Jeramy Guillory
Kalai Samick on the mound
Kalai Samick on the mound
Melinda Sutton
Ocracoke Varsity Baseball held their first home game of the season against Cape Hatteras JV on March 17th.

With sunny skies and temperatures topping out at 56 degrees, it was a picture perfect day to walk across the bridge and see Old Glory flying high atop the newly installed flag pole at Ocracoke Community Park. She waved gently in the 8mph winds at Jim and Linda Cole who graciously donated the flag and flag pole to the park. Jim has owned the flag since 1979 and said he wanted to give her a proper place to fly. Thank you, Jim and Linda!

“Play Ball!” shouted Lucas Wilkinson officiating from behind the plate with Shane Bryan as the field umpire. Kalai Samick took the mound, only giving up one single before striking out the fourth batter in the top of the first. The first five at bats  put the Dolphins in the lead quickly. Mac Kalna singled, Carson O’Neal reached on an error, while Darvin Contreras, Adam Sitterson, and Kalai Samick all reached base on balls. Each player managed to work their way around bases on a variety of passed balls and scored 5 runs. Alan Doshier also got on with a walk. Doshier and Samick both advanced by stealing second during the inning before Cape Hatteras was able to get the third out.

Adam Sitterson at bat
Adam Sitterson at bat

By the second and third inning Bob Toth’s burgers were pointing most or our noses to the concessions stand, so the details of this recap may not be totally accurate, but basically, both teams went three-up-three-down the rest of the game except for one RBI by Carson O’Neal in the third to score Kalna who singled on an error and stole second base before getting the run. Ethan O’Neal got on with a walk in the 5th. The win goes to Samick who was relieved in the 5th by Carson O’Neal. Filling out the rest of the team were Brieanna Boos, Abel Dalgleish, Dylan Sutton, and David Styron. The whole team looked fantastic in uniform and shut out Cape Hatteras 0 – 6 in the home opener. 

It was the first ever win for the Varsity Baseball Dolphins! This the second ever team; the first one, in 2015, played a great season, but never won a game. Coaches are Vince O'Neal, John Kattenburg, Jim McClain, Brian Samick, and Ernie Doshier.

Old Glory waves gently in left center field, high atop the newly-installed flag pole, donated by Linda and Jim Cole. (Carson O'Neal pitching.)
Old Glory waves gently in left center field, high atop the newly-installed flag pole, donated by Linda and Jim Cole. (Carson O'Neal pitching.)
Melinda Sutton

Varsity will play away on Tuesday against Cape Hatteras Varsity at 4:30pm and the next home game is scheduled for March 22nd with Middle School Dolphins playing Columbia.

Other notable events at the park include the MLB Pitch, Hit & Run contest which will take place on April 1st at 12 noon.  Ages 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, and 13/14 (boys and girls) will compete in all three events with a chance to advance to the finals held during Major League Baseball’s All Star Week. Raptors and Blue Claws baseball will also be starting up around April 22nd.

For the most up-to-date events and game times, check out the calendar at www.ocracokecommunitypark.com.