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Date published: 2/3/2002 By Kurt Nicoll No matter how difficult the task--running a precision pass pattern, chasing down a fly ball or making the decision to further his education--Carl Sharperson Jr. had the knack for making it look smooth and effortless. Sharperson attended Spotsylvania High School from 1967-71, when the Knights were attempting to establish themselves against the Battlefield District heavyweights like James Monroe, Stafford and Orange. It was also a time of adjustment as blacks and whites tried to coexist at the recently integrated school. "I knew kids who were afraid to ride the school bus," said Sharperson, who is now 49 and serves as president and CEO of Sharpersons' Executive Leadership in Clemson, S.C. "My family had just moved from the inner city in Washington D.C. to Spotsylvania County. "There were two schools back then. I was thinking about going to John J. Wright [the county's black high school], but my parents insisted I attend Spotsylvania." Sharperson lettered two years in football and baseball and also ran track one year. He also played a pivotal role as the Knights captured the district's baseball title in his junior year. Spotsylvania's Ernie Pennington and James Monroe's Dennis Dodson were locked in a scoreless pitchers' duel in the sixth inning at Maury Stadium when the Jackets' Jack Cullen drilled a potential extra-base hit down the right field line. "Carl ran a long way to make a spectacular cross-the-body catch just inside the foul line," recalled Pennington, who serves as the recreation director for Spotsylvania County. The Knights scored twice in the top of the eighth to capture the late-season contest and assure themselves of the league title. "Carl was one of the first blacks to play for our team," said Hal Sparks, the Knights' football and baseball coach from 1966-70. "He was a tall, lanky kid who didn't have much of a baseball background, but he had athletic ability. And he had a great work ethic. He would stay after practice to do the extra little things to become successful." Sharpenson filled the role as the Knights' leadoff batter, had a knack for stealing bases and hit around .350 his junior year.
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