The last four years has found the Kerr Vance Academy Spartans baseball team standing on top of the heap at the end of the year. Four state championships is quite the accomplishment for any team in any sport but KVA and Head Baseball Coach Mike Rigsbee are ready to climb to the top again this season. Rigsbee’s team posted a 10-5 regular season record and a 3-3 conference record. With a double bye going into the playoffs, KVA won’t know until late Thursday who they will play in the playoffs or when they will play for that matter. The weather forecast isn’t looking good for a possible Saturday game so if the weather turns foul, pardon the pun, then another time will have to be found. If the weather cooperates KVA will play at home.
Coach Rigsbee is happy so far. He said, “I’m very pleased with how the team is progressing.” He relies on his seniors to power the Spartans to victory. One of those seniors, Shane Musselman, leads the state with .571 batting average. Rigsbee has worked with many of his seniors since 7th grade and that experience helps KVA when facing bigger schools like Rocky Mount, which is undefeated this season. Rigsbee says playing tougher opponents during the regular season keeps his team sharp. “We say ‘Don’t take a pitch off’,” Rigsbee said. That also applies to those who are on the bench because, as Rigsbee says, you never know when you will be called upon to get into the game.
KVA is coming off a 5-4 loss to Halifax Academy but have won 5 of their last 6 games. He gives much credit for the continued success of KVA’s program to the support his team and school receive from the community and also says local youth programs have helped KVA over the years.
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