Multi-tasking is not an uncommon thing for me, but during the latest round, a story dawned on me. Four baseball games at three different levels are being updated for me by folks that all have one thing in common – a lifetime relationship with America’s pastime, also known as baseball.
West Virginia Tech University was playing a doubleheader at #25 Oakland City University, while Carroll County High School Varsity and Junior Varsity teams were playing just off Exit 114 in Christiansburg, Virginia.
Lawrence Nesselrodt, Joe Goddard, Rick, and Adam Nester ➕️ the families of Kevin DeHaven and Casey Burcham combined to create a day that ended with our teams went 1-3. There is a post 📫 where the games were updated available here on the site, but the amount of baseball lifers is the intriguing part of the story, for me anyway..
Here’s the story by The Carroll News back in 2016 when Carroll County High Graduate(Class of 1993) 🎓, Kevin DeHaven, took over the top spot for the ball club that calls Bill Worrell Field home.
DeHaven has moved up the leadership ladder and currently holds the title of Assistant Principal and Athletic Director for the school on The Hill. DeHaven was in the stands on Saturday afternoon to watch his son Cameron play for the current head coach, Casey Burcham.
Role reversal for DeHaven and Burcham as the stepson of Burcham laced up the spikes for DeHaven just a few years ago. Baseball is like that as I’m in my 18th season working in the Golden Bears 🐻 Baseball program.
Our Skipper, Lawrence Nesselrodt, is in more Hall of Fames than I have fingers on the hand ✋️ that I’m typing with. Ness has been playing or coaching the game for 50 + years now. That ridiculously high number is still a full decade less than the one that Assistant Coach Joe Goddard has accumulated. Goddard actually made it to The Show with the San Diego Padres back in the 1970s..
The Father – Son duo of Rick and Adam Nester combined for the JV contest. The senior Nester has been in the coaching business for over four decades and has 50 years of diamond 💎 in his blood. His role on Saturday afternoon was to watch his son, Adam, coach up his second edition of Cavaliers. While it’s only his second year as Head Coach, the younger Nester has been around the game as long as he could walk.
If you take the time to add Varsity Assistant Coach, Steve Combs to the mix the number of years involved skyrockets even higher.
Diamonds 💎 are a Girls Best Friend : The Dynamic Duo of Casey & Combs matches any story I’ve seen in regards to the 1/3 of the Book 📖 that is a collection of Tales from Baseball ⚾️
Burcham followed the path that his current Boss did just a decade plus ahead of him.
Play baseball at Bill Worrell Field at a very high level, play college ball, and then return to The Hill and pay your dues until the Top Spot becomes available. First done by DeHaven and later done by Burcham.
Sitting in the back row of the theater 🎥 in hopes of not bothering any of the ” normal ” movie goers, I had to smile about the fact that the day was full of classy people who share a common bond that most simply wouldn’t understand.
Baseball ⚾️ gets into your blood and tends to stick with you.
At the end of the day, the movie 🎬 was a well told story, and for what it’s it worth, our baseball leaders are to the game are what that Gosselin is to good looks.
If you’re into ruggedly handsome leading men, that is.
Nester squared, DeHaven, Burcham, Nesselrodt, Lyons, and Goddard….
Fun way to watch a movie 🎬 with your Bride 👰♀.
By the way, it was Burcham Bunch that nabbed the lone victory on the day, but we will all live to play another day !
Here’s the generated recap on the JV game.
Competitive Game Ends In Walkoff As Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers Falls To Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons
Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers fell to Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons 10-9 on Saturday at Christiansburg on the final play of the game. The game was tied at nine in the bottom of the seventh when Bryson Dow singled, scoring one run.
Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers lost despite out-hitting Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons seven to six. Jayden Wright, Will Love, Hunter Gravley, Chase Hart, Bryce Nicholson, Eli Busick, and Grayson Webb each collected one hit for Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers.
Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers got on the board in the top of the first inning after Jayden Wright hit a sacrifice fly, Chase Hart singled to right field, and Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers scored on a passed ball, each scoring one run.
Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers added two runs in the third. Bryce Nicholson doubled down the left field line, making the score 5-1.
Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons captured the lead, 7-6, in the bottom of the fourth when Bryson Dow doubled, scoring two runs, Kellen Mitchell grounded out, scoring one run, and an error scored one run.
Will Love doubled to center field, which helped Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers tie the game at seven in the top of the fifth.
A single by Jayden Wright gave Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers the lead, 8-7, in the top of the sixth.
Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons took the lead, 10-9, in the bottom of the seventh thanks to singles by Charlie Mullins, and Bryson Dow.
Gatlen Good earned the win for Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons. The pitcher allowed one hit and one run (zero earned) over one inning, striking out one and walking none. Mason Quesenberry took the loss for Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers. The reliever went one inning, giving up three runs (two earned) on one hit, striking out one and walking two. Eli Busick led things off on the hill for Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers. The hurler surrendered three hits and three runs (two earned) over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking two. Jack Coyle started the game for Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons. The hurler gave up four hits and five runs (four earned) over two and one-third innings, striking out one and walking two.
Jayden Wright and Bryce Nicholson were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in two runs for Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers. Hunter Gravley led Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers with two walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, tallying six walks for the game. Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers turned one double play in the game.
Bryson Dow and Charlie Mullins each collected two hits for Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons. Bryson Dow and Charlie Mullins each drove in three runs for Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons. Christiansburg Junior Varsity Blue Demons had patience at the plate, accumulating nine walks for the game. Evan Rathman, Landon Fairley, and Luke Hand led the team with two free passes each.
Next up for Carroll County Junior Varsity Cavaliers is a game at Northside Vikings Junior Varsity on Tuesday.
Adam Nester
Assistant Baseball Coach
A.S.P.N on The Hill 