Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack

The island's first-ever baseball team, the Raptors, competed in the Hatteras youth league, and won the championship! 

Ocracoke School now fields a Dolphin baseball team, another historic first.  The baseball program starts this year with seventh and eighth grade boys, and will later grow to include a varsity team. 

Their first game will be on Wednesday, February 29, at Hatteras.  All of the games are away, as there is no field on Ocracoke.  Booster Club president David Scott Esham said a community group is trying to fund a baseball diamond.

Jordi Perez likes "everything" about baseball.  He is "excited to have baseball for the first time at our school.  Now we have two sports."  "Last year was the first time I ever tried.  It was hard,"  he said. 

Jordi made the game-winning hit in last year's championship game.  Coach Bill Cole said he knew they would win as soon as he heard the crack of the bat.  "When you hit a ball that hard, only good things are going to happen," he said, still smiling hugely at the memory.

Ocracoke kids didn't grow up playing baseball, and they are working hard to learn fundamental skills.  Coach Bill said if the team were a house being built, they are still pumping the pilings. 

John Kattenberg's competitive career was sidelined after a college injury.  The boys were practicing fielding skills with him, Coach Bill ran a batting clinic, and Doug Eifert, who pitched for his college team, worked with the pitchers.  Don't be timid about the ball, Coach John said.  "If you get a black eye, you'll look tough.  I promise,"  he told them, laughing. 

It is about having fun and learning the game, said Coach Doug.  He looks forward to seeing these same players on a varsity squad four or five years from now.  The players "really support and encourage each other," he said. 

While it is "great when you win, you can take a lot out of a loss," said Coach Bill.  He is proud that the team pays close attention to what their coaches teach them, and "developed a killer attitude." 

Macky Kalna has that killer instinct.  He likes "whupping Hatteras." 

Waylon Underwood said the best part of the game is "the feeling of hitting the ball."

For Eldon Robinson, it is "catching pop flys and batting."

Dylan Sutton played last year and continues to think "it's fun."

Spencer Gaskins is a fan of "taking the trips" off island to play.  Spencer, Macky, Kyle Tillett and Carson O'Neal all practiced and learned skills at a University of Virginia baseball camp last summer. 

Colby Spencer predicted, "we're gonna win our first game."  Colby moved to the island a few months ago and will be the most experienced Dolphin baseball player.  "I just like playing," he said.  He competed on a Pocosin all-star team that went to state last year.  "Colby's got a gun on him," said Coach Doug. 

Ocracoke is now just as all-American the rest of the country.  Good luck Dolphins!