Belmont Hall salutes inductees

In South Point High's long and successful athletic history, the school has produced four professional athletes.

Two of them were inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday night — with both telling their unusual paths to success.

Eventual major league pitcher Mitch Harris wasn't even the ace of his high school pitching staff or for his first season at the U.S. Naval Academy, while eventual NFL wide receiver Koren Robinson caught less than 10 passes in his three-year high school career.

Harris is the second of three major leaguers that South Point has produced — Devon Lowery and Jeffrey Springs the others — while Robinson remains the Red Raiders' lone NFL player.

Harris and Robinson were joined in the 2019 induction class by Steve Barkley and Dr. Wade Breeland on a night in which St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt was the featured speaker.

Harris, a 2004 South Point graduate who was a 13th-round pick of the Cardinals in 2008, twice played in the minor leagues for Shildt. Shildt also was the Class AAA manager who informed Harris he'd be going to the major leagues.

"That was one of my career highlights to be able to tell him he had made 'The Show,'" said Shildt, a former Charlotte Olympic High, Charlotte Post 262 American Legion and UNC Charlotte baseball player. "His story is simply amazing."

A five-year U.S. Navy lieutenant who fulfilled his military commitment after a standout career for the Midshipmen, Harris didn't turn back into a pro prospect until his second season in the Cardinals' farm system.

"My dad sent me bags of baseballs and I threw on the flight deck every chance I got," said Harris, who had tours of duty in 30 countries. "I was in great (physical) shape, but I wasn't in pitching shape.

"That first year was terrible. I was throwing 82 mph and anybody who knows baseball knows that's not good enough. But there were guys in the (Cardinals) organization who gave me a shot. And that second year things got a little bit better. Then everything just finally clicked. I started pitching better and pitching with more confidence."

Harris improved enough to be promoted on April 21, 2015, and made his major league debut four days later in Milwaukee and spent the rest of the season with the Cardinals. He was the first Naval Academy player to make the major leagues since 1921 and only the second in history.

"I couldn't have done it without all the support I received here in this community," said Harris, who played at South Point after moving from Florida and playing at Mount Holly Middle School.

Robinson, a 1998 South Point graduate, was the Red Raiders' last I-formation tailback in 1997 before the school adopted the spread option "Red Bone" attack it has used ever since.

The 1997 Gazette offensive player of the year after rushing for 1,550 yards and scoring 126 points, Robinson was recruited to N.C. State by Mike O'Cain as a receiver despite having nine total receptions during his three-year high school career.

But after a redshirt season in 1998, Robinson was ACC Rookie of the Year in 1999 and became an All-American and All-ACC receiver in 2000.

He declared early for the 2001 NFL draft with two years of collegiate eligibility remaining and then became the highest-drafted player in Gaston County history (No. 9 by the Seattle Seahawks). He remains the only Pro Bowl selection in Gaston County history (2005 for the Minnesota Vikings as a kick return specialist).

"I'm so humbled to be here because this is my home and it means everything to me," Robinson said. "I can't say enough about the support group, my teammates and my coaches who helped me accomplish what I was able to accomplish."

Shildt's path to major leagues

Featured speaker Mike Shildt is preparing for his second season as St. Louis Cardinals manager after he guided the team to a 41-28 record in the final 69 games of last year.

And he said on Tuesday that if not for longtime South Point coach Phil Tate, he's not sure he'd even be in baseball.

"He gave me a gift when I was 16," he said of Tate, who was Shildt's Post 262 Legion coach. "I was one of the younger guys on the team and we were playing Paw Creek and he pinch-hit for me.

"I didn't handle it well and he told me I should turn in my jersey since I didn't want to be a part of the concept he was building. I ended up playing two more years and I'm standing here today because of that moment, which proved to be as valuable a lesson as I ever learned."

Two-sport standout

Belmont's Steve Barkley was a baseball star at an early age and later became a recreation softball star.

A member of the 1963 Gastonia Teener League national champions, Barkley shined at old Belmont High School and Western Carolina before starting a teaching and coaching career.

He also played for top local church softball teams.

"I'm just a boy from Belmont who grew up wanting to be a Red Raider," said Barkley, who coached and taught at East Gaston and South Point high schools. "I'm so happy I was able to come back and try to give back to the community that gave me so much."

Dentist and athletic supporter

Dr. Wade Hampton Breeland was born in Holly Hill, S.C., and named for South Carolina Civil War general Wade Hampton.

But after moving to Belmont in the 1930s, he never left and made a huge impact on his community before his death in 1977.

A local dentist, he became active in the community as a Shriner and in supporting local athletics in particular. The Wade Breeland MVP award has been given to the top player at old Belmont or South Point high school since 1948 - with fellow 2019 inductee Koren Robinson among the previous winners.

"Our dad would be overjoyed to be inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame," said Nona Breeland, who along with her sister Clay Breeland accepted the induction on their father's behalf. "For those who knew our dad, you know he'd be humbled by all of this. We're just happy to see his legacy live on in the way it has."

Special guests

Among the special guests at Tuesday's ceremony were recent Clemson national football championship winners -—safety Tanner Muse (2015 South Point graduate) and assistant coach Kyle Richardson (1996 South Point graduate).

Also in attendance were former Belmont Abbey baseball coaches Dick Cooke (now Davidson College associated athletic director), George Conner (now North Gaston principal) and Kermit Smith (now Appalachian State coach), Gaston County Schools superintendent Jeff Booker, former Gaston County Schools athletic director Butch Adams and current Gaston County Schools athletic director Chad Duncan.

Richard Walker: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/jrwalk22