January 2011

• Pinecrest's Hewitt to Coach 14U National Baseball Team

  An exciting summer that includes a trip to South America is shaping up for Pinecrest baseball coach Jeff Hewitt.

  Saturday, January 8, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

February 2011

• Scott Brosius to Lead 2011 18U Team

  USA Baseball announced Monday that Scott Brosius has been named manager of its 2011 18U National Team.

  Monday, February 7, 2011 | From Staff Reports | USABaseball.com

• Maness to Start in ECU's Season Opener

  Former Pinecrest baseball star Seth Maness is slated to be the starting pitcher for East Carolina in tonight’s season opener at home against Youngstown State.

  Friday, February 18, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Next Level: Baldwin Heads Back to Spring Training

  The experience of being away from home, the transition from aluminum to wooden bats, and a steady diet of pitchers throwing in the 90s, added up to a 1-for-20 start in professional baseball for James Baldwin III.

  Sunday, February 20, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• PHS Nine Open With Forsyth Country Day

  Speaking about Wednesday’s 5 p.m. baseball season opener at John Williams Field, Pinecrest coach Jeff Hewitt advises fans to arrive early.

  Sunday, February 27, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

March 2011

• Baseball Site Names PHS/Forsyth Country Day 'National Game of the Week'

  Wednesday’s 5 p.m. baseball season opener at Pinecrest against Forsyth Country Day is Perfect Game USA’s National Game of the Week.

  Tuesday, March 1, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• National Game of the Week: Forsyth @ Pinecrest

  The huge early season matchup lived up to expectations as Pinecrest defeated #4 Forsyth Country Day 5-4.

  Tuesday, March 1, 2011 | By Todd Gold, Ben Collman | PerfectGame.org

• Patriots Post Dramatic Win Over Forsyth Country Day

  Two highly ranked teams and a marquee pitching matchup added up to a wild ride for a capacity crowd at John Williams Field on Thursday.

  Friday, March 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Scouts Turn Out In Force for PC/FCD Game

  Pinecrest pitching coach James Baldwin was a busy man before Wednesday’s National Game of the Week (Perfect Game USA) be-tween the Patriots and Forsyth Country Day.

  Friday, March 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• PC Baseball Game Site Change

  Today’s 5 p.m. baseball game between Pinecrest and Riverside will be played at Riverside High School rather than at Durham Athletic Park as originally scheduled.

  Friday, March 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Dillon Maples Rewrites Pinecrest and Family Record Book

  When Jeff Hewitt took over as Pinecrest (Southern Pines, N.C.) baseball coach in 2000, one of the first things he did was call Tim Maples.

  Friday, March 4, 2011 | By Bradon Parker | ESPN.com

• Pinecrest Bats Come Alive Against Riverside

  Long seventh innings homeruns by Matt Eddy and Dillon Maples put punctuation marks around Pinecrest’s 11-4 victory at Durham Riverside Friday night.

  Saturday, March 5, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maness Named CUSA Co-Pitcher of the Week

  East Carolina pitcher Seth Maness has been named the Conference USA Co-Pitcher of the Week for putting on a masterful performance in a 2-0 win over Pepperdine Friday afternoon.

  Tuesday, March 8, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maples Tosses Gem Against Asheboro

  Dillon Maples allowed only three hits and struck out 13 batters as Pinecrest improved to 3-0 with a 5-1 victory over Asheboro Tuesday evening.

  Tuesday, March 8, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Baseball Improves to 4-0

  In a week that a former Pinecrest pitcher was named the Conference USA Co-Pitcher of the Week, Dillon Maples’ pitching performance against Asheboro on Tuesday was Maness-esque.

  Friday, March 11, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Patriots Stun Riverside; Remain Unbeaten

  Pinecrest baseball coach Jeff Hewitt could not remember the last time his team put a seven-spot on the board.

  Saturday, March 12, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• PC Baseball Game Time Moved Up to 5 p.m.

  Due to potential rain in the forecast, tonight's baseball game between Pinecrest and Hoke County has been moved up to 5 p.m. The softball game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

  Tuesday, March 15, 2011 | From Staff Reports | ThePilot.com

• Next Level: Haley Powers UNCP's Offense

  When Pinecrest baseball player Josh Haley signed with UNC Pembroke in 2008, Patriot coach Jeff Hewitt commented that the Div. II Braves were getting a Div. I talent.

  Wednesday, March 16, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pats Hang On To Beat Asheboro 2-1

  Undefeated Pinecrest took an early 2-0 lead in Monday’s baseball game against Asheboro and then walked a tightrope the rest of the way before taking home a 2-1 victory.

  Wednesday, March 16, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Patriots Blow Out Hoke County

  Pinecrest used power hitting and power pitching to defeat Hoke County 12-0 in its Southeastern Conference baseball opener at home on Tuesday.

  Friday, March 18, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• PHS Routs Lumberton, Record Stands at 8-0

  Taking care of business in five innings has been a good thing for a Pinecrest baseball team that had four games this week.

  Saturday, March 19, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Florida Christian Hands Pinecrest First Loss

  Moments after his team was defeated 8-6 by Florida Christian on Saturday afternoon in Sanford, Pinecrest Coach Jeff Hewitt reflected on the kind of a week it had been.

  Monday, March 21, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maples Dominant as Pats Hold Off Scotland

  Dillon Maples took the mound in the top of the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game against Scotland County three outs away from wrapping up perhaps the most dominating pitching performance in the history of baseball at Pinecrest.

  Thursday, March 24, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Patriots Take Down Purnell Swett

  Before boarding the Pinecrest team bus for the trip home from Friday night’s baseball game at Purnell Swett, the newest fan of the Richmond Spiders learned Kansas was about to defeat them in a Sweet 16 game.

  Saturday, March 26, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• PHS, UP Head to Hilltop

  Pinecrest (10-1) and Union Pines (9-1) are the two teams with the best records in the American Division of the Hilltop Invitational Baseball Tournament that gets under way tomorrow afternoon.

  Wednesday, March 30, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann, F.W. Manning II | ThePilot.com

April 2011

• Pinecrest Rallies to Defeat Glenn in Hilltop Opener

  Pinecrest overcame a six-run deficit to defeat Kernersville Glenn 8-7 Friday afternoon at Orange High School in the rain-delayed Hilltop Invitational Baseball Tournament.

  Friday, April 1, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Rush Has Huge Day as Pinecrest Takes Two More at Hilltop

  Pinecrest senior Bailey Rush had a good month at the plate on Saturday at the Hilltop Invitational Tournament held at Orange High School.

  Monday, April 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maples Ks 14 as Pats Shut Out Raiders

  Pinecrest put its perfect mark in the Southeastern Conference baseball standings on the line before an electrified full house at Richmond Senior Tuesday evening.

  Friday, April 8, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Lumberton Hands Pinecrest Baseball First SEC Loss

  Pinecrest finds itself sharing first place in the Southeastern Conference baseball standings with Scotland County after falling 10-2 at Lumberton Friday night.

  Saturday, April 9, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Next Level: Herbert, Johnson Playing Well on The Diamond

  Pinecrest graduate Joe Herbert pitched a complete-game three-hitter on Tuesday, leading Winston Salem State to a 2-1 victory over Shaw.

  Saturday, April 9, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Alone In First After 1-0 Win Over Scots

  Dillon Maples pitched another gem and Bailey Rush drove in the game’s only run as Pinecrest regained sole possession of first place in the conference with a 1-0 victory at Scotland County Tuesday evening.

  Friday, April 15, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Drops Purnell Swett 9-2

  Pinecrest maintained its hold on first place in the Southeastern Conference baseball standings with a 9-2 home victory over Purnell Swett Friday night.

  Saturday, April 16, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maples, Rush, Vecchione Celebrate College Signings

  When it comes to making it in the game of baseball, Dillon Maples, Bailey Rush and Joey Vecchione are just about as homegrown as they come.

  Sunday, April 17, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pats Beat Lee County in Extras

  A two-run bases-loaded single by Dillon Maples provided the margin of victory as Pinecrest defeated Lee County 6-4 in nine innings on Wednesday evening in Sanford.

  Thursday, April 21, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Alumni Baseball Game on Tap for Saturday

  About 25 former players are expected to participate in the Pinecrest alumni baseball game scheduled to be held at John Williams Stadium on Saturday night.

  Thursday, April 21, 2011 | From Staff Reports | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Repeats as SEC Baseball Champs

  The Pinecrest baseball team clinched its second Southeastern Conference regular season title in a row with a 12-1 home victory over Richmond Senior Tuesday evening.

  Friday, April 22, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Holds Off Lee County

  On a night that Pinecrest smacked three home runs, it was a mad 360-foot dash around the bases by Cam Embler that was the difference-maker in a 9-7 victory over Lee County.

  Saturday, April 23, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• UP/PC Baseball Game On Tap Tonight at 7 p.m.

  Pinecrest and Union Pines take to the diamond at 7 p.m. tonight at Viking Field in a match-up of first-place clubs.

  Monday, April 25, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann, F.W. Manning II | ThePilot.com

• Varsity Vignette: Team USA Coaches Bond

  Every year USA Baseball puts together events and teams that attract the best baseball players from around the country.

  Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | By Nathan Rode | BaseballAmerica.com

• Pinecrest Tops Union Pines 4-1

  Pinecrest defeated Union Pines 4-1 in front of a massive crowd at Viking Field Monday in Cameron.

  Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | By F.W. Manning II | ThePilot.com

• Sports Briefs: Pinecrest Blows Out Hoke 14-0

  Pitcher Joey Vecchione picked up his ninth win, and Bailey Rush went 3-for-4 with five RBIs as Pinecrest completed the regular season with a 14-0 victory at Hoke County Friday night.

  Saturday, April 30, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

May 2011

• Next Level: Maness Pitching Well

  After missing the first start of his college career because of a sore forearm, East Carolina’s Seth Maness (Pinecrest) pitched four scoreless innings on Sunday and received credit for the win in a 7-6 victory over Southern Mississippi.

  Wednesday, May 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest, Richmond to Meet in SEC Final

  Pinecrest combined good hitting, pitching and defense to defeat Lumberton 14-4 in one of Tuesday’s semifinal games of the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament.

  Wednesday, May 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• PHS Wins Tourney Title

  The Pinecrest baseball team put an exclamation point on its two-year domination of the Southeastern Conference by defeating Richmond Senior 11-1 before a large and at one point very confused Thursday night crowd.

  Saturday, May 7, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• PC Baseball Playoff Game Moved Up to Thursday

  Weather concerns have resulted in moving the Pinecrest baseball team’s first round state playoff game up one day to Thursday.

  Wednesday, May 11, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Patriots Drop Knights 5-1

  The Pinecrest baseball team began a brand new season with a 5-1 victory over Knightdale at John Williams Field Thursday evening.

  Saturday, May 14, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• A Look Back at the 1979 Pinecrest State Championship Baseball Team

  When the first pitch is thrown on Tuesday in Pinecrest’s second round state playoff baseball game against Terry Sanford or Harnett Central, Mike Antle will be listening to the account streamed by radio station WEEB on the Internet from his home in Billings, Mont.

  Saturday, May 14, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Next Level: Haley, UNCP Head to Postseason

  Centerfielder Josh Haley (Pinecrest) and his UNC Pembroke baseball teammates will make history on Thursday morning when the Braves meet Columbus State at Mount Olive College.

  Wednesday, May 18, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maples Strikes Out 20, Pats Defeat Harnett Central

  Dillon Maples set a school record for strikeouts with 20, and the Pinecrest Patriots advanced to the third round of the NCHSAA playoffs for the first time in five years with a 3-1 win over Harnett Central Tuesday at John Williams Field.

  Thursday, May 19, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Home Runs Fuel Ashley Comeback Over Pinecrest

  Pinecrest’s pursuit of a state baseball title ended in a stunning barrage of home runs by Wilmington Ashley at a jam-packed John Williams Field Friday night.

  Saturday, May 21, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

June 2011

• Maples Named Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year

  Pinecrest senior Dillon Maples has been named the 2010-11 North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year by the Gatorade Company in collaboration with ESPN Rise.

  Wednesday, June 1, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest's Dillon Maples Named 2011 N.C. Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year

  — The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Dillon Maples of Pinecrest High School as its 2010-11 Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year.

  Wednesday, June 1, 2011 | From Staff Reports | CharlotteObserver.com

• Maness, ECU Head to Charlottesville

  Former Pinecrest star Seth Maness and the East Carolina baseball team face a stiff challenge at the NCAA Charlottesville regional that gets under way today at the University of Virginia.

  Friday, June 3, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• MLB Draft Starts Monday

  Fans of Pinecrest baseball have a keen interest in Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft that gets under way on Monday.

  Saturday, June 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Baseball Honored

  Six players from one of the most successful Pinecrest baseball teams in school history have earned All-Southeastern Conference honors.

  Saturday, June 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maness Gets Win as ECU Downs Navy

  Pinecrest grad Seth Maness helped keep East Carolina’s NCAA hopes alive with a complete game pitching performance in a 6-1 victory over Navy Saturday afternoon.

  Sunday, June 5, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest's Dillon Maples Chosen by Cubs in MLB Draft

  The Chicago Cubs took Pinecrest High School pitcher Dillon Maples in the 14th round of the MLB draft Tuesday.

  Wednesday, June 8, 2011 | By Bret Strelow | FayObserver.com

• Hewitt Tabbed as USA Baseball's 14-U Head Coach

  Jeff Hewitt’s Pinecrest High School team may have witnessed its season come to an end two weeks ago in the state playoffs, but the Beaufort native has more baseball to coach in the coming months.

  Wednesday, June 8, 2011 | By J.J. Smith | CarolinaCoastOnline.com

• MLB Draft: Maness Selected by St. Louis in 11th Round; Maples by Cubs in 14th

  The St. Louis Cardinals have selected PC alumnus and East Carolina senior Seth Maness with their 11th round selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.

  Thursday, June 9, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann, F.W. Manning II | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest's Dillon Maples Named All-Region Baseball Player of the Year

  Jeff Hewitt aspired to restore Pinecrest High's proud baseball tradition, so he tracked down former players once he became the school's head coach following a five-win season in 1999.

  Saturday, June 11, 2011 | By Bret Strelow | FayObserver.com

• 2011 All-Region Baseball Team

  These players stood out above the rest to be named to our All-Cape Fear region baseball team.

  Saturday, June 11, 2011 | From Staff Reports | FayObserver.com

• Maness Signs With Cardinals

  Pitcher Seth Maness put together hall-of-fame quality careers at Pinecrest and East Carolina, but the 11th round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals knows that professional baseball is a whole new ball game.

  Thursday, June 16, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Pinecrest Player Wins Baseball Award

  In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, has announced Dillon Maples of Pinecrest High School as its 2010-11 Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year.

  Friday, June 17, 2011 | From Staff Reports | NCHSAA.org

• Pinecrest Pitcher Wins Gatorade Award

  In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, has announced Dillon Maples of Pinecrest High School as its 2010-11 Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year.

  Friday, June 17, 2011 | From Staff Reports | HighSchoolOT.com

• Baldwin Still Sizzling

  James Baldwin III completed a torrid first week of the season for the Ogden Raptors by going 3-for-5 in an 11-5 victory over the Casper Ghosts Saturday evening.

  Sunday, June 26, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Red-Hot Baldwin Named Pioneer League Player of the Week

  Ogden Raptors centerfielder James Baldwin III has been named the Pioneer League Player of the Week.

  Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maness Sparkles in First Pro Start

  Playing on a team with 15 pitchers, Pinecrest grad Seth Maness is making the most of his opportunities with the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York Penn League.

  Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Baseball America Names Maples to High School All-America First Team

  Baseball America has named Pinecrest pitcher Dillon Maples to its 2011 High School All-America first team.

  Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | From Staff Reports | ThePilot.com

July 2011

• Maness Turns In Another Strong Start

  For the second time in less than week, former Pinecrest baseball player Seth Maness left the mound for the Batavia Muckdogs as the pitcher of record — on the winning side.

  Monday, July 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Baldwin Extends Hit Streak

  As the Ogden (Utah) Raptors went into the top of the ninth inning of Friday night’s game against Orem trailing 6-3. Radio 1280 play-by-play man Brandon hart repeatedly reminded his listeners of a subplot.

  Monday, July 4, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Baldwin Hits Clutch Homer

  Pinecrest graduate James Baldwin III helped the Ogden Raptors overcome a three-run ninth-inning deficit with a home run in Wednesday’s Pioneer League contest.

  Saturday, July 30, 2011 | From Staff Reports | ThePilot.com

August 2011

• Patriot Trio Establish Baseball Scholarship

  Throughout the high school baseball season last spring, Pinecrest Coach Jeff Hewitt challenged his players to establish a legacy.

  Sunday, August 14, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Maples Signs With Cubs for Reported $2.5 Million

  Pinecrest multi-sports star Dillon Maples has signed to play baseball for the Chicago Cubs.

  Tuesday, August 16, 2011 | From Staff Reports | ThePilot.com

• Maples Comfortable With Decision

  It was a very relaxed Dillon Maples who dropped off his brother, Jackson, for football practice at the field house at Pinecrest High School Tuesday afternoon.

  Saturday, August 20, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Hewitt Leads U.S. to Pan Am 14U Baseball Crown

  Led by head coach Jeff Hewitt, the 14-and-under U.S. National Team defeated Venezuela 12-2 for the 2011 COPABE Pan Am 14U Championship on Sunday afternoon in San Felipe, Venezuela.Hewitt, the head baseball coach at Pinecrest since 2000, was named the tournament’s best manager.

  Monday, August 22, 2011 | From Staff Reports | ThePilot.com

• Maness Moves Up in Cards' Farm System

  St. Louis Cardinal farm hand and former Pinecrest pitcher Seth Maness has been promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Advanced A Florida State League.

  Tuesday, August 23, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

September 2011

• A Different View for This Game

  Trailing Venezuela 1-0 in the third inning of one of the biggest games of his baseball coaching career, 14-and-under U.S. National Team coach Jeff Hewitt had the rug abruptly swept out from under him.

  Saturday, September 3, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com

• Red, White and Blue: Hewitt's National Team Collects Gold

  A day before leaving the USA Baseball National Training Center in Cary for the 14-and-under COPABE Pan Am Championships in Venezuela, National Team coach Jeff Hewitt put his players through an exercise.

  Saturday, September 3, 2011 | By Charlie Bergmann | ThePilot.com