Pirate Duo Is A Hit With United Way Clinic
October 29, 2008 | Baseball
Oct. 29, 2008
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - East Carolina sophomore Devin Harris and junior Kyle Roller teamed up with the United Way of Wayne County and the national champion Mount Olive College Trojans for a day of baseball at Scarborough Field on Oct. 18, 2008.
Some 60 youth, ages 5-18, attended the baseball clinic where they learned the basic fundamentals of baseball from Mount Olive head coach Carl Lancaster, his staff and players as well as former ECU Assistant Coach George Whitfield, Harris and Roller. A special invitation was extended to members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County prior to the annual event, but the clinic was also open to all boys and girls within the 5-18 age range.
"This is always a great event for everyone involved," said Lancaster. "The players involved need to understand that they are gifted and it's much more than just wins, loses, batting averages and home runs. There are less fortunate individuals out there and doing something like this really helps out the community."
Following the two-hour baseball clinic, Harris and Roller competed in the 10-man home run derby which also featured members of the 2008 Division II National Championship Mount Olive squad. Using wood bats, both ECU sluggers put on an offensive show with Harris hitting 16 home runs and Roller connecting on 11 long balls in the first round. The duo advanced to go head-to-head in the finals where Harris came away with the home run crown.
"Devin put on an unbelievable show," said Lancaster. "I knew that he was going to be the winner of the home run derby on his first swing. He took one opposite field over the scoreboard in right and I said `man this thing is over'".
"It was a lot of fun," said Harris of the Scarborough Field of Dreams Day. "To be able to reach out and spend time with these kids and just play baseball was awesome. When the home run derby started, that's when I got the most enjoyment from the clinic. To see their facial expressions with every swing of the bat from everyone involved really made this a special day."
