HICKORY, N.C. — The Catawba Valley Community College baseball program will hold its First Pitch Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 5.

 

This year's event will feature keynote speaker Mark Crocco, who has spent the past eight seasons turning Erskine College into a Division II powerhouse, leading the Flying Fleet to more than 225 wins, seven straight winning seasons and developing multiple All-Americans and pro players. Before Erskine, he coached at the Division I level with Presbyterian College and the U.S. Air Force Academy, earning recognition as the Top Recruiter in the Big South.

 

In 2025, Crocco joined Banana Ball as the Head Coach of the Visitors — the league's developmental team. He currently serves as the head coach of the Loco Beach Coconuts.

 

Also during the First Pitch Dinner, the Red Hawks will honor their 2025 World Series team with a ring ceremony and also celebrate their most recent MLB Draft picks — Trace Baker (Toronto Blue Jays, '25), Brett Banks (New York Mets, '24), Bryson Hammer (Colorado Rockies, '24) and Ethan Young (St. Louis Cardinals, '25).

 

To reserve tickets for the First Pitcher Dinner or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://cvcc.tech/firstpitchdinner.

 

For more information, contact Susan Propst at spropst669@cvcc.edu or 828-327-7000 ext. 4282 and Marshall McDonald mmcdonald@cvcc.edu or 828-327-7000 ext. 4084.