When Donavan Worley walks into the Tar Heel Middle School gym for the first game of the year, it won’t just be another coaching stop. For the Whiteville native, it’s the start of a new chapter — one where he’s committed to building both a winning tradition and a strong community around Tar Heel athletics. Worley, a graduate of UNC Pembroke with a Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Health and Physical Education, has been on the sidelines and in the classroom for years. He sta

The Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Baseball Majors are taking their talents to Wilmington this weekend to compete in the 2025 North Carolina DYB Majors Division 1 State Tournament, held at Long Leaf Park. It’s a big stage for this group of rising young ballplayers, and they’re ready to represent Bladen County with pride and heart. The team kicks off their state tournament run this afternoon (Saturday) at 1 p.m. against Columbus County. The stakes are high—whoever comes out

It’s always encouraging to see hometown athletes continue their journey beyond high school—and that’s exactly what’s happening this summer with three former West Bladen baseball players who are suiting up for the Hope Mills Rockfish in the Old North State League. Garrett Dunham, Brady Durden, and Hunter Smith—each having left their mark in Bladen County—are now stepping into a new chapter, gaining experience in a competitive collegiate summer league just an hour down the r

Elizabethtown, NC - ​Despite weather delays and a tough draw in the bracket, the Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Coach Pitch All-Stars showed grit, teamwork, and plenty of heart this past week in the 2025 North Carolina District 9 AA (Coach Pitch) Tournament, held right here in Elizabethtown. Teams from Lumberton, West Robeson, Fairmont, and host Elizabethtown battled throughout the rain-soaked week. The Elizabethtown squad earned a convincing 15-5 win over Fairmont but ultimate

At a glance, East Bladen’s 4-1 second-round playoff win over Oxford Prep might look like a seeding upset, with the #6-seeded Eagles knocking off the #11 seed. But anyone keeping up knows the seeding tells only part of the story. Oxford Prep entered the game ranked #4 in the MaxPreps standings and competed in the same conference as Voyager Academy, the #1A East representative.

The West Bladen Knights saw their unforgettable season come to a close Tuesday night, falling 5-4 to St. Pauls in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A Baseball Playoffs. The Knights have plenty to hold their heads high about — a 17-5 overall record, an 8-2 mark in SAC 6 play, and their first conference championship since the 2007-2008 season.

Playoff baseball isn’t about perfection—it’s about finding a way to win. East Bladen did just that, grinding out a 4-2 victory over Hobgood Charter in the opening round of the NCHSAA 1A State Playoffs. With the win, the Eagles improve to 12-10 on the season, keeping their postseason run alive. Head Coach James Ben Daly was fired up after the final out but didn’t sugarcoat things. “WOO! Good win,” Daly said. “But we have to play better—we left a lot of opportunities o

The West Bladen Knights closed out their regular season and followed it up with a tiebreaker victory that secured their first conference title since 2007-2008, earning co-champion honors in the Southeastern Athletic Conference (SAC 6) alongside Midway. Even more impressive, the Knights are now projected as the #1 seed in the 2A East, a historic first for the program. After shutting out Red Springs 10-0 on Friday night, West Bladen returned to action Saturday afternoon

Emereau baseball delivered a complete team performance in an 11-0 win over Tar Heel on Wednesday afternoon, combining steady offensive production with dominant pitching to secure the shutout. The win also served as a celebration of Emereau’s 8th-grade players, honoring Greylon Robinson, Stryker Pait, Gunner Lewis, Jackson Moffatt, and Greigh Butler for their leadership and contributions to the team.

It was a week full of baseball, celebration, and standout performances for the Bladenboro Middle School baseball team, who picked up back-to-back wins over Elizabethtown and East Columbus. The week began on Monday at Elizabethtown, where the Cougars honored their eighth-grade class in a heartfelt ceremony. Kollin Adams, Chase Moultrie, Prince McKoy, Jabrel Rogers, Richard White, and Damian Maynor were recognized for their contributions to the program, with families and fan

With their backs against the wall and postseason positioning on the line, East Bladen Baseball found a way to claw back and secure a 9-8 win over East Duplin Tuesday night. The hard-fought victory pushes the Eagles to an overall record of 11-10 and keeps them steady at 7-5 in Waccamaw Conference play.

The West Bladen golf team capped off an impressive regular season with a second-place finish in the Southeastern Athletic Conference (SAC 6) following Monday’s match. With consistent play throughout the spring, the Knights have earned a trip to the 2A Mid-Eastern Regionals, scheduled for Tuesday, May 6th at The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club in Chapel Hill. Tee time is set for 9 a.m.

The Emereau baseball team kept its momentum rolling on the road with a commanding 13-1 victory over Old Main, combining disciplined hitting with lockdown pitching to secure the win. Vance Rowland led the charge from the mound and at the plate. Pitching all five innings, Rowland was in complete control, scattering just two hits while not allowing an earned run or a single walk. He struck out six batters, keeping Old Main off balance the entire afternoon.

The Emereau Aviators delivered a strong performance on the diamond, shutting out Clarkton 17-0 behind a balanced attack at the plate and strong work on the mound.

The East Bladen Eagles put together an early offensive surge Monday night but narrowly fell to Clinton, 8-7, in a tough Waccamaw Conference matchup. With the loss, East Bladen moves to a 10-10 overall record while holding steady at 7-5 in conference play. The Eagles wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, plating six runs across the first two innings. Debo Lewis sparked the early rally by reaching base with a double and later scoring a run, while Andrew Musslewhite f

West Bladen Baseball made the most of its Spring Break weekend, sweeping all three games in the South View Easter Tournament and solidifying its standing atop the 2A East. With wins over Overhills, South Columbus, and South View, the Knights improved to 14-4 overall and remain lock The win bumps West Bladen to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play, where they now share the top spot with Midway and Clinton. With no SAC-6 conference tournament, the NCHSAA’s RPI system wi

The East Bladen Eagles headed into Spring Break looking to continue momentum—and they found it during a three-game stretch at the Freedom Christian Acade The Eagles jumped out to an early lead but couldn’t hold off a late Just two days after a statement 3-1 win over Whiteville on Monday, East Bladen took the field again Wednesday night looking to sweep the season series. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead but couldn’t hold off a late rally, falling 6-3 in the Wac

In a gritty Thursday night showdown, West Bladen used timely hitting, aggressive base running, and a resilient pitching staff to secure a 6-4 victory over Fairmont, climbing into a three-way tie for first place in the Southeastern Athletic Conference (SAC-6). The win bumps West Bladen to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play, where they now share the top spot with Midway and Clinton. With no SAC-6 conference tournament, the NCHSAA’s RPI system will decide seeding.

East Bladen’s JV baseball team faced a tough challenge on Wednesday night, falling to Whiteville 12-2 in Waccamaw Conference play. Despite the final score, the Eagles showed flashes of promise on both sides of the ball. Cade Rogers got the start on the mound and pitched through four innings, battling against a Whiteville lineup that found ways to generate consistent offense.

Just two days after a statement 3-1 win over Whiteville on Monday, East Bladen took the field again Wednesday night looking to sweep the season series. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead but couldn’t hold off a late Just two days after a statement 3-1 win over Whiteville on Monday, East Bladen took the field again Wednesday night looking to sweep the season series. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead but couldn’t hold off a late rally, falling 6-3 in the Wac