May 27—Opening Day rolled in for the Waynesville Hollers on Sunday, marking the first game in the team’s history.
The Hollers are a brand new team in the Old North State League, aimed at giving collegiate players on their summer break a chance to hone their craft in the offseason.
The game didn’t go in favor of the Hollers with the home team losing 12-8 to the Lake Norman HarborHippos, but it was still a night worth celebrating.
Four Haywood County natives made the start for the Hollers, with two more making their debuts out of the bullpen. The players said was a good feeling to be playing in Haywood County for their old fans again.
“Getting to play here all summer is really special, because you’re back in your hometown with a bunch of people supporting us that have supported us before,” said Tuscola alum Kolt Nelson.
The team is coached by Briggs Barker, the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Cleveland Community College. Bradley Pace is the team’s general manager and games are being played at Tuscola’s Jody Ward Memorial Athletic Complex in Waynesville.
Pisgah alum Matthew Roberts got the start on the mound for the Hollers. It had been two years since the pitcher last played in a live game, for Fayetteville Technical Community College back in May 2024.
“I’m very happy to be back out here. It was a grind in some areas. You could tell the rust was there, but overall, I’m happy with it. I had a great defense behind me,” Roberts said. “I’m very grateful to Coach Pace and Coach Barker for giving me the opportunity, especially for giving me the start in front of the hometown fans.”
Roberts pitched the first three innings, giving up just one run on one hit and six walks, while striking out four.
Behind the plate and catching for Roberts was Tuscola alum, Evan Conner. The Gaston College freshman redshirted this year, so he’s been out of live action for a while, as well.
He started the night off with a bang, driving a double into center field in his first at-bat of the game.
“It feels good to be back,” Conner said. “It’s been a little less than a year since I played in a true game, and being able to come back in and do that on the first or second pitch, it really feels good.”
With players from both Pisgah and Tuscola on the Waynesville Hollers roster, the former rivals are getting used to being on the same team for a change, aside from their early Little League days.
“We grew up playing together, so it wasn’t too bad. We’ve had good chemistry, we’re good buddies, so it was a little different, but not as bad as it could have been,” Conner said.
In addition to the battery mates, Tuscola alumni Kolt Nelson and Noah Stepp also got the start, with Stepp playing in right field and Nelson playing as the extra hitter.
“It felt good. I was in a new position today, so it takes some getting used to, but I like it,” Stepp said.
For Stepp, just being back on the field with former teammates was an amazing feeling.
“I love these guys, man. I missed them, especially being gone for two years,” Stepp said.
The game was played with rain in the forecast and on Memorial Day weekend, but still had a solid crowd.
“They’re always going to support us, no matter what. It’s pretty special to get them to come out here for our first game, and I expect them to be back for the rest of them, too,” Nelson said.
Many of the local players had their family and friends there to cheer them on in their opener.
“We had a great showing tonight. Most of my family was here. It was great seeing them,” Roberts said.
Pisgah graduate Ford Jones and Tuscola senior Mason Harrell both entered the game late from the bullpen.
The Hollers return home on Wednesday to host the Hendersonville Honeycrisps. The Hollers end the week with a pair of road games before a five-game homestand begins with a non-league game against the Asheville Whistlepigs on Monday, June 1.
That homestand will wrap up with Old North State League games against the Pineville Porcupines (Wednesday, June 3), Wilkes County Moonshiners (Saturday, June 6), the HarborHippos (Sunday, June 7) and the Honeycrisps (Wednesday, June 10).