After major back injury, Snow Hill pitcher strikes Division 1 deal

Following a significant back injury midway through his high school career, Snow Hill baseball player Zach Adams wasn’t certain about his future in the sport he had loved all his life.

The injury required surgery, and Adams was taken away from the diamond and forced to rehab, focusing primarily on regaining his physical strength to complete his everyday activities.

But to Adams, the physical side wasn’t as difficult as expected. With the help of his coach and family, the Snow Hill pitcher was able to make a full recovery and return to the Eagles’ ball team.

He knew he was physically ready to take the field, but wondered if he could be the same player he was prior to his injury.

With his coach, Todd Lampman, he worked on focus, preparing him to face any opposing batter that came his way.

“There’s always doubt when you get hurt, but my coach and I talked about mental strength,” Adams said. “If I’m mentally ready, it all falls together.”

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Coming into his junior season, Adams immediately became one of the team’s most dominant and reliable pitchers, striking out players left and right, and helping Snow Hill win eight of its first 10 games. He threw a no-hitter against Mardela on April 10.

His performance did not go unnoticed, as Adams was the only Snow Hill player voted to the All-Bayside First Team, giving him another notch in his belt as he began to think about a future in the sport.

“I feel like I had to work harder since I do come from a small school and I have had to go through some challenges,” Adams said.

As the pitcher began his touring to see where he would spend the next four years, one school continued to stand out.

Campbell University, a Division I program in North Carolina, offered Adams the tools he needed to succeed in the classroom and on the diamond.

After a lot of thought, Adams knew Campbell was the place for him, verbally committing to the school’s baseball program.

“It was a family feel,” Adams said. “All the coaches and players made it feel like home for me. It reminded me of Snow Hill, and it all made me feel really comfortable.”

As much as Adams loved the idea for playing for a Division I squad, he knew his studies would play a bigger factor in his college experience, putting added emphasis on the importance of choosing the right institution.

Having a close relationship with his grandparents, Adams turned to them to offer advice in what he should do as he weighed his options.

With the potential to be the first person in his immediate family to attend a four-year college, Adams wanted to be sure he was going to be successful — both during and after college.

“They wanted me to go somewhere I would enjoy myself, and their biggest thing was to get an education first,” Adams said. “They wanted to make sure I would have a better life down the road.”

With a verbal commitment already on the table, Adams signed his national letter of intent Tuesday in the presence of his friends, family and coaches.

“It was amazing, and it’s such a relief knowing where I’m going to go and knowing your set,” Adams said. “This is what it’s all fallen in line for.”

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Campbell is a member of the Big South Conference, coached by Justin Haire, and is coming off a 25-32 regular season. Adams will join the team once he graduates next spring.

But until that happens, Adams has one final year as a player at Snow Hill.

“My personal goal revolves around my team,” Adams said. “I want to win a state championship, and as long as we’re winning and I can do everything to help our team, that’s what I’m going to do. We have a lot of freshmen coming up, so I’d like to lead them and show them what to do.”

While he’s excited for the future, the Snow Hill pitcher said there’s no replacing high school baseball, and the time he’s spent with teammates has made some of his best memories.

When he looks back on his time with the Eagles, he’ll remember the wins, strikeout and homers, but what will stand out in his mind the most are the bus rides to and from away games. No matter how many games Snow Hill wins, Adams' best moments have come away from the diamond, with his fellow ballplayers by his side.

“There’s still going to be a void in my life when I leave,” Adams said. “When we all work together and come together, it helps us a lot.”

Once he gets to Campbell, Adams is excited for the people he will meet, the places he will see and the new memories he will make with a new group of guys.

But no matter where he goes, Adams said he will always remember the support and encouragement he received from the small town of Snow Hill.

“It all boils down to the support,” Adams said. “We have so much support with our athletic director, parents, coaches, fans, and we all work together to make sure we can achieve anything.”