-Team South Carolina Coaches- Jeff Blankenship – Wando High School Coach Blankenship (107-20) is beginning his 5th year at Wando High School as Head Varsity Baseball Coach and entering his 10th year of High School Coaching. Originally from Matthews, North Carolina, Coach Blankenship is a graduate of the College of Charleston earning a BA Degree in 2000 and earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from the Citadel in 2008. He was a Varsity Assistant for 5 years and the Head Junior Varsity Coach for 3 years at Wando while also coaching for the Mount Pleasant Diamond Warriors during the summers. Coach Blankenship teaches in the Social Studies Department and is the Curriculum Coordinator for US History CP and the History of Conflict and War. Coach Blankenship and his wife, Jennifer, have a 7-month old son named Jake. Championships Won by Year: 2006: Sertoma Preseason Classic, Region VII, District VII. 2007: Sertoma Preseason Classic, Hanahan Invitational Tournament, Region VII. 2008: Hanahan Invitational Tournament, District V. 2009: International Papermill Classic, Region VII, District VII, Lower State. Brian Hucks – Brookland-Cayce High School Coach Hucks is a 1991 graduate of Lexington High School. While at Lexington, he was a four-year letterman in baseball and a three-year letterman in football. Coach Hucks attended the University of South Carolina after stops at Anderson Junior College and Campbell University. He was a three year letterman in baseball at USC as well as a tri-captain his senior year. Coach Hucks graduated from USC in 1996 with a B.S. degree in physical education. He was drafted in the 31st round of the major league baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds where he played in the minor league system through 1997. Coach Hucks is beginning his 11th season as head coach at Brookland-Cayce High school. His overall record at B.C. is 218-86. His teams have produced region champions in 2000, 2002, 2004 (co), 2005, 2006 (co), 2007, and 2008. His 2000 and 2008 teams captured the AAA state championship. Coach Hucks was named region coach of the year in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. He was the AAA state coach of the year in 2000 and 2008, as well as the statewide coach of the year in 2008. In Coach Hucks ten years at Brookland-Cayce, he has had 34 players sign athletic grant-in-aids to further their baseball career collegiately. Thirteen of his players have been selected to play in the North/South All-Star game. Coach Hucks is married to the former Stephanie Smith of Pickens, SC. They have 2 children, Caroline (7) and Jackson (2). David Horton – Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School After graduating from Bishopville High School where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball, Coach Horton attended Newberry College where he pitched for the Indians for four years. At Newberry he majored in Science and he later attended Appalachian State University to earn his degree in Physical Education. For the past 40 years Coach Horton has been the head baseball coach at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. During those 40 years he has compiled 816 wins and 243 losses. Under his leadership, the Red Raiders have won 14 State Championships–at one point winning 8 consecutive state titles, which tied the national record. Coach Horton has been named National Coach of The Year in both the ABCA and the NHSACA Baseball organizations. He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in l998. Notable former players include Mookie Wilson and Preston Wilson. Coach Horton is married to the former Susan Williamson of Asheboro, NC. They have one daughter, Jennifer, who resides in Suwanee, GA with her husband Joe Baweja. His two grandsons, Lawson (10) and Brodie (3) are his pride and joy. Chris Bates – Rock Hill High School Coach Bates (192-31) is entering his first year as Head Coach of the Rock Hill Bearcats after spending a year as an Assistant Coach at Brookland-Cayce High School. From 2002-2008, he served as the Head Coach of the Riverside Warriors where they won 7 Region Titles, 7 District Championships, 3 Upper-State Titles, 3 State Championships, and were Upper-State Runner-up 3 times. The Warriors were ranked nationally 5 of those 7 years, and a preseason number 1 national ranking in 2004. Coach Bates has won 3 State Coach of the Year Awards and has coached 4 State Players of the Year. In 2004, he was named National District 3 coach of the year. During those 7 years, he had 12 players selected for State All-Star Games, 26 All-State selections, 24 sign college scholarships, 4 All-Americans, 1 Olympian, and 4 players Drafted by the Major Leagues. Coach Bates began coaching baseball and football in 1996 at Eastside High School, where he was an assistant for two years. He then became an assistant baseball coach at Riverside under Don Miller in 1998. He also served as an assistant football coach at Riverside. From 1998 to 1999 Coach Bates served as the head coach of the Golden Strip American Legion Post 176 baseball program, where they won two League IX championships compiling a 38-10 record. He has since worked with the SC Diamond Devils, SC Spirit, Greenville Gators, Team Carolina, and the SC Bombers Baseball programs during his summers. Coach Bates graduated from Mauldin High School in 1991, where he lettered in baseball and football. After graduation, he earned a BA degree in Sports Management in 1995 from Belmont Abbey College. He was a four-year starter on the Crusader baseball team and a two-time captain. In 1998, he earned a degree in Physical Education from USC-Spartanburg. -Team North Carolina Coaches- Greg Simmons – Charlotte Christian High School * BS from Liberty University. Played baseball 1986-1988. Grad Asst 1989 * 20th year at Charlotte Christian and 18th year as head baseball coach. 411-167-1 * 9 State Tiles and 12 Conference titles. * 4 Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 titles. (Top HS program in the papers area) * 4 Charlotte Observer COY (2000,2002,2006 and 2009) * ABCA Region COY 2003 and 2009 * ABCA National HS COY 2003 * NCSAA National COY …
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