"We want to get the word out about the joys of sandlot baseball to everyone who is interested, as well as give back when and where we can."
-Erik Winchell, 2B/OF for Neuse River
In the world of baseball, few experiences rival the joy and freedom found on the sandlot. Neuse River Nine, a vibrant team within the Carolina Sandlot Collective, captures this essence with their guiding mantra: "Vibes first, skill’s not important." Their mission goes beyond just playing baseball; it’s about forging connections and fostering a community where everyone, regardless of skill level, can experience the joy of the game. Read on to learn more about who they are and why they play the beautiful game of baseball in this fun Q&A with Taylor and Erik of Neuse River Nine.
Q. Our brand mantra is: "Run faster. Jump higher. Fly free." Which one of those relates to Neuse River Nine the most, and why—as it relates to your personal life or professional life or future dreams?
Taylor: Probably "Fly Free!" The whole essence of the sandlot movement, and the itch it scratches for me personally, is being able to do a very structured thing (baseball) in an unstructured way (loosey-goosey coordination of like-minded folks).
Erik: Jump Higher. Always try to get a bit more than what you did before is the way I like to play. Did I do something better than I did last week? That is the goal, and that is how I like to encourage the team to play.
Q. How would you define Neuse River’s style as a team?
Taylor: Mucky, but in the best way—we really just take the field looking to have a good time. We sometimes have a plan or idea, but we’re more focused on making sure folks get the play time they want, so the rest sort of works itself out live!
Erik: A party come to life! Purple, teal, gold…and any other color that says summers at the pool or the beach is how we operate. Baseball is fun, right?
Q. Tell our Flyers about Neuse River, who you are, and how you're changing the game in your niche/world/domain? Or what your team wants to do in the future?
Erik: We want to get the word out about the joys of sandlot baseball to everyone who is interested, as well as give back when and where we can. Being a positive part of the community is a core ideal we follow, and we have donated to causes from the start of the team (money raised to assist Maui via merchandise sales after their wildfires last year). We also want to make the Raleigh/Durham area a hotbed for baseball with events like the Sandlot Revival, as well as making the push to bring an MLB team here via the Bring MLB to Raleigh movement.
Q. What is your team’s favorite P.F. Flyers sneaker (style/color), if you had to vote on one?
Taylor: If a purple/white combo existed, that’d be my pick! But I’m a sucker for anything all-black.
Erik: You have to love the classic high-tops! If there was a purple colorway, it may be required gear for the Nine…
Q. What’s one thing people don’t know about your team?
Erik: When we were planning what this team would be about, we built this with the idea of "Vibes first, skill not important." It is important for us (and for sandlot as a whole) to make sure that anyone who wants to pick up a glove and come throw a ball around with us is invited and welcome. We have made it a point to find the best people first, and anyone who comes out will see that firsthand.
Q. What inspired the creation or revival of your sandlot baseball team, Neuse River? How long has your team been around?
Taylor: We’ve been "operating" since 2023. Our teams are formed mainly based on the consistency of the folks that show up to our open play days. When there are enough regulars, and an interest to have some level of coordination, a new team is spun up, and folks can join. Erik and I wanted to try running things a little differently than some of the more traditional sandlot teams, so The Nine was born out of necessity (folks needed a team!) and an interest in trying something new for ourselves.
Erik: As Taylor mentioned, we have been around since 2023, so we are fairly fresh compared to a few other teams. Our idea was that we wouldn’t be central to any particular location and that we have people from all over our area as a part of the team. We are much like the river we are named after in that we are everywhere, so if you are interested in playing but your local CSC team is full, we may be an option for you!
Q. What does being a part of the Carolina Sandlot Collective baseball mean to you? How long have you been involved, and what position do you play?
Taylor: I’ve been part of the CSC since 2019. I joined the Raleigh Reapers in 2020/2021 and am still moonlighting them when the roster is short. I mainly play catcher, but I sub in wherever I am needed. Sandlot has become a weekend staple for me. Initially, I was just looking for a safe outdoor activity while the pandemic was still at its peak. I played baseball as a kid, but my interest in it dropped off during high school. I’d been meaning to get back to it recreationally since then, but the men’s and city leagues always seemed too intimidating as someone who just wanted to shake off the rust and hang out on a field. Thanks to some mutual friends, I found the CSC and have been showing up ever since!
Erik: I don’t think there are enough words to express what Sandlot means to me. I had been struggling to find a hobby and something that allowed me to sink my teeth into what felt like years. I had recently been getting back into baseball and was interested in playing, but I was intimidated about joining a men's league as I hadn’t played since I was a kid. I found Sandlot through a friend of my wife's and decided to muster the courage to join. I have been hooked ever since and call Second Base my home away from home.
Many former baseball players feel intimidated about joining a team again, worried about their skill level or fitting in. The Neuse River Nine actively combats this fear by creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone can feel comfortable. They strike a balance between having fun and committing to showing up and giving their best effort. The team emphasizes that it’s not about perfection but about participation and growth. The Neuse River are also passionate about community outreach, encouraging players to engage not just on the field but also in giving back. This blend of commitment, enjoyment, and community spirit makes them a truly unique and inviting team.
Q. If our Flyers are interested in learning more about how they can get involved with sandlot baseball in their city, where should they go or what should they do?
Taylor: For the CSC (and The Nine), it’s pretty simple: Show up! We regularly get together in Raleigh on Saturdays for open play or games between Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving. Our friends in Durham, Wake Forest, and Carrboro do the same, with some meeting on Sundays or weeknights. We’re all under the bigger CSC umbrella and hop around to each others’ practices/open plays regularly. Keeping an eye on the @CarolinaSandlotCollective Instagram account is the easiest place to stay in the loop!
Erik: If you are looking to start or join Sandlot in your city, the first thing to do is look somewhere like Instagram and find out what is in your area. Sandlot is picking up all over the country! You can always reach out to a Sandlot team nearby if you are uncertain and see if there is a club, as there is a large community that is intertwined all over the country. If there isn’t, find a field nearby and try posting on a local forum on Facebook, Reddit, etc, and invite anyone and everyone to come out and throw around. You would be surprised how many people want to play or are interested in baseball, but are scared because of their perceived skill level.
Q. Who's your favorite character in 'The Sandlot' and why?
Taylor: Hamilton "Ham" Porter is always who I’ve felt most connected to–he’s a little extra, plays catcher, and is just an overall pot-stirrer but seems to have a good heart/the right intentions.
Erik: Has to be Smalls. I always felt like I was the weird kid trying to fit in when I was younger, and he was that to perfection. Close second is Mr. Mertle because James Earl Jones is a baseball movie legend.
Q. Where do you play, and how can Flyers support your Neuse River team?
Taylor: We typically join the other Raleigh teams at Lions Park on Saturdays and have begun to like Bond Park in Cary as our potential "home base" for game days. Part of our intent as the Neuse River team is to "float" around the area!
Q. What are some of the most memorable moments or milestones in Neuse River’s history?
Taylor: Taking the field at the 2024 Sandlot Revival was a big milestone for our squad. It was our 4th time officially playing together as a team and really hadn’t had much time to practice together to find our rhythm before that. The event went swimmingly, though–not only did we win both games (a perk, but not the point), but we really gelled as a squad and had a lot of fun together both on and off the field. It was a great opportunity to reveal our new jerseys and spend some quality time together as a group.
Q. How has being part of Neuse River affected your life outside of baseball?
Erik: It has been a massive benefit for the better. I have something that I feel proud to tell everyone that I am involved in, and it gets me out of the house and breathing fresh air. I have more energy and love being around like-minded people that love doing this thing we have built.
Q. What personal achievements or milestones within the team are you most proud of?
Taylor: Watching the team talk about how much being part of the Nine has meant to them, how much they enjoy each other’s company, and being constant advocates for the "vibes first, skills not important" charter has been validating that Erik and I made the right choice on how we want to build the Neuse River Sandlot Baseball Club.
Q. What makes the Neuse River sandlot team unique or different from other sandlot teams?
Taylor: We take a bit of an "earn your slot" perspective on how we grow the team itself. We require folks to show up and be active community members first before we ever extend an invitation to join the squad formally. For us, its community > competition and team vibe > individual skill. When someone hangs out at open plays, shows interest in getting to know the people (on the team or within the collective), and shows consistency on both of those things, then we meet as a team to decide if we want an individual to row along with us. If so, we collect some dues (to help cover the jersey kit and field fee costs), hand them a proverbial paddle, and help them aboard the riverboat!
Erik: I think what is really interesting about our team in particular is that much like our mantra of being anywhere and everywhere, a few of our teammates also play games as members of other teams. We love that everyone truly shows up and is committed to being a part of the Sandlot experience.
Q. Why are you the River Roses?
Taylor: The idea for "The Nine" came out of the significance of the number within the game itself–nine innings in a game, nine players on the field at a time, and nine(ty) feet between each of the bases (for the whole story, check our intro post on Instagram!). The River Roses graphic came afterwards when we wanted to create some merch as an ode to the punk/DIY roots of sandlot. We’re in the process of building out Battle Jackets inspired by punk/metal music with a flare of Sons of Anarchy. The River Roses, dubbed by teammate Sam Schneggenburger, captures a bit of that grungy, muddy, beauty of these mashed together aesthetics.
Q. Is there a specific game or team from the Carolina Sandlot Collective that you’ve played that stands out to you and why?
Taylor: Our first match-up with the Carolina Kudzu was a pretty cool team milestone. It was one of our very first games as an official squad and the Kudzu always come to play–they’re some of the kindest AND most competitive (from a skills perspective) folks in the CSC. We ultimately took the L at the game, but it was neck-and-neck for the full nine innings. As a new team that hadn’t even established their batting order yet, going toe-to-toe with one of the most skilled teams in our collective AND having fun while doing it was such a great experience.
Erik: Our first unofficial game as a team late in 2023 against the Durham Dirtbags was my favorite. It was the first time we were all out together in a game, and I felt then that we had put something special together. There was a feeling of we are playing for fun and it doesn’t matter if we lose by 20 so long as you had some laughs and enjoyed your time.
Whether you're a seasoned player or just curious about the game, The Neuse River Nine opens its arms to all. As the Carolina Sandlot Collective commits to making baseball accessible to everyone, there's never been a better time to lace up a pair of P.F. Flyers and get involved. So, grab your glove, put on your favorite sneakers, and step into the spirit of sandlot baseball—where the only requirement is to show up and have fun!
