Justice Prevails

A monster dunk. A thread-the-needle assist. A defensive stop.

        

A deftly-delivered two-seam fastball with two outs in the bottom of the 7^th and runners in scoring position that catches the batter flatfooted and puts an dramatic exclamation mark on the state championship baseball game.

        

A bases-loaded line shot into the woods. Three times. This season alone.

 

Evan Justice, my friends, is the real deal. The Man. No question about it.

 

“Evan leads by example extremely well and always has,” said Andrew Slater, the Cougars’ baseball coach. “He goes about his business well. Every day, you know he’ll work hard and compete.”

 

Compete? For sure. Check these stats.

 

This past winter when Collegiate’s boys’ basketball team finished 18-11, the 6-5, 175-pound Justice averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He hit 80% of his free throws. His defensive assignment was the opponent’s toughest offensive player. He was the team's most valuable player and a unanimous All-Prep League selection.

 

“Evan provided quiet leadership,” said Del Harris, his basketball coach. “He’s not a big rah-rah guy, but when he speaks, his teammates listen. His preparation, his mindset, the way he competes…that’s very special. He has that ‘It-factor.’ He was our rock.”

 

This spring, his numbers suggest hyperbole. Don’t be fooled. They’re totally for real.

 

A lefthanded pitcher with an 88-miles per hour fastball, he’s allowed 31 hits and 8 earned runs, struck out 63 and walked just 13 in 53.1 innings. His earned run average is 1.050. Entering Tuesday’s VISAA tournament, his record stands at 7-1. In three varsity seasons, he’s allowed 100 hits and 28 earned runs, struck out 169 and walked 47 in 151.3 innings. His career ERA is 1.295. His record is 18-2.

 

A year ago, his first as a regular, he hit .281 and knocked in 14 runs.

This spring, he’s hitting .473 with five home runs (including three grand slams) and 39 RBI.

 

“There’s been a progression over the last three years,” Slater explained. “I’ve always seen potential in Evan, but through hard work, diligence, and confidence, he’s jumped leaps and bounds offensively with the bat, and he’s developed a three-pitch command (fastball, changeup, breaking ball) and the ability to pitch on both sides of the plate.”

 

Justice’s prodigious numbers notwithstanding, it’s his bearing and work ethic that stand out.

 

Cordial, respectful, humble, and unfailingly polite, he competes with fire and positively channeled emotion when the game is on. He’s learned to move past mistakes and calls that don’t go his way, stay in the moment, and control the factors he can control. He’s become steady, poised, focused, and almost Zen-like in his approach.

 

“Evan’s calm presence is contagious to the rest of the team when it’s needed most,” said Alex Peavey, Collegiate’s boys’ varsity basketball coach from 2004 until 2016. “The place where he’s evolved the most is that killer instinct when it’s needed most. Whether it’s settling the team down or throwing the knockout punch, on the court or on the diamond, his timing is impeccable.”

 

Justice’s leadership, quiet confidence, and competitive zeal have served the Cougars well this spring in what some might call a rebuilding season.

 

Slater’s guys, 43-9 the past two seasons and defending VISAA champ, lost four veteran starters to graduation. With David Angstadt, Will Allocca, Ben Greer, and Max Vaughan gone, Justice was the last man standing.

 

“I definitely felt like there was some expectation coming into the season,” he said, “but I know that with expectations, you have to put your uniform on every day and go out and compete like you want to win.

        

“This season, we started off a little bit slow (1-4). Then, things picked up and we started to find some rhythm. I’ve been able to find the rhythm on the mound. Coach has put me in the right position to succeed by calling the right pitches. My teammates are doing a great job fielding behind me.

        

“At the plate, I feel like I’m seeing the ball well right now. My teammates have also done a great job of getting on base and putting me in position to drive in runs.”

 

Justice has played his sports of choice almost since he could walk and availed himself of every opportunity to improve, among those opportunities pick-up games, open gyms, off-season workouts, camps, and travel baseball. He’s paid his dues, earned his stripes. As a junior, he committed to play baseball for N.C. State, and Slater, a former college player and coach, is confident that his best is yet to come.

 

First things first, though. One game, maybe two, hopefully three remain in his high school career. No doubt he’ll enjoy every moment.

 

“I definitely have a love for the game,” Justice said. “Instead of feeling like I’m being dragged into practice, I’m excited to work with my teammates and coaches every day to prepare for games. In doing that, in envisioning those moments, it’s so important to have a competitive mindset. No matter what the situation, by competing you give yourself a fair shot to win.”

          -- Weldon Bradshaw