I watched a potential state championship slip away from the East Bladen Eagles baseball team last evening … Check our Sports Page for details … My short observation is, for what it’s worth, East Bladen coaches and players played their hearts out and came up just short of an opportunity to play in the NCHSAA 2A state championship this weekend. Congratulations to the Randleman team, they will face Rutherfordton-Spindale Central team this weekend for the state championship.
Final score was 6-4 in 8 innings. There was no lack of effort by the Eagles players and staff … just ran out of pitching … Rules state how many pitches a player can pitch, a good rule but sometimes it’s painful … Congratulations to a very good East Bladen Eagle team, players, and coaches. Both teams had a large group of supporters … well attended…
Tonight, East Bladen supporters are sponsoring a fundraiser, tickets still available at $100 each, includes a meal for two and an opportunity to win cash in a reverse-raffle. Food will be good, company will be good and you may win $ … Hope to see you there. Tickets on sale at the school, or they can direct you to a seller … Leinwands has them, others I am sure. It’s been a tough year for high school athletics … Cost rise and fans have been quarantined…
East and West Bladen have players involved in more state playoffs, including track & field, this weekend…
Spectrum produced a nice news feature “A tradition of service and leadership” on #1 son Rick Hester, Johnston County manager, and includes much about his baseball days at Clemson and later in the Texas Rangers organization, as well as his career in public service. It was produced by Spectrum in the Triangle area … not sure if it will be available in this area or not … Hopefully it will be…
Told my bride I was going to ball game, would not be there long … left my phone in auto, borrowed one to call and tell her I would be late, and I was, arrived at home between 9:30 p.m. and 10. Game started at 7 p.m.
One more thought … Both teams had a huge group of supporters, maybe the most I have seen at a high school baseball game in a long time..
Congrats to Coach Grant Pait and his staff … maybe next year … Game was played at Coach Russell Priest Field.
“In baseball, as in life, all the important things happen at HOME.”
“Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.” Yogi Berra
“Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True! And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. George Will
robert g hester
rgh4612@gmail.com
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