NCHSAA Playoff Baseball & Softball Preview: Bladen County Teams Ready to Host and Compete
- Austin Smith
- May 5
- 4 min read
Bladen County, NC – There’s an undeniable energy in the air as Bladen County prepares to host not one, but two high school baseball playoff games this week.
We are also awaiting the brackets for Girl's Soccer to be released on May 9th. East Bladen is projected to the #4 seed at this point. Be on the lookout for that article coming up.
For the first time in school history, West Bladen Baseball enters the postseason as the top seed in the 2A East, while East Bladen Baseball earns a strong #6 seed in the 1A East bracket.
On the softball side, both teams are also in the dance, with West Bladen drawing the #21 seed in 2A, and East Bladen landing at #22 in 1A.
All first round games will be played on Tuesday, May 6th. East Bladen baseball hosts at 6pm, West Bladen baseball hosts at 7pm, East Bladen will travel to Vance Charter and play at 5pm, and West Bladen softball will travel to Bunn and play at 6pm.
Fans planning to attend should note that admission is $7 for all games—cash only.
Only media and NCHSAA-issued state passes will be accepted.
West Bladen Baseball: #1 Seed in the East
Record: 17-4 overall | 8-2 conference | #1 Seed
Opponent: #32 Saint Pauls (9-13, 2-8). Wins against Lumberton (15-8), South View (13-12), Fairmont (12-12).
West Bladen enters the postseason with confidence and history on their side. After clinching a co-conference championship, their first since 2007-2008, the Knights secured the #1 overall seed in the 2A East—a first for the program.
They will host St. Pauls at 7pm tomorrow.
A key part of that success has been a stifling defense and strong pitching staff that allowed the fewest runs in the conference. Add in the fact that West Bladen faced the toughest strength of schedule in all of 2A, and this team has been battle-tested.
They’ve already bested Saint Pauls twice this season—a 5-2 win on March 25 and a 13-3 win on March 28. But as every coach knows, playoffs offer no guarantees.
Earlier this season, Head Coach Clint Allen set the tone: “That’s the number one goal, win conference. The boys are going to be ready, play hard, have fun, and hopefully get the job done.”
That was when he was asked about the regular season goal.
The regular season goal is complete. Now, the Knights are focused on making history.
East Bladen Baseball: Hungry and Battle-Tested
After a rocky 1-5 start, the Eagles turned things around, finishing the regular season 10-5 over their final 15 games, earning the program’s sixth straight playoff appearance (excempting the COVID year).
They will host Hobgood Charter at 6pm tomorrow.
Their run included a strong showing in the Freedom Christian Academy Spring Tournament, going 2-1 and narrowly falling by a run to host FCA—one of the top-ranked private school teams in the state.
Also, defeating the #3 seed Whiteville in the 2A East playoffs was a big win for this team that has given them confidence.
This team is young, but smart—just as Head Coach James Ben Daly predicted: “We’ll lose some games because we’re young, but I expect we will be smart.”
That poise has led to a high playoff seed and a home matchup with Hobgood Charter.
If the Eagles’ bats heat up, they’re capable of hanging with most teams in their bracket. I truly believe that.
West Bladen Softball: Trending in the Right Direction
Record: 10-7 overall | 7-3 conference | #21 Seed
Opponent: #12 Bunn (16-4, 9-3). Wins against Roanoke Rapids (14-5), East Wake (13-7), Franklinton (11-8).
West Bladen Softball's season could be summarized in one word: resilient. They will travel to Bunn High School and play at 6pm.
After dropping their first four games, they responded by winning 10 of their next 13, closing the regular season with momentum, securing their 14th playoff appearance in as many years (exempting the COVID season).
Coach Josh Allen noted early challenges but also saw potential in a young but spirited group“We had 29 sign up, 20 showed up. That’s a lot better than we’ve had in the past... We are kind of in a growing period."
That growth has shown. With a core group that includes five freshmen contributing significantly, the Knights may be built for the future—but they aren’t done with the present.
They’ll face a talented Bunn team, but they’ve already shown they can weather adversity.
East Bladen Softball: Poised for Another Postseason Push
Record: 8-8 overall | 6-6 conference | #22 Seed
Opponent: #11 Vance Charter (11-4, 4-2). Wins against Oxford Prep (12-6), Riverside-Durham (11-6), Falls Lake (11-10).
East Bladen Softball, like their baseball counterparts, started slow but surged late. They will travel to Vance Charter and play at 5pm. Vance Charter plays at Oxford Park 6408 Horner siding Rd, Oxford, NC 27565.
From a 1-5 opening stretch, they powered their way to a 7-3 finish and earned the program’s fifth straight playoff appearance.
Last year, they broke a 15-year drought with a playoff win—and they’re hungry for more. With a mix of experience and up-and-coming players, the Eagles are aiming to build on last season’s success and prove they belong.
Their opponent, Vance Charter, brings a solid resume, but East Bladen’s grit and postseason experience should make for an exciting battle.
Bladen County will be well represented this postseason, with all four varsity diamond squads in the bracket and two teams hosting first-round games.
Whether it's the rising momentum of the Eagles or the dominant stretch of the Knights, one thing is clear—the road to victory starts at home.
Playoff baseball and softball are back in Bladen County, and the stands should be packed.
NCHSAA Playoff Baseball & Softball Preview: Bladen County Teams Ready to Host and Compete
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