December of each year brings the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association (NCBCA) annual convention.  This year the convention took place in Greensboro, giving the coaches, from across the state, the opportunity to gather, learn from each other, and honor current and past coaches.  Part of the annual convention is to honor the new inductees to the NCBCA Hall of Fame.  This year, three illustrious coaches were inducted.  Charles Davis, Charlie Spivey, and Patrick Lee Smith, Sr join a list of coaches, decorated for their work on the field and off, in the development of young people surrounding the sport of baseball.

Charles Davis completed his 27^th year at CB Aycock HS in 2017.  Also the Athletic Director from 1994-2017, Davis won 512 games at a .734 winning percentage.  Aycock captured 13 conference championships, finishing no lower than 2^nd in 25 of Davis’ 27 years.  The Golden Falcons appeared in 25 state playoffs, winning the state championship in 2007, while finishing in the state finals in 2012 and 2015. 

Team success led to individual success for Davis’ teams as 62 players in the 27 year span played college baseball.  Two players, Connor Narron in 2010 and Brian Grant in 2002, were drafted and signed out of Aycock.  Another eight players continued their development in college prior to signing professional contracts.  Davis himself picked up several awards throughout his career, capturing 11 Coach of the Year honors in three separate conferences. 

The honor of being inducted into the NCBCA Hall of Fame adds to a decorated career.  In 2007, Davis was inducted into the Mount Olive College Hall of Fame.   Earlier this year, he was inducted into the George Whitfield Hall of Fame.

Charlie Spivey lettered 9 times in high school at Sanford Central, across football, basketball, and baseball.  Spivey took his on-field prowess to the University of North Carolina where he played for the legendary Coach Walter Rabb, finishing his playing career in 1977.  Being a great athlete does not always translate into being a great coach, but lucky enough for the players in Lee County, North Carolina, and the USA, Spivey immediately begin his coaching career, taking an assistant coaching job at Scotland HS.

In 1980, Lee County HS brought Spivey on board.  He would take over as head baseball coach in 1984 and win 500+ games over 18 years, stepping down as head coach in 2016.  In that time span, the Yellow Jackets won two state titles (1996, 2001), as well as reaching the state semi-finals two other times (2011, 2015). 

Spivey’s ability to teach the game and communicate with young players was noticed by Team USA where he was brought in several times to be an assistant with the 16U program.  Spending three separate summers with the national team, Spivey was part of three gold medal winners (2008, 2009, and 2011). 

The development on the field and off has been an important part of Spivey’s legacy and that thought process was important to the foundation of the NCBCA where Spivey is a founder. 

Patrick Lee (Pat) Smith, Sr began his head coaching path at North Pitt HS in 1975, where he coached for 7 years.  Taking a break from the field for 6 years, Smith returned to the diamond in 1988, where he took over South Johnston HS.  In 2002, Smith moved to Rocky Mount and coached the Gryphons for eight seasons.  Leaving the diamond again in 2009, Rocky Mount Academy would bring him back for the 2012-2015 seasons.  Rocky Mount HS came calling again in 2016, where Smith worked for two more years. 

Compiling 525 wins in high school baseball, Smith also was a part of 91 more wins as head coach of the Pitt County Post 39.  Two state championships as part of two different program (South Johnston – 1990, Rocky Mount – 2008) added to a resume that included 1 state championship as a player and two more as an assistant coach.  With another finals appearance in 2013 for Rocky Mount Academy, Smith appeared in state championship contests, as the head coach, in 3 separate decades (1990, 2008, 2013).

The on-field performance led to several honors and awards for Smith, including 3 of his players making the big leagues, most recently Brian Godwin of the Washington Nationals who played at Rocky Mount HS, graduating in 2009.

Smith had a decorated playing career as well, where he played at East Carolina University prior to playing five years of Minor League Baseball.  He attended Robersonville HS, graduating in 1967 with a state championship on the field.

The honors theses coaches have received are justified by their results on the field.  The NCBCA Hall of Fame works to honor coaches who excel on the field and off with their development of young people.  Congratulations to Charles Davis, Charlie Spivey, and Pat Smith, Sr who each meet, and exceed, the high criteria set to enter the NCBCA Hall of Fame.

2017 NCBCA Hall of Fame Inductees

Charles Davis, CB Aycock HS

• Head Coach – CB Aycock HS 1990-2017
• Athletic Director – CB Aycock HS 1994-2017
• 512-186-1 Record
• .734 Winning Percentage
• 13 Conference Championships
• 5 Conference Tournament Championships
• 25 State Playoff Appearances
• 3A State Champion – 2007
• 3A State Finalists – 2012, 2015
• NCBCA Region 2 Coach of the Year – 1995, 2007, 2015
• 11 Conference Coach of the Year – 1992-1996, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2017

Charlie Spivey, Lee County HS

• Head Coach – Lee County HS 1984-2016
• Assistant Coach – Team USA 16U 2008, 2009, 2011
• 500+ Wins over 32 years
• 4A State Champions – 1996, 2001
• 4A State Semi-Finals – 2011, 2015
• Gold Medals in International Play – 2008, 2009, 2011
• 9 x Letter Winner at Sanford Central HS – Baseball, Basketball, and Football
• QB on 1972 3A Football State Championship Team
• Played Baseball at UNC – 1973 – 1977

Patrick Lee “Pat” Smith, Sr

• Head Coach – North Pitt HS 1975-1982
• Head Coach – South Johnston HS 1988-2001
• Head Coach – Rocky Mount HS 2002-2009 & 2016-2017
• Head Coach – Rocky Mount Academy 2012-2015
• 525-295 Record
• .640 Winning Percentage
• 3A State Champion – 1990, 2008
• Private School State Finalist – 2013
• NCBCA Coach of the Year – 1990
• NCBCA Region 3 Coach of the Year – 2008
• Conference Coach of the Year – 12 times
• Played at Robersonville HS – 1964-1967
• Played at East Carolina University – 1968-1972
• Played 5 years in Minor Leagues – 1967-1972

 

A special thanks to the NCBCA for the information on each coach.  You can see more about the NCBCA on their website and their facebook page.  Picture from the banquet honoring the Hall of Fame inductees can be seen on this facebook link.