Broughton Opens Season With 2-0
Win Over Panther Creek
Link to Game Photos
Cary, N.C.-  The Broughton Caps opened the 2018 varsity baseball season with a hard fought 2-0 road win over Panther Creek.  Backed by a strong pitching performance by Junior Xander Hamilton, the Caps were able to hold the dangerous bats of Panther Creek scoreless.  Hamilton showed no signs of an pre-season ankle injury, giving up only 2 hits and carding 8 strikeouts.  Senior Kyle Ehlers was credited with the save after retiring the side in the bottom of the 6th inning.

The game was largely a pitching duel between Hamilton, a Virginia Tech commit, and Panther Creek Sophomore Koen Moreno, an East Carolina commit, until the top of the 5th.  Broughton Junior Campbell Nixon drew a walk to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Senior Jackson Highsmith.  Ehlers reached on an error and Sophomore Josh Holloman drew another walk to load the bases for the Caps.  Senior Mathis Dean made the Catamounts pay with an opposite field single that scored two.

The game was called with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning with the Caps ahead 5-1.  Since the inning had not completed, the final score reverted to the score at the end of the 6th.

The Caps face Garner in its home opener Friday at 4:00.  Come out to the ballpark and support the Caps!

2018 Overall Record 1-0
2018 Conference Record 0-0

Opening Day at Panther Creek 4:00pm!

Spring Is Here
Tryouts Start Feb 14th!  

Tryout schedule:

Feb 14 – Defense, Velocity, Speed, Pitching (11/12 Graders)

Feb 15 – Hitting, Pitching (9/10 Graders)

Feb 16 – Live Situations

First Varsity Scrimmage is set for Feb. 17th @ Terry Sanford

2nd Varsity Scrimmage is set for Feb. 24th vs Wakefield at 2pm

First JV Scrimmage is set for Feb. 24th vs Wakefield at 11am

Link to 2018 Schedule
*Please note that our March 5th game at Garner is potentially being moved to Doak Field at NC State.

2018 BHS Varsity Baseball Schedule

Right Field Dedication to #6 Jackson Williams

If you look out into right field at the Wiley Warren Baseball Field at Broughton High School this spring, you’ll see a simple and elegant number six banner gracing the wall. The banner is in honor of Jackson Williams, class of 2014, who graced right field himself, for many years.

Jackson died over Christmas in 2016. His former teammates promptly gathered together and made the decision to find a meaningful way to honor Jackson’s memory. They could not have thought of a more appropriate tribute, and Jackson’s family cannot thank them enough.  Baseball served a very important role in Jackson’s life, as it has for so many players over the years. It taught him discipline, respect, humility, patience and drive. It gave him a focus that is so critical for boys of this age.

Jackson was a kind, gentle, steadfast young man who lived every single day with purpose. His family is extremely thankful for the prayers, love, and kindness that has been shown to them, and they know Jackson’s kind and gentle presence is missed by so many. A simple way to honor Jackson would be to live each day with a heart filled with goodness.

You may also want to consider making a donation to the John Jackson Williams Endowed Scholarship that has been established at NC State University, Jackson’s alma mater. Checks can be made payable to NC Textile Foundation with “John Jackson Williams Scholarship” written on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to NC Textile Foundation, Campus Box 8301, Raleigh, NC  27695-8301. If you have questions, please call 919-515-3878, the Foundation staff is happy to assist. Because of this named scholarship, Jackson will always be in our hearts and minds. Jackson will be peacefully laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.

Team Chris Combs to Strike out ALS

Chris Combs is a 1993 Graduate of Broughton High School, where he played Basketball and Baseball. Chris played baseball at NC State University and 4 years in the minor leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Chris is currently an Associate athletic Director for the Wolfpack Club.

Chris was diagnosed with ALS in May of 2016. Chris learned in athletics to never give up and to fight as hard as you can to win, and he is doing that with his fight with ALS. With the help of the community, Chris raised $1 million dollars in the fall of 2016 that went directly to Project ALS, a non-profit in NYC helping to find a cure. Chris is now actively fundraising for The ALS Association of NC to raise money for their organization, which supports finding a cure and helps with the financial burden of caring for individuals with ALS. (It costs approximately $200,000 to care for a person with ALS.) The ALS Association of NC’s major fundraiser for the year are the ALS Walks. The Triangle ALS Walk is scheduled for April 22nd.

Chris has started his own team to walk, and it is his goal to have the largest team to ever walk. As part of this effort, The baseball teams at Broughton, Millbrook, Sanderson, and Leesville have teamed up to raise money and sign up walkers. These teams will also play in the 1st Chris Combs baseball classic, which will take place at NC State University’s Doak Field on Thursday, April 20th. Sanderson vs Leesville will play at 5:30 and Millbrook vs Broughton will play at 8. All proceeds from the game will go to the ALS Association of NC.

If you are interested in donating and/or participating in the walk on April 22nd, please go to the following link on behalf of Broughton Baseball:

Click Below

Team Chris Combs Walk to Defeat ALS 

Team Effort Key in Caps 5-3 Victory Over Enloe

For game photos, visit the Broughton Baseball Facebook page here:

For News & Observer coverage and additional photos, visit here:

Raleigh, N.C.-  Broughton’s varsity baseball team got key contributions from a number of players at opportune times Tuesday as the Caps picked up their first win of the season, hanging on to a 5-3 victory against the Enloe Eagles.

The Caps got it going early in the top of the second.  After a walk by Warren Grady, Senior Henry Sloan smoked a ball down the right field line for an RBI single.  Sloan advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Freshman Josh Holloman and scored one batter later after a throwing error by Enloe.

Broughton kept the momentum going in the third.  The Caps got two runners in scoring position after Penn Sealey walked and Joe Barrow reached on an error.  Senior Jim Woods took advantage of Enloe error, slapping a single into left field for two RBIs.  Pinch Runner Tobin Petrie scored just one pitch later as Henry Sloan crushed a bomb off the centerfield fence for an RBI triple.  The Caps were cruising with a 5-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Enloe bats came to life.  The Eagles put two on the board after two singles and a double and appeared to be poised for more until Broughton ended the inning with a great 6-4-3 (Holloman to Ehlers to Dean) double play.  Enloe crawled even closer in the bottom of the fifth picking up a run to narrow the Broughton lead to 5-3.

Broughton got a tremendous effort from its pitching staff.  Sophomore Joe Barrow showed nice control in his starting role, giving up just two runs in four complete innings.  Middle Relievers Henry Sloan and Jared Cross teamed up for two very solid innings.  Sloan recorded two very important strikeouts in the fifth and Cross retired four straight Eagle batters after fielding a ground ball for an assist, forcing a pop up in foul territory, a strikeout and getting a routine grounder to Ehlers for an easy out.

Nerves were a bit on edge in the bottom of the seventh with Broughton clinging to a 5-3 lead.  After Enloe’s lead-off hitter singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, the Caps had bad flashbacks to their game against Wake Forest in which they lost a two run lead in the seventh.  But that was not the case against Enloe after Catcher Robert Ramseur threw a laser to the Shortstop to pick the lead runner off at second.  Closer Xander Hamilton finished the Eagles forcing another routine grounder to Ehlers and a game ending strikeout.

The Caps face conference co-leader Heritage at home on Thursday at 4:30.  Come out and support the Caps!!

Caps Baseball Enjoys Magic of The Miracle League

For photos, visit the Broughton Baseball Facebook Page Here:

Cary, N.C.-  Broughton’s Varsity and Junior Baseball teams took a break from their hectic Cap-8 schedule on Saturday as they volunteered as “Baseball Buddies” at The Miracle League of the Triangle.

The Miracle League of the Triangle has a mission to create positive life experiences for children and adults with special needs and for their families through baseball.  Serving as Buddies for four teams in two games, the Caps certainly received more than they gave as they assisted special needs players hit baseballs, run bases, and field ground balls.  Smiles were abundant as the Caps shared high-fives and dance moves with their new buddies.  In addition to spending quality time with the Miracle League participants, the Caps were able to witness several amazing plays, including a “called shot” homerun and a player (who happened to be the daughter of a Broughton graduate!) cartwheel into home…..twice!

Many thanks to the parents of the players who attended the games to support the team.  And many, many thanks to the Miracle League of the Triangle for allowing the Broughton community to share in the work of your incredible organization.

For more information on the Miracle League of the Triangle, click here:

Caps Lose Pair of Tight Contests as they Fall to Sanderson 5-4 and Wakfield 2-1.   

Wiley Warren Field and Wake Forest, N.C.-  Broughton’s Varsity Baseball team showed great signs of improvement despite dropping a pair of conference games to Sanderson 5-4 and Wakefield 2-1 last week.

The Caps are still searching for a breakthrough play this season as they simply have not had many favorable bounces.  At home Tuesday against Sanderson, the Caps outhit the Spartans and held a 4-3 lead in the sixth before giving up a two-run double to lose late.  Broughton had extremely some hot bats, with outstanding efforts from Senior Warren Grady (2 for 3), Junior Captain Kyle Ehlers (3 for 3) and Freshman Josh Holloman (2 for 3).  But the Caps could not muster a hit when they needed it the most as they stranded nine baserunners in the contest.

That game was a stark contrast to Friday night’s old-fashioned pitching duel with Wakefield on Friday night.  In frigid temperatures, the Caps faced a tough Wakefield pitcher and managed just one hit.  Sophomore Xander Hamilton responded for the Caps, surrendering only one hit and striking out seven.

The Caps look to get in the win column this week as they travel to face Enloe on Tuesday and host Cap-8 leader Heritage on Thursday.  Come out to support the Caps!

Broughton Caps Varsity (Overall 0-9-1 ; Conference 0-5)

Caps Fall Short to East Wake 11-6 in Offensive Barrage 

For game photos, visit the Broughton Baseball Facebook Page here:

Wiley Warren Field-  Broughton’s offense showed signs of life against East Wake on Monday but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Warrior’s hit parade as the Caps fell 11-6 on Monday afternoon.

Broughton fell behind early 2-0 after East Wake collected four hits in the top of the first.  East Wake appeared poised to blow the game open but two great defensive plays by the Caps got them out of trouble.  Sophomore Catcher Robert Ramseur and Sophomore Second Baseman Jon Benefield teamed up on a designed play to catch East Wake attempting to steal home.  Three pitchers later, Broughton got out of the inning after forcing a rundown with East Wake’s Jake Murray after he slipped attempting to take third.

Broughton drew even in the second.  After Senior Warren Grady was hit by a pitch, Broughton loaded the bases after Designated Hitter Kyle Ehlers dropped a clever bunt past the pitcher for a single and Miguel Magallenes hit a bomb to center for another single.   Unfortunately the Caps rally fizzled as they stranded three after scoring only two runs.

The Caps got it going in the bottom of the fourth after Freshman Josh Holloman walked and Benefield doubled.  Junior Mathis Dean hit a hard ball to center to score Holloman and then aggressively took second as the East Wake Centerfielder went home to prevent Benefield from scoring.  That brought up Sophomore Xander Hamilton who on the third pitch blasted a three run homer deep to right.  Hamilton’s first varsity homerun gave the Caps a 6-3 lead headed into the fifth.

East Wake never gave up as they continued to collect hit after hit and took advantage of the Caps defense with smart baserunning.  The Warriors had 16 hits in the contest and pulled away late to pick up the win.

Senior Jared Cross had a solid outing on the mound for the Caps, walking one versus five strikeouts.  Freshman Josh Holloman, in his varsity debut, had a great game for the Caps picking up a hit, an RBI, scoring a run and making several tough defensive plays at shortstop.

The Caps return to Wiley Warren Field Tuesdayafternoon with a conference matchup against the Sanderson Spartans.  Gametime is at 4:30.  Thanks for supporting the Caps!

Broughton Caps Varsity (Overall 0-7-1 ; Conference 0-3)

Broughton Falls Short to Millrook 5-1 Despite Solid Defensive Effort 

For game photos, visit the Broughton Baseball Facebook Page here:

Raleigh, N.C.-  Broughton put together one of its best defensive efforts of the season on Friday afternoon but could not overcome a lackluster offensive performance as they dropped 5-1 to rival Millbrook.

Broughton jumped to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after a double by Sophomore Joe Barrow and an RBI single by Senior Warren Grady.  Millbrook drew even in the bottom of the fourth after a double by Millbrook’s William Gamble, a controversial play at third on a steal by Gamble, and a sacrifice fly.  Despite playing error free baseball game for most of the game, mistakes proved costly in the bottom of the fifth as Millbrook scored four runs on a number of errors and defensive breakdowns by the Caps.

The Caps managed only two hits in the contest as Millbrook’s Brian Pearce threw a complete game.  In addition to Barrow’s double, Sophomore DH Jon Benefield kept his bat hot with another hit, his second in two games.  Defensively, the Caps outfield provided some bright spots.  Junior Miguel Magallanes was a vacuum in center, grabbing every fly ball hit in his direction.  Xander Hamilton had another good performance on the mound, striking out three against just two walks.

The Caps return to Wiley Warren Field Monday afternoon with a rematch against East Wake.  Gametime is at 4:30.  Go Caps!

Broughton Caps Varsity (Overall 0-6-1 ; Conference 0-3)