LANDIS — South Rowan senior Ronnie Shore is present on a couple of diverse Top-10 lists.
Shore was ninth in batting in Rowan County last season (.381) and is also expected to finish in the Top-10 of South’s graduating class of 2002 thanks to a glowing GPA well over 4.0.
Talk about impressive double-doubles.
Shore is a baseball pest who aces every test. He can handle a Bunsen burner as well as he does an aluminum bat and fields tough physics questions as smoothly as sharp ground balls.
Shore’s as much at home in his Advanced Placement classes as he is playing shortstop, which explains why he’ll be playing ball for those brainy Davidson College Wildcats next season.
“The main thing about Davidson is it’s Division I baseball and that’s always been my goal,” said Shore, who took an official visit in December. “Davidson plays a great schedule. They play ACC schools.
“Plus, it’s near home. It’s not like my family will have to drive three or four hours to see me play.”
Shore will recognize familiar faces on the compact Davidson campus. Ricky Childers, who occupies the desk next to Shore in Dwayne Fink’s fourth-period AP Calculus class, has committed to play football for the Wildcats.
Then there’s East Rowan’s Brett Peiffer, who played against Shore in high school and American Legion ball. Peiffer is a sophomore outfielder for the Wildcats. Shore’s heard plenty of Peiffer stories, because both Shore and Peiffer are tight with South Rowan Legion coach Allen Wilson.
South Rowan High coach Linn Williams, an ex-Wildcat himself, says Davidson should be the perfect fit for Shore. He knows Shore can handle the awesome academic challenge and is confident his all-county, all-conference catalyst can make a strong contribution on the diamond as well.
“We looked at a lot of different schools and Davidson fit Ronnie’s needs best as far as combining academics and baseball,” said Williams. “I know Coach (Chris) Cook’s excited about getting him.”
“Davidson talked to me the longest and showed interest the longest,” said Shore. “When I told Coach Williams I’d picked Davidson, he was pretty happy. We exchanged hugs.”
Williams has felt like hugging Shore a few thousand times in recent seasons, even though the Raiders have gone through some trying days. Over the course of his career, Shore, who will be a varsity starter for the fourth straight season, has accumulated 71 hits, scored 60 runs, stolen 29 bases and batted .336.
The pesky leadoff man’s average has climbed each season, so he’s a solid bet to top .400 on his farewell tour.
“Ronnie’s as hard a worker as I’ve ever seen and he gets better every year,” said Williams.
Shore’s assets are a reliable glove, his ability to put any pitch in play and his ability to reach base. He is working on adding switch-hitting to his resume (he’s a natural right-hander) and is an excellent baserunner with above-average speed.
“Ronnie’s not a track guy, but he’s fast,” said Williams. “He’s a 6.9 guy in the 60 (yard dash). He’s a good athlete with a very good first step and he’s got excellent baseball instincts.”
Shore may eventually shift to left field or second base in college, although he’ll get a look at his standard position.
“Davidson’s shortstop is a junior and they’ve got a freshman second baseman who’s made a name for himself,” Shore said. “But I’m hoping to play a lot.”
Shore says he’d like to major in biology or chemistry, and while he hasn’t decided on a specific career path, he figures it will involve science, not figures, which are his accountant father’s specialty.
“Dad works all the time,” laughed Shore. “So there’s no way I’ll ever be an accountant.”
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His final prep season looms as a special one for Shore, who has the pressure of his college decision behind him and the best supporting cast he’s ever had around him. Too many times over the past three springs, he’s watched line drives sail over the fence or has been stranded on the basepaths.
“People around here are saying we’ve got a real pitching rotation for the first time since 1996,” said Shore optimistically. “And we’ve got lots of good, experienced players. We could have a nice season.”
Making this season even brighter is the presence of Ronnie’s freshman brother Brett, who looks like the second coming. Brett will likely have the luxury of a year of jayvee ball because the Raiders’ talent level is way up, but starting with 2003, Brett could make it seven straight seasons of a Shore anchoring the Raider infield.
“Man, people are telling me I need to get a haircut because they already can’t tell me and Brett apart,” said Ronnie, pretending to be angry. “Now that gets on my nerves.”
But not nearly as much as Ronnie figures to get on the nerves of opposing pitchers, catchers and coaches this spring.
Shore had the misfortune to arrive at South the same year the amazing Cal Hayes Jr. arrived to play short at East Rowan, so he’s always been overshadowed to some extent.
But this guy’s always been one heck of a player — and person. Davidson’s getting a bargain.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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