From left are Midway seniors Eli Culbreth, Caitlyn Holland and Cameron Barefoot. (Dunn Area Sports Photo)
Midway recognized three senior athletes on Tuesday who plan to compete at the next level.
Cameron Barefoot has signed to play baseball at Campbell. Eli Culbreth is headed to Gardner-Webb for baseball. Caitlyn Holland is joining the softball program at Methodist.
Barefoot hit .277 with 11 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and a team-high 19 walks as the Raiders won the East Central 2-A Conference in 2019, finishing 21-2 overall.
Barefoot’s older brother, Matthew, was a standout at Campbell before being drafted by the Houston Astros last June. Matthew Barefoot was a key player on Midway’s NCHSAA 2-A baseball champion in 2014.
“It felt like Campbell was home,” the younger Barefoot said of his decision. “I’ve been around the program for a few years with my brother.”
Barefoot plans to study business with an eye on becoming involved in his father’s farming operation.
Culbreth signed as a pitcher after going 4-0 with a 0.75 earned run average as a junior with 54 strikeouts in 28 innings. He hit .404 with 12 RBIs.
“When I visited they treated me like I was already part of the team and it seemed like the place for me,” Culbreth said of his college choice.
He is undecided on his major.
Holland has played shortstop for Midway. She helped the Raiders to the East Central championship and a 14-7 overall record in 2019. She hit .339 with 12 RBIs, five doubles and three triples.
She plans to study physical therapy.
“I’ve wanted to go to Methodist for several years after going to camps there,” Holland said. “I like the coaches.”
All the Raider signees have been involved in athletics from an early age and expressed appreciation for the support of their parents in their development.
Barefoot’s favorite memory thus far at Midway was a comeback at Homecoming this year that produced a football win over East Duplin. Holland cited a volleyball win at Clinton this year. Culbreth valued baseball wins last season over Triton and Clinton.
“Triton was back and forth, a good game,” he said. “Clinton, we put up a football score on them (21-5, March 19).”
Culbreth has been clocked at 91 miles per hour with his fast ball. He also throws a curve, change and slider.
All three mentioned state championships in 2020 as their ultimate goal this spring.
Midway will have first-year coaches in baseball and softball for the upcoming seasons. Football coach Cory Barnes will direct baseball on an interim basis. Susan Clark will coach softball.
Clark has already coached Holland in recreation and middle school settings.
“She’s the kind of athlete you can put in any sport in any position and she’ll make it happen,” Clark said of Holland. “She’s a go-getter and she doesn’t like to lose.”
Holland played basketball on a team that Clark coached.
“I was trying to remember her name at the first practice and the next practice she came in with a name tag,” Clark said. “She’s one step ahead of the game.”
Clark said Holland has a lot of power for her size and knows what needs to be done.
“You have 100 percent confidence in her,” Clark said. “It was like she could go out there and do what I was thinking.”
Barefoot and Culbreth will be future foes within the Big South Conference.
“I can’t wait to get to play against Eli,” Barefoot said.
“I can’t wait to beat Campbell,” Culbreth said.
Culbreth added with a laugh that he might throw at his Raider teammate.
“You better not,” Barefoot said.
Midway’s signees were joined by parents and coaches on Tuesday. From left are volleyball coach Brandy Wrench, Russell Culbreth, Shasta Culbreth, Michelle Holland, Mark Holland, Carla Barefoot, Wesley Barefoot, softball coach Susan Clark and baseball coach Cory Barnes. (Dunn Area Sports Photo)
