By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
MOCKSVILLE ó Not even a stern warning from teammate Trey Holmes could wipe the smile off Philip Miclat’s face.
Miclat smacked a third-inning homer that held up as the only run in Rowan County’s 1-0 victory against Mocksville-Davie at Rich Park.
Miclat, who hit a few inside-the-park homers in Little League but had never cleared the outfield fence in an official game before Tuesday, sported a wide grin as he rounded third base and jogged home.
Miclat stepped on the plate and had a short exchange with Holmes ó the next hitter in Rowan’s lineup ó before bumping chests with Justin Roland.
Holmes wanted to know if Miclat had sprinted out of the box or struck a celebratory pose after driving the 3-1 fastball to left field.
“Trey said he wondered if I pimped it because he didn’t want to get hit in the head the next pitch,” Miclat said. “He was like, ‘If I get hit, I’m going to hit you.’ ”
Miclat didn’t show up the opponent, but his excitement was evident to everyone on hand.
Miclat nearly broke his homerless streak last Thursday, when he hit a long fly ball toward the short fence in left field at South Rowan. Scott Ashby caught the ball a few feet in front of the wall.
Roland and Micah Jarrett have talked a fair share of trash to the 5-foot-7, 145-pound Miclat about his lack of power.
“Micah owes me a dinner,” said Miclat, a rising senior at West Rowan who has committed to Boston College. “I’ve been hoping ever since my sophomore year to hit one. I always hoped I could hit one, but I never thought it would actually come true.
“I’ve hit about three this year in practice, but it’s still a rare sighting. Definitely a rare moment for me.”