EXCLUSIVE: Wilson loves baseball, Lamm – Greenville Daily Reflector

Tuesday was a mix of routine and unique honor for East Carolina baseball student assistant coach Parker Lamm.

He received an award at the Wilson Hot Stove League baseball banquet 26 years after his father, Jay, was given the Clint Faris Award at the same banquet. Lamm won the Trot Nixon “Gamer” Award for the determination and grit he displayed as a senior outfielder for the Pirates last season.

Here is a breakdown of Parker Lamm’s big day:

9:42 a.m.

About 10 hours before Lamm walks up to the Hot Stove stage in his home city of Wilson, he settles in for personal finance class and listens to a lecture about positioning for future success.

Lamm is a rare student in the room who actually already has graduated. He got his undergraduate degree in business management in December, but still is taking classes this semester as he volunteers on the Pirates’ coaching staff.

Despite enjoying his role as a student and coach, Lamm plans to stick with his ambition to one day get into the flooring business.

“Some of the guys are here that I played with, the coaching staff is the same and we’re a good team, so might as well stay and learn some more from the coaching staff,” he said. “And it’s not just for coaching, but for life lessons.”

Class ends at 10:43 a.m. and Lamm gets a few hours of free time before driving to Clark-LeClair Stadium.

1:11 p.m.

Lamm hits the field at Clark-LeClair to begin setting up for afternoon workouts. His arrival provides opportunities for ribbing from other staff about Lamm and the Wilson banquet.

Wiley Jackson, a graduate manager and the person Lamm called his “sidekick” on the staff, provides some one-liners and breaks down Lamm’s transition from Wilson Hunt High School star to Pitt Community College standout to ECU captain and now ECU coach.

“Parker Lamm is eastern North Carolina,” Jackson said.

The duo and other managers and coaches then quickly get to work, setting up cones, laying out tarps and placing baseballs in their assigned spots so everything is ready for the players. Infielder Wes Phillips is the first player to arrive and asks who wants to toss him batting practice. Lamm obliges and heads to the batting cage with Phillips.

“They are such an integral part of it and sometimes what they do can get overlooked,” team director of operations Tyler Zupcic said of Lamm and the managers.

1:58 p.m.

Lamm finishes up with Phillips and runs to get his glove and find Dwanya Williams-Sutton for their scheduled throwing session. Williams-Sutton is a sophomore outfielder and also a Wilson native who has a regimented throwing plan as he is nearing the end of recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.

2:27 p.m.

A break from the field for Lamm comes in the form of him sitting in his “office” inside the team’s laundry room and doing some recruiting tasks for assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Jeff Palumbo.

(Click here for a photo of Lamm’s office.) 

After heading back to the dugout and with fielding drills about 10 minutes away, Lamm, senior pitcher Evan Kruczynski and a few others discuss the dress code for the banquet. The hot topic is who will wear a tie.

“I’m doing what the boss man says,” said Kruczynski, who was referencing head coach Cliff Godwin and was named the top amateur pitcher in the state by the Wilson Hot Stove League.

Lamm and Kruczynski both wore ties.

3:20 p.m.

Defensive workouts begin and Lamm focuses on the infielders.

He assists at first base for senior Bryce Harman and freshman Spencer Brickhouse before shifting to other side of the diamond to oversee third basemen and shortstops as they charge in to field ground balls. After Phillips runs through the drill, Lamm offers some advice as Phillips cycles to the back of his line.

Lamm continues to shift roles for the rest of the drills and workouts.

4:29 p.m.

Players conclude their workouts and cleanup begins. For Lamm and others, that means picking up a lot of the equipment they put out hours earlier.

5:13 p.m.

It’s time to head to Wilson. Godwin is driving, but Lamm is an asset in the backseat.

“I can get to Wilson, but Parker you can get me to the (Recreation Park) Community Center, right?” Godwin asks.

The question was a layup, sparking the other people in the car to tease Lamm about being the future mayor of Wilson. 

In Wilson, Lamm proudly talks about the area, helps Godwin navigate and has a unique description for the oblong-shaped, white-roofed community center.

“Welcome to the bubble,” Lamm said. 

6:05 p.m.

The ECU crew heads inside and Lamm is greeted by plenty of people, beginning with nearly 10 family members. He also talks to the guy serving Brunswick stew, former coaches, family friends and some kids.

7:56 p.m.

After Kruczynski is honored, it is time for Lamm to receive the Trot Nixon Award that in previous years went to Trea Turner, Seth Maness and Josh Hamilton. Presenter Bob Harris rattles off some of Lamm’s accomplishments, including being the 2012 Wilson Times Athlete of the Year and helping the Pirates win an NCAA super regional game a season ago.

Lamm walks to the stage, but not without a smile and a few words for a man sitting at a front table, to accept the trophy prominently featuring a scuffed-up batting helmet.

“When the (ECU) season was over last year, I kind of thought everything was over,” Jay Lamm said. “I think this award fits him. … It really sums up his career.”

8:42 p.m.

The banquet ends. 

Zupcic takes photos of Lamm, Kruczynski and Godwin to post on social media. The quartet heads for the exit door at the same time, but Lamm is held up by one final guest and ends up trailing the others to Godwin’s car.

“This town loves baseball and playing baseball is a big deal here,” Lamm said. “Coming back and seeing everybody was awesome. The day was great.”

Contact Ronnie Woodward at rwoodward@reflector.com, 252-329-9592 and follow @RonnieW11 on Twitter.