Baseball | American Legion Post 416

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

"Citizenship Through Sportsmanship" At Lowe's Grove, NC American Legion Post 416

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American Legion Baseball enjoys a reputation as one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Since its national inception in 1925, the league has helped millions of players between the ages of 13 and 19, including countless who have gone on to play in college and professional baseball. 82 of those have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Lowe’s Grove American Legion Post 416 Baseball Program provides an environment of teamwork, confidence, personal growth and life experience to our players, building championship teams in our community that will carry on the 100-year history, traditions and patriotic principals of American Legion Baseball.

Dedicated to building citizenship through sportsmanship, the American Legion baseball program at Post 416 has a winning tradition of mentoring and developing youth for success at life. It is the goal of the baseball program at Post 416 to reach the American Legion national baseball finals held annually in Shelby, NC, where sports broadcaster ESPN traditionally televises all games live. If your personal goal is to achieve something greater after high school and you embrace the coaching offered at Post 416, we believe you'll receive that "something extra" to help get you noticed.

The purpose of American Legion Baseball is:

To inculcate in youth a better understanding of the American way of life and promote 100% Americanism
To instill in the nation’s youth a desire to develop feelings of citizenship, sportsmanship, loyalty and team spirit
To aid in the improvement and development of the physical fitness of our country’s youth
To build the nation’s future through our youth

All members of Team Post 416 abide by this code of sportsmanship: I will...

Keep the rules
Keep faith with my teammates
Keep my temper
Keep myself fit
Keep a stout heart in defeat
Keep my pride under in victory
Keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body

2026 Staff

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Derrick DePriest

Head Coach

& Pitching Coach

Jimmy Smith

Coach

Jason Beaulieu

Player Development

& Recruiting

Ken VanDine

General Manager

Derrick DePriest, Head Coach & Pitching Coach

Derrick DePriest returns to Lowe's Grove American Legion Post 416 as Head Coach for the 2026 season, bringing decades of two-sport collegiate achievement, a distinguished professional pitching career, and extensive coaching experience. A full scholarship athlete at the University of North Carolina, DePriest lettered in both football and baseball all four years and established himself as one of UNC’s most dominant late-inning pitchers.

After an outstanding collegiate career, DePriest made his mark in summer baseball, setting a Cape Cod League record with 15 saves for the Chatham A’s in 1999, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA, earning East Division All-Star honors, and capturing the Russ Ford Outstanding Relief Pitcher Award. He was inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2008 which led to his selection by the Montreal Expos in the 17th round of the 2000 MLB Draft.

DePriest began his professional career in 2000 with the Cape Fear Crocs of the South Atlantic League (A), where he tallied six saves in 21 appearances. He then pitched for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League (A+) before concluding the season with the Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League (AA). In 2001, he spent the season rehabbing in Jupiter, Florida, after undergoing lower back, shoulder, and elbow surgeries. During this time, he worked closely with Paul Fournier, an exceptional rehab coordinator who combined strength, training, and rehabilitation expertise, helping DePriest regain his pitching form and providing him with deep insight into injury prevention and athlete conditioning, similar to the approach now emphasized by Jason Beaulieu with the Post 416 organization.

In 2002, DePriest returned to professional competition with the Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League (A, Pirates organization) and later joined the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs of the Northern League (independent), managed by Mike Marshall, recording five saves. In 2003, he played for the North Shore Spirit and the San Angelo Colts, combining for seven saves and establishing his reputation as a reliable late-inning pitcher. Following the 2003 season, he stepped away from full-time professional playing to focus on coaching.

Throughout his career, DePriest developed a deep understanding of pitching mechanics, late-inning strategy, and player development, which he seamlessly brought into his coaching roles. Returning in 2026, he brings a wealth of professional experience, technical expertise, and leadership to guide this Bull City team into its next chapter.

Jimmy Smith, Coach

Jimmy Smith joins the American Legion Post 416 Baseball Program with a wealth of experience, both on the field and in the dugout. A former professional catcher, Jimmy spent six seasons playing in the Florida Marlins organization. This deep background in high-level baseball informs his coaching approach.

Jimmy currently serves as the Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach at Voyager Academy. His dedication to youth development is further evidenced by his time coaching in the Nike RBI Program and the Bull City Little League system. Jimmy is committed to learning, teaching, and helping players achieve their highest potential as part of the Post 416 baseball community.

Lowe's Grove, NC
Post 416