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Ryan Cornelius is the 2021 Bryan Keith Woolard scholarship winner. The Northside senior will play college baseball at North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount.

Keith and Wendy Woolard award a scholarship every season to a Panthers baseball player in their son Bryan’s name. He died in an automobile accident in early 2009 and the family started the scholarship that spring.

Bryan Woolard was the catcher on the Panthers 1994 state championship team and went on to play at Lenoir Community College. He was named Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player during his career at Northside.

“We are glad to make the presentation before an actual game this year,” Keith Woolard said. “We did it last year to keep it going, but they couldn’t play because of COVID-19. Our son loved baseball and we’re happy to help a Panther play in college.”

Cornelius went 3-1 with a 3.39 ERA and 33 strikeouts in as many innings this spring. He pitched a complete game two hitter with eight strikeouts in Friday’s 11-2 victory over Tarboro.