Category Archive

Thank You Coach Jones & Welcome Coach Morton

I just wanted to take this time and thank Coach Harry Jones for his service to Broughton High School and the Baseball program.  After careful consideration Coach Jones has decided to step down as the Broughton Baseball Head Coach to pursue other interests.  Coach Jones has instilled excellence into the program both on and off the field, his presence will be missed.  The vacancy will be filled by JV Head Coach Jere Morton IV.

Coach Jere Morton IV has headed up the JV program for the last two years.  Coach Morton is a Raleigh Native who graduated from Cary HS in 2003 and NC State in 2008.  His wife Brooke and 2yr old daughter Malaney currently reside in Fuquay Varina.  Jere is a special education teacher at BHS and has a passion for helping students with needs.  Coach Morton “I want to honor my family name and be a positive reflection of where I come from.  As a coach at Broughton, I respect those that have coached before me, those who have played for the Purple and Gold, and therefore I want to make them all proud by making Broughton a winning program both on the field and in the community.  Last but not least, as a teacher at Broughton, I want be the best teacher I can be because of the excellence that is associated with the staff and faculty at BHS.”

– Born in Raleigh, NC
– Attended Martin Middle
– Graduate of Cary HS (Short Stop/Pitcher) 2003
– Graduate of Lenoir Community College (Pitcher) 2005
– Graduate of NC State University, B.S. Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management 2008
– Completing Masters Degree in Special Education from UNC-Charlotte, expected graduation Fall 2017
– Teacher at Broughton High School — Special Education Department
– Played in 2001 Junior Olympics
– Played in 2004 Junior College World Series
– Previous Coaching Jobs:
Cary HS (Varsity Assistant Coach — 2008)
Cary Junior American Legion Baseball (Assistant Coach 2008-2009)
Middle Creek High School (Varsity Assistant Coach 2010-2012)
Carolina Lake Monsters Showcase (Head Coach 2008-2009)
Carolina Ravens Showcase (Head Coach 2009-2010)
Cary Senior Babe Ruth (Head Coach 2011-2013)
Wake Tech Community College (Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator 2013-2014)
Broughton HS (JV Head Coach 2015-2016)
– Town of Cary Lead Baseball Instructor
– NC State University Baseball Camp Instructor (3 years)
– State Championships: 2008 (Cary Junior Legion), 2012 & 2013 (Cary Senior Babe Ruth), 2012 4A (Middle Creek HS)
– Father graduated from Broughton in 1977 and played baseball for the Caps

Caps Comeback Falls Short

Broughton honored its seven seniors – Cam Epperson, Dylan Lamm, Eli DeJesus, George House, Jacob McCaslin, Thomas Walden and Will Baldwin – on Senior Day in a game played at Heritage.  A complete game on the mound by ace Thomas Walden kept Broughton in the game, but the Caps fell short 4-2.

All seniors started the game with the exception of Eli DeJesus, who was out with an injury.  Eli’s presence was missed.  Heritage scored an unearned run in the 1st to take a 1-0 lead.  Warren Grady (Jr. CF) had a single in the 4th but the Caps were unable to take advantage.  In the bottom of the 4th, Walden threw 11 pitches – all strikes – while striking out two and retiring the Huskies in order.  Three hits and a couple of defensive lapses allowed the Huskies to score three in the 5th to go up 4-0.

Broughton mounted a comeback in the top of the 7th.  Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) led off the inning with a single, Epperson walked, and Mathis Dean (Soph. 1B) singled to load the bases with no outs.  A rare 1-2-3 (pitcher to home to 1st) double play thwarted Broughton’s momentum however Dylan Lamm (Sr. RF) followed with a two-out, two-run single scoring pinch runner Will Gilchrist (Jr.) and Dean to produce the final score.

Defensive highlights:  Thomas Walden pitched a complete game, allowing just five hits to go along with five strikeouts.  Will Baldwin (Sr. 1B/2B/SS) got the start at 1st base so that he will have started at every position during his varsity career.  Nice running catch by Dylan Lamm in left center.  Kyle Ehlers fielded a tough ball at 3rd, checked the runner back to second, and threw to 1st for the out; Mathis Dean snagged a liner to prevent a double down the line, and freshman catcher Robert Ramseur had another solid defensive performance behind the plate.

Broughton will return a talented group of underclassman so the future of Broughton Baseball is bright.  Many thanks to Coach Jones, Coach Kelly, Coach Newton and Coach Cashion for coaching the kids and for teaching them life lessons.  Best wishes to the seven seniors as they prepare to graduate from BHS next month.

Next Game: February, 2017.

Go Caps!

Record – Overall (7-17)  Conference (3-11)

JV Recap
The 2016 JV Caps finished the year with a 10-10 overall record and 6-7 in the Cap-8.  The season ended with a dramatic 4-3 victory over rival Millbrook at Wiley Warren Field on May 4th, 2016.  The Caps scored one in the bottom of the 8th on a Jon Benefield (FR) single to score Sam Strickland (FR) from 3rd base.  Campbell Nixon (FR) picked up his 3rd win of the season on the mound in a relief appearance with 2ip and 0runs allowed.  Joe Barrow (FR) and Chris Vinson (SO) also pitched for the Caps limiting Millbrook to 3 runs and 5 hits over the first 6 innings.
The 2016 JV season included wins over Leesville and Millbrook who tied for the conference championship.  It also included a no-hitter thrown by Chris Vinson (SO) over Knightdale.  The 2016 JV Caps showed a lot of potential and excitement for the program moving forward.

Caps Defeat Eagles      

Broughton played solid baseball in defeating Enloe 10-3 in front of a large crowd on Eagle Senior Day.  Mathis Dean (Soph. 1B) led the offense with four hits, Dylan Lamm (Sr. LF) reached base five times, Cam Epperson (Sr. DH) four times, and senior pitcher Will Baldwin struck out 11 in throwing a complete game.

After a scoreless 1^st, Epperson singled to start the 2^nd, Dean reached on an error, Lamm walked, Harrison Hemric (Soph. 2B) had an RBI ground out scoring Epperson, Penn Sealey (Fr. SS) walked but the bases were left loaded.  In the 3^rd, Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) got things going with a single and stole second, Epperson walked, Dean had an RBI single scoring Ehlers, Dean stole second, Thomas Walden (Sr. CF) reached on an error then stole second, Lamm walked to load the bases but the Caps left three on base for the second consecutive inning.

Eagle players and fans got boisterous after scoring three in the 3^rd to take a 3-2 lead.  The score remained 3-2 until Broughton scored three in the 5^th.  Epperson collected his second single of the game to start the inning, Dean had a shot over the center fielder’s head to knock in Epperson for the tying run, Walden (Sr. CF) walked and stole second, Lamm walked to load the bases, Baldwin was hit by a pitch scoring Dean, and Warren Grady walked with the bases loaded to score Walden as the Caps regained the lead for good, 5-3.

Epperson walked for the second time to lead off the 6^th, and was replaced by pinch runner Will Gilchrist (Jr.), Dean collected his third hit of the game and Walden singled to load the bases.  Lamm walked for the 4^th time scoring Gilchrist to make it 6-3 Caps, but again the bases were left loaded.  Baldwin retired the Eagles in order in the 5^th and struck out the side in the 6^th.

Broughton’s last at bat started with a single by Baldwin.  Grady followed with a nice bunt single as Baldwin was able to reach 3^rd as the third baseman charged to field the bunt, then scored on a wild throw to 3^rd.  Dean’s 4^th hit of the day knocked in Grady then Walden followed with a walk.  Lamm came to the plate for his 5^th at bat of the game.  Instead of drawing what would have certainly been a Broughton record of five walks in a game, he decided to rip a single to right driving in Dean and Walden to make it 10-3 Broughton.

Defensive highlights: Nice running catch in center by Walden, and a solid performance behind the plate by freshman catcher Robert Ramseur.

The Caps will wrap up the 2016 Season this Thursday, May 5^th at home vs. Heritage @ 4:00.

Senior Day will honor:

Cam Epperson
Dylan Lamm
Eli DeJesus
George House
Jacob McCaslin
Thomas Walden
Will Baldwin

Record – Overall (7-16)  Conference (3-10)

Caps Fall to Wolverines   

Wakefield defeated Broughton 8-1 as the Wolverines limited the Caps to one hit, one hit batter, one reached on error and three walks.  Senior Thomas Walden pitched a nice complete game but a few timely hits combined with several defensive lapses by the Caps had Broughton playing uphill all night.

Mathis Dean (Soph. 1B) got the Caps only hit as he beat out an infield single in the 2^nd inning.  In the Broughton 3^rd, Walden walked and pinch runner Dylan Lamm advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Harrison Hemric (Soph. LF/2B) but was stranded at second.  In 5^th, Lamm was hit by a pitch, Walden reached on an error and Hemric followed with an RBI ground out scoring Lamm.  The Wolverine defense had several nice defensive plays taking away would be hits and also turned three double plays to prevent the Caps from gaining any momentum.

Defensive highlights: Nice sliding catch by Hemric in left center and Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) snagged a liner and doubled up the runner at first.

The Caps will wrap up the 2016 Season next week with games against Enloe and Heritage.

Next game: Tuesday, May 3^rd @ Enloe @ 4:30.

Final game: Thursday, May 5^th vs. Heritage @ Broughton @ 4:30.

Record – Overall (6-16)  Conference (2-10)

Caps Fall to Spartans  

Sanderson defeated Broughton 8-1 as three Spartan pitchers combined to limit the Caps to just two hits.  Broughton trailed 3-0 after five innings as senior Will Baldwin scattered six hits but the Spartan bats came alive in the 6^th and a string of hits forced the Caps to go to the bullpen.  Senior Jacob McCaslin came in and was able to strike out three in 1 and 1/3 innings of solid relief.

Baldwin had an infield single to lead off the Broughton half of the first.  Harrison Hemric (Soph. LF) worked a walk in the 3^rd but was left stranded.  In the Broughton 4^th, Warren Grady (Jr. RF) and Mathis Dean (Soph. 1B) walked but both were left on base.  The Caps were able to get on the board in the 6^th as Baldwin collected his second infield single of the game, Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) reached on an error and both runners advanced on the errant throw.  Cam Epperson (Sr. DH) delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to score Baldwin.

Defensive highlights: nice plays on high infield choppers for Ehlers at 3^rd and Penn Sealey (Fr.) at shortstop.  Robert Ramseur (Fr. C) threw out a runner attempting to steal second, the first of what will be many in his career.

Next game: Friday, April 29^th @ Wakefield @ 7:00.

Record – Overall (6-15)  Conference (2-9)

Broughton jumped out to early 2-0 and 3-1 leads but could not hold on as Millbrook came from behind to defeat the Caps in a game played to benefit the VS. Cancer Foundation.  Both teams joined together to raise money to help kids with cancer and the evening ended with several coaches and players getting their heads shaved.

Will Baldwin (Sr. CF) smoked a leadoff double down the left field line to start the game.  Warren Grady (Jr. RF) walked and Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) singled to load the bases.  Cam Epperson (Sr. DH) had an RBI ground out to score Baldwin and Grady was able to score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Caps.  Millbrook scored one in the bottom half of the first.  Walden (Sr. P/LF) walked to start the second.  Harrison Hemric (Soph. LF) had a nice bunt single, and Robert Ramseur (FR. C) was able to reach on an error to load the bases.  Baldwin knocked in pinch runner Dylan Lamm (Sr.) on a fielder’s choice for the Caps third run. Unfortunately, the Caps could not take advantage and left two runners on base.

Millbrook was able to score seven in the second, two in the third, and four in the fourth.  In the Broughton 3rd, Ehlers collected his second hit of the night with a line drive to center.  McCaslin (Sr. P) singled to start the 4th, Ramseur followed with a walk and Baldwin singled to load the bases with no outs.  It appeared Broughton was ready to cut into Millbrook’s lead but the Wildcats were able to get out of the inning with two strikeouts and a fly ball.

In the 5th, Epperson was hit by a pitch to start the inning, making it five straight innings the Caps leadoff hitter reached base.  Whitty Williams (Jr.) came in to pinch run and used his speed to get to second on a wild pitch and to third on a high infield chopper by George House (Sr. PH), but was stranded on third base.

Final line: 14 runs, 11 hits and one error for Millbrook.  3 runs, 6 hits, 5 errors for Broughton.  Baldwin and Ehlers led the offense with two hits each, Hemric and McCaslin each had one.  Thomas Walden (Sr.), Jacob McCaslin (Sr.) and Warren Grady (Jr.) pitched for the Caps.

Next game: Tuesday, April 26th vs. Sanderson @ Broughton @ 4:30.

Record – Overall (6-14)  Conference (2-8)

Caps Blank Pride

Broughton played its most complete game of the year in picking up a 3-0 victory at Leesville.  The Caps collected 10 hits, played error-free defense, and got a complete game three-hitter by senior Will Baldwin.

Baldwin lead off the game with a single, stole second, moved to 3^rd on a nice sacrifice bunt by Warren Grady (Jr. DH), and scored on an RBI single by Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B).  Mathis Dean was hit by a pitch but the Caps left the bases loaded.  In the 2^nd, Robert Ramseur (Fr. C) reached on an error and Dylan Lamm (Sr.) came in to pinch run.  Baldwin was hit by a pitch and after a double steal, Broughton had runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with one out.  William Gilchrist (Jr.) came in to pinch run for the pitcher but the Caps could not take advantage of Leesville’s miscues and left both runners stranded.

The Caps scored two in the 3^rd.  Ehlers led off with his second hit of the afternoon, stole second, took third on a nice sacrifice bunt by Eli DeJesus (Sr. 2B), and scored on an RBI single by Thomas Walden (Sr. CF). Walden was able to steal second and third and scored on a single by Harrison Hemric (Soph. LF) to make it 3-0 Caps.  Walden and Hemric both collected their second hits of the game in the 5^th and Cam Epperson (Sr. PH) was hit by a pitch but Broughton was unable to capitalize.  In the 6^th, Grady got his second hit of the game and Ehlers continued swinging a hot bat as he collected his third hit of the day, but again, Broughton could not add to its lead.

Baldwin allowed just five Pride players to reach base, had a five-pitch and a seven-pitch inning, and was aided by many nice defensive plays.

Defensive highlights: multiple nice running catches by Hemric in left and Walden in center, Penn Sealey (Fr.) made several plays at shortstop including a diving catch in shallow left field, Ehlers caught a pop at the Pride dugout fence, and Ramseur did a solid job keeping curve balls in the dirt in front of him.

A great team win.

Next game: Thursday, April 21^st @ Millbrook @ 7:00.

Record – Overall (6-13)  Conference (2-7)

Cougars Top Caps

Wake Forest defeated Broughton 5-1 in the second match-up between the Cap 8 schools.  Starting pitcher Thomas Walden (Sr.) threw a complete game 7 hitter but the Caps offense could manage only 3 hits.

Will Baldwin (Sr. CF) lead off the game with a single to left, advanced to 2^nd on a sacrifice bunt by Warren Grady (Soph. DH), and went to 3^rd on a fly to right by Mathis Dean (Soph. 1B), but was left stranded.  Wake Forest plated 3 in the 3^rd by stringing together a couple of hits and taking advantage of a controversial call at 3^rd.  In the Broughton 4^th, Dean got the Caps second hit of the day but was left on base.

The Caps were able to get on the board in the 6^th.  Robert Ramseur (Fr. C) singled and William Gilchrist (Jr.) came on to pinch run, Baldwin reached on an error and runners advanced to 2^nd and 3^rd with no outs, Grady grounded out to second scoring Gilchrist, but the inning ended with a runner on 3^rd.  The Cougars took advantage of a couple of hits and a couple of Broughton miscues in the bottom of the 6^th to tack on two more runs.

Defensive highlight: Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) showed good range by cutting off a ball headed to the hole and getting the runner at 1^st.

Next game: Tuesday, April 19^th @ Leesville @ 4:30.

Record – Overall (5-13)  Conference (1-7)

Jaguars defeat Caps

Athens defeated Broughton 10-2 in a non-conference game sandwiched between conference games.  Junior pitcher Warren Grady threw 4 innings of two-hit ball before Athens got the bats going in the late innings and took advantage of several Broughton miscues.

Things looked promising for Broughton after one inning.  Grady struck out two Jaguars and Mathis Dean (Soph. 1B) and Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) had back-to-back doubles with Dean scoring and Ehlers collecting the RBI.  Athens was able to tie the game at one in their half of the 3rd.  In the bottom of the inning, Harrison Hemric (Soph. LF) singled, went to second on a wild pitch, advanced to 3rd on a groundout by Will Baldwin (Sr. CF/SS) and scored on an RBI ground out by Grady to give the Caps a 2-1 lead.  Ehlers followed with his second double of the game but was left on base.

Thomas Walden (Sr. RF) beat out a chopper for an infield single in the 4th but the Caps could not take advantage. Whitty Williams (Jr. P) and Ehlers pitched the final three innings.

Defensive highlights: several nice catches by Harrison Hemric in left field.

Next game: Friday, April 15th @ Wake Forest @ 7:00.

Record – Overall (5-12)  Conference (1-6)

Caps Fall to Huskies

In its first night game of the year, Broughton fell to conference foe Heritage, 5-1.  Senior pitcher Will Baldwin scattered five hits over five innings with three strikeouts but Heritage pitchers limited the Caps to three hits.

In the Caps 1st, Warren Grady (Jr. CF) walked and Kyle Ehlers (Soph. 3B) singled but both were left on base.  In the 3rd, Baldwin (Sr. P) singled but the Caps could not capitalize.  Dylan Lamm (Sr. LF) walked to begin the 5th.  Jacob McCaslin (Sr. DH/P) bunted and was able to make it to second on a throwing error as Lamm raced around the bases to score.  Baldwin was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base but both runners were stranded.  Ehlers collected his second single of the game in the 6th and McCaslin pitched the bottom of the 6th.  Broughton was unable to get anything going in its final at bat.

Next game: Thursday, April 14th vs. Athens Drive @ Broughton @ 4:30.

Record – Overall (5-11)  Conference (1-6)