Members of the Bladen County team are: Zach Meares, Gabe Barber, Freddie Wooten, Raymond Autry, Dylan Fine, Jacob Priest, Tyler Hill, Drew Sholar, Brady Hollingsworth, Brandon Fine, Makhi Cromartie, K. J. Brown and Chase Starkloff. Coaches are Kendal Kelley and Les Hill.
The Bladen County Pre-Majors All-Star players, coaches and families Thursday began a trip of about 900 miles. Destination: Sterlington, Louisiana – site of the World Series. Members of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office escorted the caravan out of town.
The team will take part in opening ceremonies Friday night at Sterlington Sports Complex.
Bladen County is scheduled to play Monroe, Louisiana, at 11 a.m. ET Saturday in the first round of the 12-team double-elimination tournament. The game is expected to be streamed live on lspn.live.
If Bladen County wins, it will play the winner between Marshall, Texas and Laurel, Mississippi in the winner’s bracket Sunday at 2 p.m. A loss in the opener pits Bladen County against the Marshall-Laurel loser at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The tournament is scheduled to run through Wednesday.
Other teams in the tournament are Prescott, Alabama; Parkwood, Tennessee; Mangham, Louisiana; North Charleston, South Carolina; Mecklenburg, Virginia; Ozark, Alabama; Brooksville, Florida; and the host team from Sterlington.
Bladen County qualified for the World Series by winning the state championship earlier this month in Winnabow. Bladen County defeated Columbus County 11-1 on July 17 in the title game.
Bladen County participated in three consecutive Pre-Majors World Series from 2013-15. The 2015 team, comprised of players from West Bladen High School, won its first two games in Guntersville, Alabama, before losing twice and placing in the top six.
About Author
