Top 5 lefty athletes in area history

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — If you didn’t know, today we honor the southpaws of the world for Left Handers day.

Only about 10% of the world uses their left hand primarily. But, of that group, we have a lot of star athletes. UNCW’s Ty Taylor and Aleah Thompson, as well as legendary football coach Bob Lewis just missed the list. These are our top five.

5. Craig Ponder, UNCW Basketball

The lefty guard was one of the players that helped kickstart the turnaround under Kevin Keatts at UNCW.

He and the Hawks defeated Hofstra in the 2016 CAA title game to send the team to March Madness against Duke for the only time in his UNCW career. #0 had 20 or more points in both of those games.

Ponder finished 13 all-time in program history for scoring with 1,160 points in 5 seasons at the Dub.

4. Blake Walston, New Hanover Baseball & Football

The definition of a dual-threat, Walston and his left hand threw the New Hanover Wildcats to a state football title against AC Reynolds after leading the state in passing.

He followed that up with an impressive year on the diamond, bringing New Hanover to their second straight state baseball championship. Here they defeated Crest High School in sweep fashion.

He’ll play college baseball next year with a scholarship at NC State.

3. Lacey Suggs, East Bladen & UNCW Basketball

It’s our local star turned college athlete: Lacey Suggs.

Suggs led East Bladen to a 106-11 record with three conference titles, three all-state selections and three conference player of the year honors.

She finished her career with 2,166 career points and 829 rebounds at East Bladen.

After betting on herself, she was awarded a scholarship during her sophomore year at UNCW. She developed into a key sixth woman role and scored 366 points for the Hawks.

2. MacKenzie Gore, Whiteville & San Diego Padres Baseball

What can’t we say about the Whiteville product?

Gatorade’s North Carolina baseball player of the year, national baseball player of the year and of course male athlete of the year. But that was just last summer.

Gore won three state championships in his four years with the Whiteville Wolfpack, earning him a third overall selection in the major league draft by the San Diego Padres.

He has appeared in 14 games and has a 4.41 ERA for the Fort Wayne Tincaps.

1. Trot Nixon, New Hanover Baseball and Football & Boston Redsox Baseball

Finally in the top position Wilmington’s own Trot Nixon.

You may remember him as a co-host on the 5th Quarter.

Or you may remember him as a state athlete of the year after his career with baseball and football at new hanover. That doesn’t ring a bell?

How about him breaking passing records by Wilmington legends Sonny Jurgenson and Roman Gabriel as the Wildcats quarterback.

Of course, maybe his biggest career mark, when he won a World Series Championship with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 breaking the Curse of the Bambino.

That’s our top 5 best lefty’s in area history.