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Brandon Arthur is the Coastal Plains Conference Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year. (Steve Barnes/Washington Daily News)

Hunter Chrismon earned his third straight All-Conference selection. (Ashley Van San/Washington Daily News)

Jamie Corprew was selected to the Coastal Plains All-Conference team for the first time.

James Sawyer delivers a pitch in the 1A stte finals. (Ashley Vansant/Washington Daily News)

Holden Boykin waits for a throw to the plate. (Ashley Vansant/Washington Daily News)

Freshman Trenton Allen gestures to the dugout after a base hit. (Ashley Vansant/Washington Daily News)

Northside’s Brandon Arthur won his second straight Coastal Plains Conference Pitcher of the Year award and fellow senior Hunter Chrismon made the All-Conference team for the third straight year, as six Panthers made the all-star squad.

Northside, 11-2, shared the league championship with East Carteret after winning it outright the previous two seasons and all six players were major contributors.

Arthur was the team’s vocal and inspirational leader and posted an 0.61 earned run average with 105 strikeouts in 68 innings to lead the conference in both categories.

“He earned every award he’s received through his hard work and dedication for all four years he’s been here,” coach Parker Boyd said. “We called him Bulldog for the mentality he brought every day; be it practice or a game. He is an outstanding person, and we’ll miss him next year.”

Arthur was also a member of the North Carolina Coaches Association All-State team.

Corprew joined him on that squad and is a first-time All-Conference choice after hitting .411 and finishing second in the league in runs scored (280 and stolen bases (22) from his leadoff spot. He was also solid defensively in center field.

“There were several times when our opponents were clapping because they thought they had hit while I was getting off the bucket (at the end of the inning) because I knew Jamie was going to catch the ball,” Boyd said. “He covered a lot of ground and was the best defensive outfielder I’ve seen in a while, and he was the catalyst for our offense. His hitting improved a lot, and he was a vocal leader for us.”

Chrismon hit .375 with 30 hits, including seven doubles, went 5-3 as a starting pitcher and played solid defense in left field.

“He was our Swiss Army Knife,” Boyd said. “He played wherever we asked him and played well consistently. He was at shortstop and second base in addition to pitching and playing the outfield and handled everything. He had a solid bat and had some big hits for us.”

Junior pitcher-shortstop James Sawyer, sophomore catcher Holden Boykin and freshman second baseman Trenton Allen were also chosen for the All-Conference squad.

Swayer transferred from D.H. Conley and had already committed to East Carolina before wearing a Northside jersey. He went 7-1 with a 1.19 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 59 innings to form a potent one-two punch with Arthur.

“His first couple of starts were a little rocky, because he felt like he had to prove himself being the new guy,” Boyd said. “Once he relaxed, he dominated. His curve ball and slider are electric, and his fastball is outstanding also. He fit in really well and I’m happy he’s coming back.”

Boykin caught all except three innings as a sophomore and hit .388 with a team-leading 19 RBI.
“He was a brick wall behind the plate, and nothing got past him,” Boyd said. “Few teams tried to steal on him, and he has natural power at the plate. Not many hit a ball out of our field, but he did.”

Allen assumed the starting second base spot about halfway through the season and played sparkling defense to go along with a .397 average, good for second on the team.

“He only had two or three errors all season and struck out just two or three times,” Body said. “He had some big hits and was a very solid all-around player.”

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