Region 10's long World Series history includes Gaston County champions and future major leaguers
When Gaston College begins play in the 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series on Sunday, it'll be adding to a rich history for Region 10 in the event - and a history that began with Gaston County products helping a region team win two championships.
The Rhinos will become the 39th Region 10 to play as one of college baseball's signature events returns to Grand Junction, Col., when they meet Blinn, Tex., in an opening round game on Sunday at noon ET.
And the first Region 10 team to make the trip back in 1959 was Wilmington College (now UNC Wilmington) and featured three Gaston County products for legendary coach Bill Brooks' third-year-old baseball program.
Bessemer City's Roger Coon and Gastonia's Berry Cauble and Joel Gibson played on that Seahawks' team that made Region 10's first World Series appearance that ended with a 2-2 record.
Wilmington went 1-2 in the 1960 World Series with Bessemer City's Don Honeycutt joining Coon on the Seahawks' roster.
The next year Wilmington began the most dominating three-year run in Region 10 history in its final years as a two-year school; The Seahawks won the World Series in 1961 and 1963 with 4-0 records and finished as 1962 runner-up with a 4-2 record.
The 1961 Seahawks had Lowell's Blair Walker and Mount Holly's Benny Broome and Wayne Bolick played on the 1962 team.
Brooks first recruited Gaston County players after coaching Wilmington's New Hanover against old Gastonia Ashley High in a state finals high school baseball series and as head coach for Wilmington Post 10's American Legion baseball team that played against Gastonia Post 23 in a state finals series. Brooks also checked with then Gastonia high school and legion coaches Lawrence "Crash" Davis and Gaither Cline for their talent assessment of local players.
Also on those Seahawks' teams were future major leaguers Bill Haywood (1961 and 1962) and Bill Harris (1963) and NJCAA All-Americans Haywood, Ronnie Durham, David Miller, Sterling Coward and Lou Howard.
Wilmington began a tradition for Region 10 teams bringing future major leaguers to NJCAA World Series.
Louisburg, which has made the most appearances with 10, has had nine future major leaguers play in the event - Ron Musselman and Razor Shines in 1975, Kelly Heath in 1977, Otis Nixon in 1979, Donnell Nixon in 1981, Steve Mintz in 1988, Chad Fonville in 1992 and Josh Rupe in 2002.
Spartanburg Methodist, with nine appearances, has had three future major leaguers - Dwight Smith in 1983, Jonathan Hurst in 1986 and C.D. Pelham in 2014 - play in the World Series.
Pitt Community College, which now plays NJCAA Division II baseball, has had one future major leaguer (Jeff Ferrell in 2010).
Wilmington remains Region 10's all-time winner with a 15-6 record in its five appearances. Spartanburg Methodist went 11-18 in its nine appearances, followed by Louisburg (7-20 in 10 appearances), Wingate (5-6 in three appearances), Brevard (2-4 in two appearances), Mitchell (1-2 in one appearance), College of the Albemarle (1-2 in one appearance), Gardner-Webb (1-4 in two appearances), Ferrum (0-2 in one appearance), Pitt (0-2 in one appearance), USC Sumter (0-2 in one appearance) and Florence Darlington (0-4 in two appearances).
After Wilmington finished top five in its five World Series appearances, 14 other teams have finished in the top five - Wingate finished 4th in 1964, 5th in 1965 and 4th in 1966, Gardner-Webb finished 5th in 1967, Louisburg finished 5th in 1971, 4th in 1975 and 3rd in 1981, Mitchell finished 5th in 1974, College of the Albemarle finished 5th in 1976, Brevard finished 4th in 1998 and Spartanburg Methodist finished 3rd in 2007, 5th in 2009, 4th in 2013 and 4th in 2014.