Athlete Spotlight

Greenbrier senior Chris Johnson is on pace to break every home run record in the books.

In the Wolfpack's season opener against Harlem, Johnson's first two at bats ended with a home run trot and the ball disappearing somewhere behind the center field fence.

He wasn't done.

With the game well in hand, Johnson ended it with a two-run single to force the mercy rule in a 10-0 Greenbrier win.

He still wasn't done.

Two days later, Johnson stepped to the plate at Cross Creek and launched two more home runs in the Wolfpack's 12-2 win.

After hitting four home runs in two games, the senior still won't admit that he's a power hitter.

"No, I'm not one at all," Johnson said. "I work gap-to-gap. I only hit one home run as a sophomore."

In fact, his sophomore year was the last time he played baseball. After 10th grade, Johnson hung up his cleats for his "other sport" and hit the hardwood for a run to the basketball state playoffs. All the hoops success came crashing to a halt when Johnson, then a junior, tore his ACL in the final game of the year.

The injury made him miss the entire 2005 baseball season.

"It was real tough. Just sitting there was not easy at all," he said.

Now finally healthy and back in action, Johnson's bat has carried the Wolfpack to a 3-0 start to the season. The team is one run shy of averaging 10 runs per game. Greenbrier head coach Ed Williams said the offense is also a welcome surprise.

"I would have never expected Chris to come back like that," Williams said. "I knew him being back was going to help us, but I didn't expect his offense to be where it's at."

The home runs have been a blast for the Greenbrier shortstop whom everyone calls "Fudd." The nickname, which has stuck with him for most of his life, came from another Greenbrier athlete, senior softball and basketball standout Brittany Leverett.

"When my cousin Brittany was 2 or 3 years old she couldn't say Christopher. Instead, it came out Christofudd," Johnson said. "They started just calling me Fudd, and it's stuck with me ever since."

Johnson's family has influenced his life beyond a nickname. The senior boasts a brother playing in the Chicago Cubs organization and a large family of supporters. Williams said the support Johnson received from his family has helped through the hard times.

"I think his injury was as tough on the family as it was on him," Williams said. "It's fun to have a family that supports the kids and the program like that."