East Bladen senior righthander Alex Coates was named the Four County Conference Baseball Co-Player of the Year after he led the Eagles to the Four County Conference Championship. Coates anchored the Eagle pitching staff posting a 10-2 record.
Fairmont’s William McGirt sank a 6-foot par putt on the second play-off hole to win the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus in Muirfield, Ohio. It was McGirt’s first win on the PGA Tour after 165 tournaments played over the last 6 seasons.
With the victory McGirt earns a full exemption from PGA Tour qualifying for the next 3 seasons, a berth in the PGA Championship and Quicken Loans National and a berth in next season’s Masters and Players Championships. McGirt also pocketed a $1.5 million winners’ check.
Indianapolis Colt strength and conditioning coach Richard Howell, a Bladenboro native, held a football camp at West Bladen High. Howell shared thoughts on working hard and making the right choices with young campers then sent the kids off to different stations where they worked on fundamentals under the watchful eye of Howell who was assisted by West Bladen football players.
West Bladen softball stars Alanna Ludlum and Laikyn Pait played for the Region 4 softball team in the Powerade State Games. Ludlum smacked 3 hits and drove in 2 runs, and Pait slugged a home run and scored twice as Region 4 won 2 games.
With a second-place finish in the District 9 AA (Coach-Pitch) Tournament, the Elizabethtown All-Stars qualified for the North Carolina State Coach-Pitch Tournament. Members of the Elizabethtown All-Stars were: Zach Sholar, Tyler Lewis, Davion Lewis, Mason Smith, Ryan Dove, Jake Gooden, C. J. McCracken, Colton Daly, Ahmarie White, Easton Bostic, Dawson Wright and Isaiah Robinson. Coaches were Kevin Dove, James Ben Daly, Warren Sholar and Kyle Bostic.
Three West Bladen softball players were members of the Lumberton Dixie Belles All-Stars who won the Dixie Belles Softball District 6 championship and advanced to the Dixie Belles State Tournament.
Carley Dawson batted 3-4 with a triple and 3 rbi’s in the district title game. Conner Brisson was 2-4 with a double and 2 rbi’s. Abby Dawson was the other West Bladen player on the District 6 Champions.
Makhi Cromartie knocked in Elijah Crabtree with the winning run, and Vic Campbell slugged a grand-slam home run as the Athletics rallied past the Astros 16-15 in the Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Major League Tournament Championship Game.
Members of the Athletics team that won the both regular-season and tournament championships were: Elijah Crabtree, Anthony Cowan, Andrew Horne, Hoytt Register, Ty Mathis, Tyler Johnson, Makhi Cromartie, Ruben Alvarado, Vic Campbell, Freddie Wooten, and Destin Montgomery. Coaches are Kevin Crabtree, Amp McKoy, and Quan Wooten.
Natoren Corbett knocked in Cole Butler with the go-ahead run, and Torrean Cogdell struck out the side in the final inning as the Twins edged the Tigers 7-6 in the Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Baseball Minor League Tournament Championship.
Members of the Twins team that won both the regular-season and tournament championships were: Cole Butler, Garrett Dunham, Coley Sasser, Azaveon Robinson, Torrean Cogdell, Alex Melvin, Hunter Elks, Natoren Corbett, Blaine Pope, Kelcey Robinson, and Charlie Edwards. Coaches were Corey Corbett, Kevin Dunham, and Chris Butler.
The Yankees broke a 4-4 tie and went on to win the Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Baseball Coach-Pitch Tournament Championship with a 10-5 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Members of the Yankees team who won both the regular-season and tournament championships were: Witt Gooden, Inman Carson, Jag Gooden, Javonte Smith, Seth Faircloth, Landon Brice Scott, Davion Lewis, Jackson Smith, Ryan Dove, Nashawn Jones and Tremaine Thomas. Coaches were Kevin Dove, David Faircloth, Jackie Smith, and Channing Gooden.
The Glory completed an undefeated season and won Bladen Recreation’s 11-12 Girls Softball League championship. Team members were: Hannah Cole, Luz Ramos, Lauren Bowen, Weslyn Hall, Carington McDowell, Merritt Martin, Kayleigh Raynor, Alyssa Futrell, Katie Evans, Natalie Spears and Lachelle Parks. Coaches were Anthony Raynor and Lawrence Raynor.
The Pirates completed an undefeated season and won Bladen Recreation’s 8-10 Girls Softball League championship. Team members were: Holland Davis, Haylie Robinson, Ashlynn Brown, Madeline Barbour, Abbie Hickman, Rylee Chadwick, Mackenzie Singletary, Rebecca Johnson, Natalee Sykes, Laci Storms, Morgan Moore, Marlie Walters and Kaden Thurman. Coaches were Matt Chadwick, Jerimey Sykes and Steve Thurman.
The Elizabethtown AA (Coach-Pitch) Supplemental All-Stars were runners-up in the District 2 AA Supplemental Tournament in Clarkton. Members of the team were: Claxton Tatum, Braylon Cromartie, Brady Marlowe, Omar Powell, Gavin Elks, Tyler Eason, Conner Hill, Niyah Wooten, Jackson Smith, Collin Cole, Wilson Clifton and Inman Carson. Coaches were Jackie Smith, Brooks Tatum, Walter Powell, Jr. and Rusty Hill.
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