BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

It’s a shame Travis Goins’ final swings won’t be taken in Newman Park.

That’s where everybody knows his name. Where everyone’s cheered him on since his teenage days with the Rowan County American Legion team.

But Catawba’s baseball squad put the wraps on its home season last week. And Goins, who’s been a part of Rowan’s sporting landscape forever, will wind down his career far from historic Newman in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament at Newberry, S.C.

Thursday morning, Goins, who turns 24 in September, will slip his reliable mitt on his right hand, don his familiar striped jersey and take his accustomed spot at first base as the Indians (30-20) tangle with Tusculum. He and his teammates are determined to add a little gloss to a break-even SAC season by winning this double-elimination event.

“We’ve got the team that can win it,” said Goins. “That would be great. I won a championship in high school, Legion ball and Little League. That’s my only regret at Catawba — we haven’t won a championship.”

Goins, who’s started all 50 Indian games this spring, has struggled of late. He went 0-for-3 Monday as the Indians claimed a rare 2-1 pitcher’s duel at Knights Castle.

“I’ve been pressing lately — trying too hard,”Goins said. “But this week, I’m gonna relax, take it all in and have some fun. Then I’ll pack it up.”

Goins is a fan of many things. Bow hunting, fishing, thick steaks, Baywatch and Pearl Jam.

But he might love Newman Park above all.

“There’s a lot of memories, been in a lotta great ballgames in this place,” said Goins. “We won a trip to the Legion World Series here. When I was at East Rowan we used to win all the Easter Tournaments here. And this is where I got to watch (longtime teammate) David (Trexler) hit all those homers.

“I never wanted my days at Newman Park to end, but there’s a point in your life where you’ve gotta deal with it. You move on.”

Goins was famous as early as Little League. Catawba coach Jim Gantt remembers umpiring East Little League battles between Gold Hill’s Trexler and Granite Quarry’s Goins. Goins and Trexler did the pitching.

“Trexler was the only one who could hit Goins,” remembers Gantt. “Goins was the only one who could hit Trexler.”

“Both of us would pitch a two-hitter,” added Goins. “I’d get two. He’d get two. Who won depended on if someone got on in front of us.”

The kids grew up and joined forces with other talented kids at East Rowan High. Coach Jeff Safrit’s Mustangs went 73-8 in one torrid three-year stretch. In 1995, East placed nine players on the all-county team, went 27-1 and won the whole shooting match in 3A. The left-handed Goins was one of the best first baseman in county history; Trexler, one of the better shortstops.

“Yeah, I always picked on David about that,” said Goins. “I told him he sure was lucky I wasn’t right-handed. He wouldn’t have had a spot.”

Goins is a frequent visitor at Rowan high school games, but says he’s never seen a team like those ‘95 Mustangs.

“North had a real good team last season,” he said. “But that team we had was just awesome. Nothing stood in our way. Safrit would get mad at us if we only won by eight runs. We beat North Stanly 8-1 one time and he was madder than when we lost to Providence.”

Goins was an exceptional 6-foot-1 high school basketball player, too. He says his Catawba teammates scoff at his tales of hoops glory, but he’s not pulling anyone’s leg. Goins set Mustang records for career points (1,212) and season scoring average (21.3 ppg in ’96). His senior year he was runner-up for county player of the year.

Goins finished that senior season on a sprint — averaging 25.8 ppg over his final 10 games. His last outing is one people still talk about. Playing with a torn ACL, he hobbled to 33 points against Concord in the SPC Tournament.

“I didn’t get many looks from colleges,” said Goins, “but basketball was the thing that came natural to me. Baseball took work. I spent a lot of time getting good at baseball. After high school, I figured baseball was my best chance.”

But so-so grades limited Goins’ opportunities. He ended up at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville. One year of Whiteville had Goins longing for home. And that’s when he realized his priorities had been out of whack.

“Education hadn’t been a concern,” he said. “It was just ball. Then I realized the chance of going all the way to the pros was slim. I needed an education.”

So Goins spent 1998 at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College getting academic issues in order.

That accomplished, he enjoyed a Catawba reunion with old Legion buddies, Trexler and Adam Patterson — guys he’d played with most of his life. That also meant a reunion with Gantt, Jim DeHart’s longtime Legion assistant.

“I showed up at 240 pounds for fall workouts,” said Goins. “Gantt ran 20 pounds off me the first week.”

After that sweaty start, things went well for Goins. He’s been quietly spectacular the last three years. Goins hits No. 3 and leads the Indians in homers (10), runs (54) and RBIs (42). He’s batting .324 and his 15 doubles have moved him within two of the school mark for career two-baggers.

“Travis is steady. Walks a lot. You don’t realize he hits as well as he does,” said Gantt. “He’s a competitor. Hates to make an out.”

And defense is where Goins has always shone brightest. His golden glove is a product of all those pepper games with his dad. Broadcaster Howard Platt says Goins made a miraculous catch in the Legion World Series in Oregon — a back-to-the-plate grab that he turned into a double play by whirling and firing to pitcher Russell Holshouser covering first — that ranks as the best play he’s ever witnessed in decades at the mike.

“ Travis is better at first (base) than anyone we’ve had or have played against,” agreed Gantt. “We won’t realize how many errors he saves. Not ’til he’s gone.”

Goins could always play, but when Gantt coached him in Legion ball, he wondered if the wild kid would ever settle down. Eventually, he did.

“The guys on the team are gonna laugh when they read this,” said Gantt. “But Travis is a pretty level-headed guy now. He’s matured.”

As proof, Goins carries a respectable 2.7 GPA and will graduate in May with a degree in Sociology.

“I’m prouder of graduating then anything I ever did on a ballfield,” said Goins. “Everyone said I could make it as a ballplayer, but no one expected me to be any good in a classroom. But I’m a competitor. You tell me I can’t do something, I’ll show you I can.

“Like the other day, one of the guys on the team’s girlfriend bet me $5 I couldn’t dunk a basketball. I took that bet real quick.”

And the result?

“She owes me $5,” grinned Goins, who weighs a muscular 210 pounds. “I told her to use it to buy her boyfriend something real, real nice.”

Goins never lacks for confidence, but his outgoing nature makes him a popular Indian. His younger teammates hate to see him go. So does Gantt.

“Our Senior Day was hard,”Gantt said. “It’s always the hardest day— even harder than the day you cut. You dread losing kids you spent so much time with. Someone who’s been around as long as Travis, what do you say? Here’s a kid who needed to pick it up in all aspects of life and he did it.

“That makes people at Catawba feel good. I hope it makes Travis feel proud.”