About Baseball Program |
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Coaching Staff Mark Tucker - Head Coach
Working primarily with the pitchers, Tucker has had one pitcher to be named 1st Team All-American and numerous players selected on the All-Region X team. In the past five seasons, Tucker has had six pitchers selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Tucker designs and implements a pitching program designed specifically for each pitcher, and also designs the off season conditioning/strength training program for the pitchers. His instruction has lead to many pitchers gaining velocity on their fastball as well as fine tuning the off speed pitches for the pitchers to reach their maximum potential. Tucker is also responsible for the advancement of players to other levels of baseball and has many contacts throughout the nation. He helps advise the players of classes they need as well as arranging their financial aid and/or scholarships. Tucker has also been invited to speak at many engagements including the North Carolina High School Baseball Coaches Association meeting and the West Virginia Baseball Coaches Association meeting. He was also responsible for the process of starting the baseball program at Surry and is the only coach to have been here since. Prior to being named Head Coach at Surry, Tucker was an Assistant Coach at Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) under Jim Morris. Tucker was honored by Rawlings in 1995 with the Rawlings Collegiate Baseball Coaches Award. Before his coaching days, Tucker had a stellar career at Lenoir-Rhyne College (Hickory, NC) where he was named All-Conference 1st Baseman as a junior and selected Most Valuable Pitcher as a senior. Tucker is married to the former Wendy Beane. Both are active members of First Baptist Church in Pilot Mountain. They have two daughters, Avery and Hadly, and reside in Pilot Mountain. Josh Simmons- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Joshua Simmons begins his first season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Surry. Simmons comes from Barton College where the Bulldogs collected a Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) Tournament Championship in 2002 and a Regular Season Championship in 2006. While at Barton, Simmons coached 1st Team All-American, Brock Godwin and 2nd Team All-American, Dennis Blackman along with six Bulldogs selected to the CVAC All-Conference squad. Simmons has also been honored for his excellence in field maintenance with the selection of the 2005 American Baseball Coaches Association/ Turface Field Maintenance of the Year Award. The award annually recognizes excellence in field maintenance. Simmons also served as an assistant coach with the Wilson Tobs of the Coastal Plains Summer League in 2004. The Tobs won both halves of the South Division and finished third in the Petitt Cup. From the 2004 squad, eight players were selected in future Major League Baseball drafts. Simmons is no stranger to junior college baseball, having spent one season at Region X opponent Blue Ridge Community College during the 2004 season, as the Bears recorded their first ever 30- win season. Simmons will be assisting in all facets of the baseball program with emphasis on recruiting, infielders, outfielders, catchers, field maintenance, and strength & conditioning. Simmons earned his B.S. and M.A. in Exercise & Sport Science from East Carolina University. Simmons resides in Dobson. Roy Vernon - Assistant Coach
Location: Dobson, N.C. Coming Soon: Stadium Style seating area 2006: 41-18
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Mark
Tucker enters his twelfth season as Head Baseball Coach at Surry
Community College. During his eleven year tenure, Tucker has compiled
an overall record of 400-180 (.690). The 2006 Knights finished
with a 41-18 record and third-place finish in the Region X
Tournament. The 2005 Knights finished
47-14 while falling in the Region X Tournament championship.
The Knights finished with a final ranking of 15th. The 2004 team finished with
a school record 55 wins and final # 8 ranking in the NJCAA Division
I baseball poll. The
1998 team participated in the NJCAA World Series finishing 5th
. Tucker (left) was selected as the 1998 NJCAA Region X Coach
of the Year. He was also selected by Diamond Sports as the 1998
NJCAA Coach of the Year. Under Tucker's tenure, greater than one
hundred
players have gone on to play at 4-year schools or have been drafted.
Tucker has coached seven National Junior College All-Americans as well
as five National Junior College Academic All Americans. 
Roy Vernon enters his
twelfth season as Assistant Baseball Coach
at Surry. Vernon’s main responsibilities are working with
the hitters and recruiting. He is considered one of the premier
hitting coaches in the nation. Vernon's coaching led to the Knights'
leading the conference in batting average and homeruns in 2001
as well as having the top individual leaders in batting average
and runs batted in. In 2004, Vernon’s coaching led to John
Graham's 19 homeruns breaking Andrew
Belcher's 2002 single season record (18). In 2003, Vernon had three
hitters in the top five in the conference with all three
batting over .400. Vernon’s hitters average nearly 70 homeruns
per year with a batting average near .350 as a team. Under his
instruction, Surry has become one of the fiercest offensive teams
in all of the country. While recruiting, Vernon signed 8 All State
players in his first year of recruiting including Chad Durham,
a 14th round selection from Surry by the Chicago White Sox in 1997. Vernon
signed numerous other players that have advanced beyond Surry
to play at various four year schools. Vernon is also a gracious
teacher
as he teaches many area kids the fine points to hitting during
his free time. Many present and former Knights were Vernon’s
pupils before playing at Surry. Vernon is also an avid baseball
historian and story teller, and is known for his sense of humor.
Vernon, who is also a scout with the Cincinnati Reds Organization,
is married to the former Deane Stone. They have two children, Sharon
and Charlie.
The Surry Community College baseball program started
in the fall of 1995. The 1996 team finished with a final record
of 14-21. Casey Wilmoth, pitcher, was named 1st Team All-American
by the NJCAA. The 1997 season saw a vast improvement with a final
record of 27-20. Chad Durham, shortstop, was named 3rd Team All-American
by the NJCAA. Durham became the first Knights player ever drafted
when he was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 14th round.
In 1998, Surry advanced to their first ever NJCAA World Series.
The Knights finished 5th nationally and complied a final record
of 28-15. Preston Church was named 3rd Team All-American outfielder
by the NJCAA after hitting 13 home runs. 1999 saw the addition
of an on-campus field at Surry. The Knights took advantage of their
friendly confines and finished the regular season ranked 4th
nationally. Their trip to a second consecutive World Series was
cut short with
a loss in the District Championship. The team set a new record
for wins and finished 41-13. Nine members of the 1999 team signed
with four-year colleges or universities. Nick Wood, 1st baseman
was named 3rd team All-American by the NJCAA. The 2000 Surry
Knights finished the season with a 31-22 record. Jeff Robbins,
Chuck Martin,
and Henry Moore were selected All-Region. The Knights featured
five different players named Region X player of the week during
the 2000 season. Five different players signed Division I scholarships
from the 2000 team. The 2001 Knights finished with a final record
of 39-19. Evan Tartaglia, Jeff Robbins, Matt Scott, and Darius
Pullen were selected All-Region. Tartaglia was voted Runner-Up
Region X Conference Player of the Year and Honorable Mention
All-American. Matt Scott was selected as NJCAA Academic All-American.
The 2002
team’s record wasn’t indicative of the season they
had. The Knights’ finished the season 38-19, with several
close losses, while finishing third in the conference. Nine Knights’ signed
to play at four-year schools following the season. Andrew Belcher
and Matt Keever earned 1st team All Region and Zach Greene, Robby
Lanham, and Evan Tartaglia earned 2nd team honors. Travis Motsinger
was named NJCAA Academic All America to become the second person
in school history to receive such an honor. The 2003 team finished
the season with an overall record of 39 wins and 10 losses.
The overall record sets a new high for winning percentage (80%)
in
Surry history. They finished as the Region X Regular Season
Champions as well as the Region X Tournament Runner Up. Brandon
Chambers
was named first team All Region. Tripp Lockhart, Matt Keever,
and Billy Wright were voted second team All Region as well. Jeremy
Branch was named to the NJCAA Academic All American team to
become
the third consecutive player at Surry to receive this award.
Three Surry players were drafted from the 2003 team led by righthander
Cody Dickens, who was drafted in the 16th round by the Chicago
White Sox. The 2004 team
finished
55-9 with a final NJCAA national ranking of 8th. The Knights
captured the 2004 Region X Tournament Championship breezing to
a 14-5 win
over Louisburg in the championship. First baseman/pitcher John Graham was voted Region
X Player of the Year. Graham
was also
selected by NJCAA coaches to Team USA (NJCAA) which traveled
to China for a five game friendship tour.         |