The drafting and signing of Clarkton native Sincere Smith with the New York Yankees accounted for four of bladenonline’s most viewed sports stories of 2018.
Smith’s signing https://bladencounty.org/sincere-smith-signs-contract-with-yankees/
was the most-viewed sports story of the year. The story of his drafting https://bladencounty.org/east-bladens-sincere-smith-drafted-by-yankees/ received the second most views.
The story of Clarkton Dixie Youth’s celebration of Smith’s drafting received the fourth most views. https://bladencounty.org/clarkton-dixie-youth-celebrate-sincere-smith/ An article about Smith reporting to Yankees camp was 8th in total views. Smith set to report to Yankees Rookie Camp – BladenOnline.com 
East Bladen Coach Robby Priest who spent most of 2018 battling cancer received strong support from NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. This was another top five article: https://bladencounty.org/nascar-driver-supports- robbystrong-effort/ In November Coach Priest’s doctor informed him that he was cancer-free.
Bladenonline’s article receiving the sixth most views of 2018 was Mary Caitlin Campbell winning the USA Powerlifting State Open and qualifying for nationals for the second straight year. Mary Caitlin Campbell Wins USA Powerlifting State Open –BladenOnline.com
East Bladen’s girls soccer team won their first 18 games before losing to N. C. School of Science & Math in the second round of the Class 2A state play-offs. The Lady Eagles won the Three Rivers Conference championship with a 14-0 record. https://bladencounty.org/east-bladen-dominates-all-conference-girls-soccer-selections
East Bladen’s baseball team won their last 7 games to finish 10-8 in league play but did not receive a state play-off berth. https://bladencounty.org/three-bladen-baseball-players-named-all-conference
West Bladen’s softball team posted a 10-8 Three Rivers Conference record but did not receive a state-play-off berth. https://bladencounty.org/three-bladen-girls-named-all-conference-softball
West Bladen’s Jose Osorio and East Bladen’s Jay McGill both qualified for the MidEast Tennis Regionals. Osorio finished second in the Three Rivers Conference Tournament.
https://bladencounty.org/bladen-trio-named-all-conference-tennis
West Bladen’s Knights won a 5-team Three Rivers Conference track meet at Fairmont in April. Track & Field: West Bladen Boys Win Meet – BladenOnline.com
Five Bladen Track Athletes Named to All-TRC Girls Track Team – BladenOnline.com
West Bladen’s Evan Richardson Named All-Conference Golf – BladenOnline.com
Bladenboro won the Bladen Five Middle School softball championship with a 6-0 record. Elizabethtown won the Bladen Five Middle School baseball championship with a 5-1 record.
West Bladen athletic director and head baseball coach Kim Cain resigned to take a position at Green Sea/Floyds High, SC. https://bladencounty.org/west-bladens-kim-cain-resigns- to-take-green-sea-job/
Bladen County’s Dwayne Thompson received the Dick Knox Award for volleyball officiating. https://bladencounty.org/dwayne-thompson-receives-dick-knox-award-for-volleyball-officiating/
Elizabethtown won the District 9 Dixie Youth Baseball Coach-Pitch championship. https://bladencounty.org/elizabethtown-coach-pitch-all- stars-are-district-champions/
Elizabethtown won the District 9 Dixie Youth Baseball Majors championship and advanced to the state tournament. https:// bladenonline.com/ elizabethtown-major-league- all-stars-open-state- tournament-saturday/
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