Southwestern Randolph star carries prep success into Legion play

ASHEBORO — There are so many positives for having Brady Armfield on a team.

The obvious ones are because he’s a great baseball player. He hits as well as anyone, he plays solid defense and, although his quickness may be challenged, his knowledge of running the bases certainly makes up for that in so many ways.

Then there is the reason not a lot of people get to see. He’s a hard worker who respects the game, his teammates, his opponents and his coaches.

“When he talked about playing Legion this summer and possibly next, I was tickled to death because I just enjoy spending time with him,” said Randolph County Post 45 Coach Andrew Connor, who was an assistant coach at Southwestern Randolph High School, where Armfield just graduated from. “He’s a good kid. A good role model for the younger players and he’s respectful.”

Armfield, who was named to the Randolph Hub All-County team after hitting .451 with 12 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 33 runs scored and 46 RBIs this past season for the Cougars, had been playing Showcase baseball in the summer.

But like so many before him who played Showcase and travel ball in the summer, the switch to American Legion baseball was the right move.

“This is my first year so I’m not going to say I’m an expert, but this has been awesome,” Armfield said as Post 45 took a 6-2 record into last weekend’s schedule. “Some of the most fun baseball I ever played. Under these guys Coach (Morgan) Frazier, Coach Connor and Coach (Ryan) Hill, it doesn’t get much better. 

“Playing with this team, playing with this squad on this field (McCrary Park), you can’t get a better field, facility, coaches or teammates. It’s been amazing so far and it’s the best decision I ever made.”

The American Legion mentality is far different than travel ball or Showcase. It didn’t take long for Armfield to learn that.

“Showcase is a lot of wood bat; I guess you can get a lot of games in quicker,” Armfield said. “American Legion is more games, more reps. Travel ball is more self-oriented.”

It may be an adjustment to go from Showcase to American Legion, but Armfield has already proven he is comfortable with change. 

His SWR high school baseball team underwent quite a change this year. After years of failing to reach expectations, Coach Ed Lagrama brought in a new coaching staff, including Connor, Hill, Braxton Davis and Austin Curry. The team went from 9-16 the year before to 19-9 and a berth in the Eastern Regional championship series.

“I don’t think we were all pushing toward the same thing,” Armfield said of previous campaigns. “This year, we had a little bit different coaching staff, a little different team and we were all on the same page on where we wanted to be at the end of the year and we made it happen.

“Practices were fun,” Armfield added. “Everyone wanted to be out there and I think that was the big thing. Everyone was pushing toward a win every single day.”

After an incredible senior high school season, Armfield has continued that in Legion. Through six games, he was hitting .600 with four doubles, one home run, eight runs and 14 RBIs.

“He’s a machine in that box, he hits,” Connor said. “You never have to worry about his work ethic. He is among the all-time top five guys I have ever worked with in terms of effort.”

Armfield said he has taken all this success in stride.

“Baseball is a weird sport,” he said. “Sometimes stuff clicks and the next week it will be off again. One of those things where you have to stay the course and continue to work hard and hope things fall in place. Keep your nose on the grindstone and keep playing hard.”