Matthew Hammel ’23 does not foresee playing baseball beyond the club or intramural level at Appalachian State University.
His senior season would be a pretty hard act to follow.
Matthew, or “Smokes” as he has been dubbed by his teammates, owns the highest batting average (.508) among Christ School players and ranks No. 1 in five other offensive categories – base hits (31), singles (27), runs scored (27), RBIs (25), and sacrifice flies (two). He has only struck out six times out of the leadoff spot and been successful with all seven of his stolen-base attempts.
Matthew knows as well as anyone what is at stake this week – tonight and Friday will determine the Carolinas Athletic Association championship. First, Matthew and the Greenies (13-4, 4-0) are on the road at Rabun Gap (Ga.), and then turn around and host the Eagles (15-3, 3-0) on Friday. Both games start at 7 p.m.
“The season has been great,” Matthew said.
“We put a lot of work in the offseason with things like morning lifts to get to this step. We feel good with having a chance at the conference. And you never want to look too far ahead, but I know a state championship is a goal for us, too.”
Matthew, Brody Raleigh ’23, Jonathan Reece ’25, Jake Gravley ’24, and Wells Alderman ’26 each had two hits in Friday’s 12-6 home win over Asheville Christian Academy. Christ School scored all its runs in the first two innings and starting pitcher Charlie Collins '24 (7-1) battled for 6.1 innings to pick up his seventh win.
Greenies coach Wesley King had a feeling that the CAA would come down to the Rabun Gap series, and now here it is.
“Rabun Gap is talented all across the board,” Coach King said.
“I had a chance to see them early on this season. Their kids play hard and they have a good coaching staff. It’s going to be a big challenge. We’re going to have to play really well, but I think the kids are ready for it.”