By Mike London [email protected] HOLLY SPRINGS — Brett Hatley’s 100th win as East Rowan’s head baseball coach came in storybook fashion — in the state championship game.
East’s 11-3 walloping of South Central at Ting Park on Saturday to sweep the 3A Championship Series was emphatic, dominating and historic. There’s no better way to reach a milestone such as 100 coaching wins than doing it surrounded by championship plaques and banners, grinning players and delirious fans. “This was not about me, in any way,” Hatley said.
“This is about a great team, a group of guys. This about having a great staff that knows the game and a great administration that eliminated all the worries outside of baseball. This is about the great mentors like Jim Gantt and Chris Cauble that I was lucky enough to have as a player at West Rowan, at Catawba and with the Rowan County Legion team.
And this is about my family and all of their support over the years. But I was aware before this season started of how many wins I had and I did know 100 was possible because this team is that special. They took me on a great ride.
” Hatley officially is in his fifth season as East’s head coach, although his 5-1 debut, when he had Charlie Klingler and Wayne Mize destroying baseballs, was stopped by COVID after a handful of games. His second season (13-3) was actually only a half season with a delayed start as the NCHSAA finally moved on from the pandemic. In Hatley’s full seasons,.
