If driving past Myers Park High School in the middle of October around 5:30 PM, odds are you will be greeted with the sound of cracking bats and smacking gloves of the Myers Park Mustangs Baseball team practicing for hours and hours despite their season being months away. There is no off season for the Myers Park Baseball team; as soon as school starts up in August the team is in the gym and on the field practicing. Other than mandatory off days for exams, and a month-long dead period in November, the team practices at least four days a week. By the time the season comes around, no team is more conditioned for the gauntlet of the high school baseball season. No team has the same drive to win or bond between teammates; a bond as brothers. This is what separates Myers Park Baseball from the average high school team, and it is why they have a history of continued success. This year’s team is looking to continue their winning tradition, and bring Coach Erik Foor his first ever state championship ring.
Senior Davis Johnson has spent his share of late nights at Myers Park over the years, but says he wouldn’t change it. Johnson said, “practice is the hard part, hitting on the machine we crank it up pretty fast and then when we get to the game it all slows down. The games are just fun and calming, and we are relaxed because of how intense practices are.That’s the goal: just to make it to where the games feel a lot easier than practice.” The long nights paid off for Johnson last year when he established himself as one of the team’s key contributors and leaders. In 2024, Johnson hit an outstanding .310, did not commit a single error throughout the season, and was named to the SoMeck 4A all conference team. While he had a terrific season last year, he and his teammates are hungry for more. This is shown through how the team has committed themselves to the messages the coaching staff have been sending this fall. “I would say the one thing the coaches always tell us is just how we need to stress the little things and not compound mistakes… Another thing that’s stressed is just how important it is to stay ready. You never know who’s gonna heat up and just always be ready and not surprised when your name gets called from the bench,” Johnson said. This focus on detail, and always-ready attitude is what separates this team from other high school baseball programs.
Myers Park Baseball resembles the work ethic and character of a collegiate level program, and as a result they have experienced success. Last year, the Mustangs had 6 players named all conference and sent four athletes to compete at the division one level. As a team, they were able to win a thriller over South Meck to secure the Conference Championship. Johnson said, “I know we went down early, they were hitting the ball around and we just slowly kept crawling back and fighting back, and when we got that winning run across the plate it was a feeling like no other, just running into the outfield and dogpiling. It was just so good to see all the guys celebrate together, proving ourselves to everyone and seeing the hard work pay off.” This feeling is one that Johnson and his teammates are trying to recreate, and the formula in doing so? It’s pretty simple, just buy in and work hard, “I mean the work pays off for sure and as long as you just keep at it, we’re going to see success. And if everyone just holds to that plan of buying in, then the team’s success is going to be super clear and we’re going to be super successful as a team and hopefully win the state championship. That’s the goal.” By showing up and working hard day in and day out and believing in something greater than themselves, the Mustangs have created a culture of success, a culture that is set on ending the season with rings on their fingers. The Mustangs kick off their title chase on February 24th against crosstown rival East Mecklenburg, and from there they hope to pursue history.
The Myers Park High School Newspaper
