ROCKINGHAM — When James Eason started his high school baseball career during a pandemic-shortened season in 2021, a lot of things were uncertain.
But one constant for the current Richmond Senior High School senior was to achieve his lifelong dream of playing at the next level.
Over the past four years, any uncertainty has withered away and all of his hopes and dreams became a reality for Eason this week.
Just two weeks removed from playing his final high school playoff game for the Raiders, Eason announced Monday he was continuing his academic and baseball career at Pfeiffer University.
Recruited as a shortstop and right-handed pitcher, Eason had interest from several other colleges across the Carolinas and Virginia. His decision, Eason said, was based on Pfeiffer being the best fit.
“I chose Pfeiffer because it’s a great school to begin my college baseball career,” Eason shared. “And it felt like that’s where God was leading me.
“It took a while to decide where I wanted to go because I wanted to make the right decision that was best for me. And I felt that Pfeiffer fit me best.”
A four-year player for the Raiders, Eason has been a staple on the varsity team since his sophomore year. A versatile fielder with a quick bat and known for his grit on the diamond, he developed into the Raiders’ top pitcher this past spring.
In 11 starts as a senior, Eason recorded a 7-3 record with seven complete games. He pitched 60.1 innings and was ranked in the top 10 in the Sandhills Athletic Conference with a 2.32 earned run average (7th) and 43 strikeouts (8th).
Eason batted .239 as a senior with 16 hits, including five doubles and a triple. He scored seven runs, drove in 13 RBI and stole five bases.
Defensively, playing mostly shortstop when he wasn’t on the mound, Eason registered an .882 fielding percentage. He made 29 putouts and added 38 assists for Richmond.
The journey to playing athletics in college is never an easy task, but Eason followed in the footsteps of his older brother Cody, who plays soccer at Coker University.
Recruitment in recent years, especially with the transfer portal and COVID eligibility, also made Eason’s process tumultuous at times. But he stuck with the grind to find his future home with the Falcons.
“It doesn’t seem real,” Eason smiled of being committed to playing college baseball. “I’ve been working so hard for several years to get looked at by colleges.
“And then my senior year comes around and I have schools looking at me. And it was a hard decision because I had to pick what’s best for me.”
Most of Eason’s high school career was played for former Richmond head coach Rob Ransom, who retired after his junior season. Taking over the program during his senior year, current head coach Eric Brown served as a big motivator to help Eason’s dreams come to fruition.
Eason said that Brown, a Raider graduate who pitched at Wingate University and was drafted by the New York Mets, made baseball simpler and encouraged him to embrace the Richmond brand as a senior leader.
“Coach Brown has helped me by coaching me not to get down on myself,” Eason explained. “And he’s taught me how to not show my emotions as much on the field and how to stay locked in.
“It’s always a brotherhood in baseball. Playing at Richmond and for Coach Brown really taught me what it means to be a Raider, like to always fight no matter what.”
Pfeiffer, coached by Craig Bolton, is a Division III program which competes in the USA South Athletic Conference. In 2024, the Falcons recorded a 21-21 overall record and a 10-11 mark in conference.
When Eason joins the Pfeiffer baseball program later this summer, he hopes to make an immediate impact. He said he’s going to rely on what he’s always made him successful with the sport and use that as a starting point to continue to get better.
“I just hope I can fit in well with the team and get settled in as a Pfeiffer baseball player and student,” Eason shared. “And do what I know how to do on the field to help the team in any way I can.
“I’m excited to play baseball because that’s all I’ve wanted to do,” he closed. “And if I have to work harder to get better at the next level, then that’s what I’m going to do. I’m excited about having new coaches and teammates and I’m just ready to play.”
Eason plans to major in sports management while at Pfeiffer, with an emphasis on business.
