postandcourier
Chris Singletons winding journey is bringing him back home.
The former Goose Creek High School and Charleston Southern standout will be honored July 26 at Riley Park as part of the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 along with Nick Ciuffo, Mike Cisco and Melissa McCants Azevedo in a pregame ceremony ahead of the 5 p.m.
game against the Wilson Warbirds.
With so many people helping me along the way, I think it's awesome.
I think about guys like Coach Kenny Wilkinson of North Charleston, Singleton said.
I think about guys like Rodney Hancock, who helped start me investing in real estate.
I think about Dave Echols of the RiverDogs who played a big role in my professional career, so Im honored to be alongside those giants, especially coach Kenny.
Singleton played for Wilkinson who is also a member of the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame on the 2014 and 2015 North Charleston Dixie Majors World Series championship teams.
Even influences from back then are still impacting his life.
I had a travel baseball coach in high school named Randy Carlson," Singleton said.
"And now he works with my son, so thats a full circle moment.
At Charleston Southern his freshman season, Singleton had a huge game in a milestone 4-3 win over Clemson, knocking in the game-winning run and making a diving catch for the games final out.
We didnt have guys hitting a bunch of home runs like they are nowadays, and so Id be hitting third or fourth, even though I probably should have been the leadoff guy, Singleton said.
I think the biggest memory I had in college was when we beat Clemson for the first time in school history, and I had a pretty good game.
I had four hits and a couple of RBI to help us win.
It was prior to his sophomore season that the trajectory of Singleton's life changed forever when his mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, was killed in the racially motivated mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015.
In the wake of that tragedy, Singleton began taking on public speaking roles as his purpose started to become clear.
He gave his baseball career a shot, finishing up his playing career at CSU as a junior in 2017, hitting .276 his final season after hitting .332 the previous year, and was selected in the 19th round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs.
Singleton hit .304 in Arizona League rookie ball before moving up to Low-A Eugene, where he hit .185 in 108 at-bats.
I think the biggest thing is when you play professional sports, you realize how good everybody is, Singleton said.
I mean, guys are unbelievable.
At Class A South Bend the following year, he hit .223 in 107 games in the Midwest League, but after two seasons, the Cubs wound up releasing him.
That led to a key decision in his life fight to keep the baseball dream alive or turn to public speaking full-time.
When I got released, I had my brother and sister at home who I was raising.
And then I had my son C.J.
I love baseball, but I knew it wasnt going to be something I did forever, Singleton said.
Once I got released, I knew what my next journey was going to be.
Baseball ended, but another career was already beginning.
Singleton found the opportunity to speak with the Charleston RiverDogs, and offered heartfelt thanks to Echols and RiverDogs leadership for giving him that chance.
I was already speaking in the offseason, Singleton said.
I told my wife (Mariana De Andrade) I dont know how long Id play ball, but this speaking thing is something Id like to pursue.
So he did.
On Tuesday, he spoke in front of 1,200 teachers in Athens, Ga.
On Wednesday, he spoke to top performers at Adobe in Chicago.
Sunday's stop brings him to Riley Park before he hits the road once more to spread his message.
Man, its been a blessing for me," Singleton said.
Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame CLASS OF 2026 Melissa McCants Azevedo: The longtime RiverDogs front office executive played a key role in the growth of baseball in Charleston for nearly 30 years.
She began her career in 1989 with the Charleston Rainbows and stayed with the RiverDogs through 2019, serving as vice president of special events for most of those years.
Throughout her tenure, she played a key role in organizing baseball games, special events, charitable initiatives and community programs, helping strengthen the RiverDogs' connection to the Charleston community.
Among her many accomplishments, she served as events coordinator for the 53rd South Atlantic League All-Star Game hosted in Charleston and oversaw numerous RiverDogs-sponsored events, including golf tournaments, festivals and summer baseball camps.
In 2012 she was named a finalist for the Charleston Regional Business Journal's Influential Women in Business Award.
She currently is a minority stakeholder of the Joliet Slammers, an independent minor league baseball team in Illinois.
Mike Cisco: A Mount Pleasant native, the former Wando High School pitcher earned All-State AAAA honors in 2004 and 2005 and was named to the South Carolina/North Carolina Select All-Star team.
He pitched for the University of South Carolina from 2006-08 and earned a spot as the Friday night starter his freshman year leading the Gamecocks in strikeouts and innings pitched as a freshman.
He also led the team in fewest walks per inning pitched and in 2007 and 2008.
He finished his Gamecocks career with a 9-10 record.
Cisco was a member of the 2006 Charlottesville Regional All-Tournament Team, the 2006 SEC All-Tournament team, an All-SEC Freshman team selection and a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll winner.
Cisco was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 36th round of the 2008 MLB draft.
The right-hander pitched in the minors for six seasons, reaching Triple-A.
He compiled a record of 33-26, pitching in 173 games and finishing with a 3.06 ERA.
Cisco is the grandson of former MLB pitching coach Galen Cisco.
He currently lives on Daniel Island.
Nick Ciuffo: A Mount Pleasant native, Nick Ciuffo starred at Wando High School before leading Lexington High School to the 2013 Class AAAA state championship.
He completed his high school career with an outstanding 101-26 record and earned South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2013 while becoming one of the nation's most highly regarded prospects.
A two-time high school All-American, Ciuffo represented Team USA and helped capture the gold medal at the 2011 16U World Championships.
He committed to the University of South Carolina before being selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.
Over 10 professional seasons, Ciuffo played in six major league organizations and appeared in the majors with the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles.
Widely respected as one of baseball's premier defensive catchers, he was twice named the Rays' Minor League Defensive Player of the Year.
Chris Singleton: An inspirational speaker and former standout outfielder for Charleston Southern, Singleton's contributions to the community went far beyond baseball.
He was drafted in the 19th round by the Chicago Cubs and played two seasons in the minor leagues, compiling 116 hits, 21 doubles, six triples, six HRs and 23 stolen bases over 146 games.
He joined the Charleston RiverDogs' staff as Director of Community Outreach with the responsibility to connect with members of the community and share his love of the game with underserved neighborhoods in Charleston and the surrounding region.
He is best known for his remarkable resilience and message of unity following the tragic loss of his mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, in the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting.
He was a two-sport star at Goose Creek High School where he earned all-region honors in baseball and basketball.
Singleton was a three-year starter at Charleston Southern.
He also led the North Charleston Dixie Majors to two state championships and world series titles (2014 and 2015).
On the night Singleton's mother was killed, he had a baseball game.
Otherwise, he would have been at the church on that tragic night.
Currently, Chris is active in the North Charleston community coaching his sons team.
MEMBERS 2026: Chris Singleton, Nick Ciuffo, Mike Cisco, Melissa McCants Azevedo 2025: Michael Kohn, Marvin Goldklang, Chris McGuiness, Steve Arrington 2024: Dave Echols, Ted Jones, Walt Nadzak, Bo Parks 2023: Brett Gardner, Matt Wieters, Justin Smoak 2022: Brett Spivey, Rodney Hancock, Timmy Linker 2021: Chip Cannon, Oscar Fordham 2020: No Inductions 2019: Tony Cadden, Mike Montei, Kiki Cuyler 2018: Lewis Elmore Lukey Dudley, Jerry Stoots, Richard Dick Jones 2017: Philip Hartig, R.J.
Swindle, Ryan Johnson, John Couch 2016: Ted Byrne, Chris Campbell, Nick Chigges, Joe Riley Jr., Mike Veeck 2015: Pete Ayoub, John Chalus, Lee Curtis 2014: Reese Havens, David Hoffman, Billy Swails Jr.
2013: Steven Jackson, Drew Meyer, Britt Reames 2012: Gettys Glaze, Tom Hatley, John Rhodes 2011: Bill Ackerman, Roberto Alomar, Mike Kimbrell 2010: Lee Glaze, Fred Jordan, D.K.
Walters, Kenny Wilkinson 2009: John Dodds, Jr., W.S.
Bull Durham, Donald Morillo, Doug Pounder 2008: Bryce Florie, Danny Jones, Charley Smith, Richard Wieters 2007: 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Star Team, 1990 Citadel World Series Team, Anthony Jenkins, Modie Risher 2006: Ty Cline, Mike Cook, Gary McJunkin, Chal Port 2005: John Candelaria 2004: David Cone 2003: Willie Randolph, Gorman Thomas.