Carpenter, who can pitch, play first base and catch, said Methodist University stood out because “it’s not too big and it’s not too small.”
The 17-year-old was joined by his parents, Chris and Nina Carpenter, of Hamlet, in the high school library for a presentation Monday afternoon along with coach Ricky Young, assistant coach Brad Denson, Carpenter’s girlfriend, Katie Satterfield, and Raider teammates Joseph Griffith and Cody Mullen.
Carpenter said he plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in either marketing or sports management. He told The Pee Dee Post Monday afternoon he’ll take an unparalleled work ethic to Fayetteville.
“I’m a really hard worker,” Carpenter said. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
Carpenter was recruited as a pitcher but Monarchs coach Tom Austin also was interested in him offensively. Carpenter said the Monarchs will return four of last year’s top five starters. Still, he knows competition will be fierce to get into the rotation.
“I’m not going up there with the expectation to start right away,” Carpenter said, noting he’ll play “where ever I fit in.”
The Monarchs are picked fourth this season in the annual USA South Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll. The Monarchs are coming off a 22-16 season in 2014, including a 15-11 mark in conference play.
Carpenter said his cousin, Abbi Carpenter, is a sophomore at Methodist and she gave the campus a stellar review.
“She loves it up there,” Carpenter said. “It’s a really good fit.”
Carpenter is the latest Raider to signal an intent to continue his athletic pursuits in college. In November, Mullen signed to play with Coker College in Hartsville, S.C. Earlier that same month, pitcher/shortstop Cody Leviner signed with Western Carolina University while Ethan Baucom signed with UNC-Pembroke.
Young said it was important to win — the intensity of the past two seasons show that — but he also aims to develop players for the next level. Young, who played at then Methodist College, said Carpenter should fit right in.
“Dylan’s a hard worker,” Young said. “I think he’ll fit in well.”
The Raiders kick off the 2015 season with exhibition games on Feb. 21 and Feb. 27 before opening the regular season with a home contest at 5 p.m. on March 3 against Porter Ridge.
Richmond Senior’s varsity baseball squad finished with a 23-7-1 record in 2014 and took the final two games of a three-game set against Millbrook to — finally — earn a berth in the Class 4A state championship series for the first time since 2000.
In the best-of-three state title match against West Forsyth, the Titans overwhelmed the Raiders in Greensboro by scoring six runs in the first four innings en route to a 6-3 win in the deciding game. Richmond dropped Game 1 by a 6-4 count and evened the series at one game apiece with an 8-7 win.
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