By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

DOBSON — It was Friday, March 8, and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute had roughed up Surry Community College’s ace pitcher for six runs in the first two innings.

It looked like a long night for the Knights when freshman left-hander Mikey Beasley was summoned from the Surry bullpen in the third inning. Beasley, a crafty hurler for Carson and Rowan County American Legion, had been good for Surry in limited opportunities the first month of the season, but no miracles were expected against Caldwell’s Cobras. No one said it out loud, but the hope was that Beasley could keep things respectable.

“I’m sure they were hoping I could give them a few innings,” Beasley said. “But I just kept it rolling. After every inning, Coach would ask how I felt, and I’d say I was good. I ended up pitching seven innings. I hadn’t gone that deep in a game since Legion ball last summer.”

Beasley shut out Caldwell from the third through the ninth. He posted an eye-catching pitching line — no runs, four hits, two walks, four strikeouts.

JD Basinger, who pitched at East Rowan and was on the Catawba roster for a while, relieved Beasley and threw well, but Caldwell finally won the game in the 12th, 7-6.

That was a painful loss, yet it may prove to be a turning point in the trajectory of Surry’s season because Surry altered its perception of Beasley’s role based on that unexpected performance.

By March 16, Beasley was re-cast as the “Friday guy,” the ace who takes the mound to start the opening game of a weekend series. He responded to that increased responsibility. He shut down Rockingham County for seven innings in a 6-1 Surry victory.

On March 20, Beasley got no decision, but he gave Surry a chance, always the main task of the starting pitcher. Surry won the game 6-4.

On March 29, Beasley picked up an easy win, working the first four innings of an 11-0 romp against New River.

“You need one like that once in a while,” Beasley said. “It was good to get a break.”

Heading into a series this weekend at Camp Community College in Franklin, Va., Beasley is 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA. He’s striking out three for every walk he issues and he has allowed only one homer in 34 innings.

“My fastball acts like a sinker, and I’m throwing a little harder than I was in high school and Legion,” explained Beasley, who relies on locating  a fastball that maxes out at 85. “I’m also throwing my breaking balls (curve and slider) harder, and my changeup has gotten sharper. The biggest single thing has been the job that (former West Rowan standout) Matt Connolly has done as my catcher. I trust my stuff and I trust the pitches that Matt calls. I’ve thrown a lot of strikes.”

Connolly has been even better in the batter’s box than behind the plate. He’s batting .390 with six homers and 38 RBIs and has been the Matt Olson of a potent Surry offense.

“Legion ball helped prepare me for Surry, especially the competition we faced in the playoffs and the state tournament,” Beasley said. “A lot of us have improved since Legion, but Matt has gone to a whole different level. He’s been fantastic. There was a scout from the (Atlanta) Braves here to see him.”

Beasley, who is 6 feet tall, was a reliable No. 2 pitcher for Carson behind Catawba freshman Hayden Simmerson. He also was a solid athlete and made so many 3-pointers for the Cougars that he made All-Rowan County in basketball as well as baseball.

Surry offered Beasley a chance to extend not only his playing career, but his education.

He lives in a farmhouse with six other Surry players, although it’s not as congested as it sounds. It’s a large house. They all have their own room.

As far as classes, Mondays and Wednesdays are light with two classes, but Tuesdays and Thursdays are a 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. grind that feels almost like being back in high school. Everyone, Beasley reports, loves being off on Fridays.

The quality of baseball is good. Besides Beasley, Connolly and Basinger, the Surry squad includes Lucas Graham, Elijah Palmer and Zach McNeely (West Rowan), Emory Taylor (Carson) and Jalan Chambers (A.L. Brown). Chambers, a sophomore, is one of the keys to Surry’s success as a two-way player. He’s been the second-best power hitter as well as an undefeated pitcher (4-0). He’s had some struggles with the strike zone, but he’s compensated with a massive strikeout rate and zero homers allowed.

“Having so many of us from Rowan here together has really helped,” Beasley said. “You’re going to go through some tough times in baseball, but we can support each other.”

As a team, Surry has gotten on a roll and is now 25-5 with five straight victories. Surry has benefited from a heavy home schedule and is 7-2 in Region 10 play. Surry was ranked eighth nationally among Division III junior colleges in the most recent poll.

While some of his teammates plan to play Legion ball again this summer. Beasley has aged out. He’ll be pitching against hitters swinging wood bats for the Lexington Flying Pigs. The Pigs call historic Holt-Moffitt Field home and compete in the Old North State League.