Published: 12:00 AM, Thu Apr 05, 2012
Village Christian: Henrickson brothers follow in dad's footsteps
By Earl Vaughan Jr.
Scholastic sports editor
During his playing days at Terry Sanford High School in the early 1980s, Sam Henrickson was one of the best athletes in the county.
Now, a new generation of Henricksons is picking up where their dad left off.
Brothers Sam Henrickson II and Andrew Henrickson are playing key roles for the Village Christian baseball team, which is 8-0 after Tuesday's win over rival Harrells Christian.
Sam Henrickson, the father, still has many good memories of his days playing at Terry Sanford, where he was involved in football, wrestling and baseball.
He said it didn't take him long to realize his sons had a chance to do the same.
"I knew at an early age they were athletic,'' he said.
Soccer was the first sport the boys were old enough to take part in, so Henrickson immediately signed them up. Over the years, he and some of his old Bulldog teammates, who are now parents, got their children together to play on teams in various sports.
It was when the boys were introduced to travel baseball that their choice of a sport solidified. "We were playing 100 games a year,'' Henrickson said. "It was a big difference and a big commitment.''
It also yielded big results.
Andrew is a sophomore outfielder who can play any position in the outfield. He also pitches.
Sam is the team's catcher. Andrew bats in the leadoff position while Sam is the cleanup hitter.
Prior to Tuesday's game with Harrells, Andrew was batting .500 with a double and eight RBIs. Sam was hitting at an .800 clip with four doubles, a triple and 18 RBIs.
Village coach Terry Jeffrey said the influence of their dad on the pair is obvious. "He's a winner and he's been on winning programs,'' Jeffrey said of the elder Henrickson. "That carries over to their style of play. Both are very aggressive. It brings a winning quality to them.''
The younger Henricksons agree with Jeffrey that their dad's influence has helped.
"He looks out and makes sure I'm doing the right thing,'' Sam said. "I don't feel pressure. He's never made us feel that way. I just want to try and be as good as I can be.''
Andrew said he and his brother also push themselves to be better. "We know each other's weaknesses,'' he said. "We know what to work on, and we never stop working on it.''
Father Sam said he spends little time with his sons talking fundamentals, and more focusing on being mentally prepared.
"A few years ago, I realized they know a lot more than I do now,'' he said. "They know more about how to hit a ball than I ever did.
"The only thing I try to help them with before a game is to remind them what's going to happen and be prepared for it.''
Wednesday's win over Harrells improved Village's chances of making the state private school playoffs.
Pitcher T.J. McDonald had a brilliant performance against Harrells, throwing a no-hitter and recording 19 strikeouts in a seven-inning game.
"If we stay focused and keep working at practice, and not get satisfied, we could go pretty far,'' Andrew said. "Maybe if we get a chance in the state tournament, who knows what we could accomplish.''
Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.