High School Team Adopts Dirtbag Image
by Brian Mull, Star-News
May 16, 2006
"A Dirtbag is a style of playing the game of baseball. It is the type of player every team needs... loves to play the game everyday... He maybe does not have all the skills of the greatest player, but his attitude and the way he commits himself to the game is what makes this Dirtbag great. Dealing with adversity is what completes being a Dirtbag. A team player at all times."
- Former Long Beach State and current Houston Astros pitcher Mike Gallo
After his team opened the season with five straight losses, New Hanover baseball coach John Thomas fished around on the internet and found a winning identity for the Wildcats.
His lineup lacked stars and experience, yet he thought the Wildcats could ride the arm of starting pitcher Brad Mincey and solid defense into contention for the Mideastern 3A/4A championship.
Thomas read about Dirtbag Baseball on the Long Beach State University athletic web site. That school's baseball team earned its unofficial nickname with a hard-nosed, win-at-all-costs style developed under coach Dave Snow in the 1990s.
Thomas felt it fit his team, too. The Wildcats adopted the nickname and embraced the attitude. They clinched the school's 28th conference championship since 1956 by thumping county rival Hoggard 13-0 last week.
New Hanover (14-10) entertains Lumberton in the 4A state playoffs tonight at 7 p.m. at Buck Hardee Field.
"I'm really proud of our guys work ethic," Thomas said Monday as his team practiced. "They aren't real big talkers they just go out and play hard. I give a lot of credit to our whole coaching staff."
New Hanover shortstop Ryan Miller, one of two seniors on the team along with Gene Gray, said rallying to beat Ashley in the league opener set the tone for the season.
"We were down 3-0 and came back to win 5-4. Ever since we've been working real hard to bring the team together," Miller said. "It gave us a lot of confidence at the plate and in the field."
Mincey, a junior who tossed a two-hitter in the title-clinching victory over the Vikings, said he thought the Wildcats might have been overlooked by their county rivals this season. Defending champion Ashley received the bulk of preseason attention, and Hoggard has been the league's power for a decade.
And he said the Dirtbags moniker fits fine.
"That's kind of what team we are," Mincey said. "Nobody stands out that much, especially when we're hitting. We have to do the little things to win games. We just go all out."
That includes treating each opponent the same, no matter what name is written across its chest. The Wildcats split their six games against county foes but recorded a perfect 6-0 lead against the league's three 3A teams.
"Coach has done a great job with us," Miller said. "We're always working on the little things. Fundamental baseball. Smart baseball. Dirtbag baseball."
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