[AZTarHeel]

1919 North Carolina State League — Preseason

North Carolina State League to expand
Two teams will be added beginning in 1920

The popularity of baseball has grown tremendously in the Tar Heel state since the advent of the North Carolina State League in 1913.

Beginning in 1920, the league itself will grow.

The six inaugural clubs of the NCSL -- Asheville, Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro -- will play one more season together before being joined in the quest for the Carolina Champions Cup by a pair of new franchises.

As of early 1919, the two cities who will be awarded clubs had not yet been finalized, but the decision to expand to an eight-team league is definite. It is believed that Wilmington, Greenville, High Point, Goldsboro and Fayetteville are the front-runners for the new franchises. Folks in eastern North Carolina obviously are pulling for cities like Wilmington, Greenville and Goldsboro to get teams. As of now, the NCSL doesn’t have a single team or even a Developmental League club east of Raleigh (which is pretty much in the central part of the state).

League officials hope to have the two new cities named before the end of the 1919 campaign. Both of the new clubs will then select their own developmental league affiliates to play in the Western Carolina League, making that an eight-team division as well.

Also in the works are some changes to the league scheduling system. The NCSL may go to a 154- or even 162-game schedule beginning in 1920. The WCL schedule then would expand as well, taking baseball deep into September and even October, whereas before it has been finishing up by mid-August.

Just before the expansion announcement, Greensboro Patriots officials dispelled the notion that their club was going to fold or be moved. “We have struggled for sure, but we’re not going anywhere,” the club said in an official release early in 1919. “We pledge to bring more competitive baseball to Greensboro in the months and years to come. The foundation for that is currently alive and well in our farm system, and hopefully the results will start showing in Greensboro over the next couple of seasons.”

Greensboro once again had the No. 1 overall pick in the player allocation draft (I believe for the fourth time in a row), and once again the Pats selected a starting pitcher. This year’s No. 1 pick is a hurler they call “Cats.” John “Cats” Rocha is a 6-foot-5 right-hander from Orlando. He’s 22 years old and already looks ready to assume top-flight starting duties in Cooleemee, Greensboro’s Western Carolina League affiliate. Cats can reportedly throw in the low 90s, which puts him among the strongest throwers in the WCL and even NCSL. Impressive.

Raleigh selected Bruce Beltran, another right-handed starting pitcher, at No. 2 overall. The top position player chosen was 23-year-old catcher Boyd Carlson, who went No. 3 to the Durham Bulls. Three position players went in the first round this year, the first time that has happened. This draft appears to be weaker in the pitching department, or maybe some teams’ needs have changed now that the league is maturing a bit.

In other news, the Charlotte Hornets are apparently done “renting” pitcher Gary “Brick” Lee. The 33-year-old starter was traded from Winston to Charlotte early last season. Lee earned a win in the playoffs for champion Charlotte, but the Hornets traded him back to Winston-Salem early in 1919.

Hey, who is to argue with Charlotte’s moves? They’ve ruled the league the past few years. But this one is a little curious. Brick is one of the most accomplished pitchers in the NCSL, posting a career record of 85-59, with an ERA of 2.77. He was 14-13 during his time with the Hornets a year ago. Maybe the return of injured starters like Craig Clark and Tim “T-Rex” Johnston deemed Lee expendable because he‘s much older? The more curious part was that Charlotte traded LF Jeffrey Hanna to Winston-Salem to get Brick in 1918. Now, Hanna is going back to Charlotte and Lee is going back to Winston-Salem, their original teams, as part of this re-trade. Some have accused the two clubs of collusion in this matter. (NOTE, I have trades set on low but there still seems to be a lot of movement between the teams).


Top 10 Prospects
Several new draftees make the list. “Cats” Rocha looks like the real deal. We’ll see what he can do in Cooleemee. Our friend Chris Hartle from the Asheville franchise makes the list again this year. He’s still got some healing up to do before he can take the diamond again, most likely starting in Hickory once he's back in action.

1) 3B George Romano, 18, Winston-Salem Twins
2) SP Dan “Little Rat” Sutton, 22, Durham Bulls -- traded from Raleigh last season
3) SP John “Cats” Rocha, 23, Greensboro Patriots -- No. 1 pick for 1919 looks to make quick impact
4) SP Bruce Beltran, 21, Raleigh Capitals -- same for the No. 2 overall pick
5) MR Jim Hamelton, 18, Charlotte Hornets
6) LF John O’Reilly, 22, Asheville Tourists
7) 2B Colton McQueen, 20, Winston-Salem Twins
8) SP Jimbo Martin, 20, Charlotte Hornets
9) C Body Carlson, 23, Durham Bulls
10) 3B Chris Hartle, 22, Asheville


Top 10 Position Players
This list features a lot of NCSL “old-timers.” Three guys in their 40s are on there. Winston looks on paper ready to have a monster year at the plate…

1. LF Angel “Sweetness” Pellicer, 30, Winston-Salem Twins - he was No. 1 last year also
2. CF Ryan Travis, 30, Winston-Salem Twins
3. SS Carlos Rodriguez, 40, Winston-Salem Twins
4. RF Bill Robbins, 34, Raleigh Capitals
5. 1B Henry “Boom Boom” Butler, Winston-Salem Twins
6. LF Antonio Arevalo, 30, Charlotte Hornets
7. 1B Ivan Martinez, 40, Charlotte Hornets
8. SS Anthony Watson, 40, Durham Bulls
9. SS Jerry Johnson, 33, Asheville Tourists
10. CF Lester Kennedy, 34, Greensboro Patriots


Top 10 Pitchers
Charlotte and Winston-Salem both have solid staffs coming back, according to this list, published before Opening Day 1919.

1. Jose Andres, 30, Greensboro Patriots (he started No. 1 last year)
2. Craig Clark, 26, Charlotte Hornets (reigning Most Outstanding Pitcher)
3. Merlin McNeill, 36, Asheville Tourists (ready for a comeback year?)
4. Bill Bergeron, 32, Raleigh Capitals
5. Chris Lloyd, 33, Asheville Tourists
6. Javier Guerra, 34, Charlotte Hornets
7. Jack Fry, 22, Winston-Salem Twins
8. Andy Owens, 32, Raleigh Capitals
9. Gary Lee, 34, Winston-Salem Twins
10. Rudy Young, 34, Charlotte Hornets


AzTarHeel’s Prediction for 1918
The North Carolina State League appears to be developing into a two-horse race. This year, our fearless prognosticators will go with Charlotte and Winston-Salem taking the top spots again, but this time the Twins get the better of the Hornets in the playoffs. And we’ll go out on a limb and say that Greensboro finishes last again.