What started as an idea rooted in fellowship and faith has blossomed into a brand-new tradition in Bladen County. The inaugural season of the Bladen County Church Softball League officially wrapped up this summer, bringing together churches from across the region for friendly competition, community, and Christ-centered connection. With both men’s and women’s divisions taking the field, the league offered a new outlet for churches to gather outside their walls and engag

Bladenboro’s own Dixie Angels (10U) All-Stars are packing up their gloves, cleats, and small-town pride as they head into the biggest weekend of their summer. This talented group of young girls is set to represent Bladen County in the Official Dixie Softball, Inc. State Tournament, an eight-team, double-elimination bracket being held at Northeast Park in Lumberton. Their opening matchup is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning, where they’ll face a strong Moore Cou

The future of softball in Bladen County is looking bright—and it’s starting young. The Bladenboro All-Stars (Sweetees 6U) recently competed in Tabor City for their first-ever postseason appearance, representing Bladen County with heart, enthusiasm, and plenty of smiles. This season marked a milestone as Bladenboro introduced the 4–6-year-old division in Dixie Softball for the first time. With two teams competing in the regular season and an All-Star roster selected for tou

The West Bladen Lady Knights closed out their 2025 softball season with a valiant effort on the road, falling 5-3 to Bunn in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A Softball Playoffs. While Bunn entered the postseason as the #12 seed, they were ranked as the #3 team in the 2A East—making them a formidable opponent despite their bracket position. West Bladen didn’t shy away from the challenge. They opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, setting the tone

The 2025 season came to a close for East Bladen Softball on Tuesday night in the opening round of the NCHSAA 1A Playoffs, as the Lady Eagles fell 7-2 to Vance Charter. East Bladen finishes the year with an overall record of 8-9 and a .500 mark in Waccamaw Conference play at 6-6. More impressively, they turned things around late in the season, winning 7 of their final 11 games to surge into the postseason.

West Bladen Softball closed out their regular season with a commanding 20-2 victory over Red Springs, bringing their overall record to 10-7 and finishing Southeastern Athletic Conference play at 7-3. With the regular season now behind them, the Lady Knights await their playoff fate. As of Friday morning at 11:22 a.m., they were projected as the 19th seed in the upcoming NCHSAA 2A state playoffs, though official brackets have yet to be confirmed.

Emereau celebrated its eighth-grade softball players in a big way on Thursday, delivering a 20-5 victory over Tar Heel in front of a supportive home crowd. The win was fueled by a flurry of offensive firepower and shared contributions across the roster, while also honoring the impact and leadership of the program’s oldest players.

The Elizabethtown Middle School softball team delivered another heart-stopping performance on Wednesday night, pulling out an 11-10 victory over West Columbus in a tightly contested matchup on the road. After celebrating their eighth graders earlier in the week—Calleigh Smith, Avianna Whittington, and Legacy McNeil—the team took the field with determination and a sense of unity that showed throughout the night.

The Bladenboro Middle School softball team delivered a statement win, taking down previously undefeated East Columbus, 11-8, in front of a supportive home crowd. The win was even sweeter as the team honored its 8th grade players: Maycee Kinlaw, Kristen Singletary, Hailii Andrews, Hadley Dove, and Becka Arnold—each of whom has left a lasting mark on the program.

The East Bladen softball team dropped a hard-fought 5-0 contest to East Duplin. With the loss, the Lady Eagles move to an even 8-8 overall record and finish Waccamaw Conference play at 6-6. The game's only scoring came in the second inning, when East Duplin put together a five-run surge that would ultimately decide the game.

On a night filled with emotion and appreciation, the West Bladen Lady Knights honored their seniors and delivered a thrilling 4-3 win over Red Springs in Southeastern Athletic Conference action. The win improved West Bladen’s overall record to 9-7 and their conference mark to 6-3, setting the stage for a rematch at Red Springs on Friday. Before the first pitch, the Lady Knights recognized six seniors—Laci Buffkin, Marlie Walters, Marlene Crabtree, Kallie Bass, Holland

In a thrilling back-and-forth contest on Monday evening, the Emereau Charter School softball team battled Old Main Stream Academy to a 14-14 tie. Despite facing multiple momentum shifts, Emereau showcased grit at the plate and power in the circle to remain unbeaten in their last two contests.

Fans were treated to a thrilling back-and-forth battle on Tuesday as Emereau Charter edged out Clarkton School of Discovery, 22-21, in a middle school softball showdown full of big plays and clutch performances. Clarkton came out swinging, with Ronnae McLean setting the tone early by drawing four walks and scoring three times. Kynzlee Wood added to the rally, delivering a single, a double, and a walk, crossing the plate twice to keep pressure on Emereau’s defense.

The Bladenboro Middle School softball team put together an outstanding performance on both sides of the ball, rolling to a commanding 19-1 win over Elizabethtown. Adyson Carroll kept the pressure on Elizabethtown’s defense all afternoon, scoring four runs and adding a single to her stat line. Hadley Dove provided some major fireworks offensively, collecting a single and smashing two triples, driving in four runs and scoring three times herself.

East Bladen Softball continued its strong push toward the end of the regular season with a dominant 17-1 win over Clinton, improving to 8-7 overall and keeping their Waccamaw Conference record at 6-6. The Lady Eagles wasted no time setting the tone offensively. Martha Simmons sparked the lineup with a single and drove in three runs, helping to build early momentum. Tatum Allen provided a steady presence at the plate, scoring three times while collecting a single, a dou

In a dramatic rally that epitomized the word "resilience," West Bladen Softball erased an eight-run deficit to defeat Fairmont 9-8, scoring nine unanswered runs and capping the night with a walk-off double from Brenna Hester. Head Coach Josh Allen summed it up best when asked for one word to describe the comeback effort: “oh my goodness. Resilience.”

In a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end, West Bladen secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Fairmont in a thrilling 9-inning showdown on Wednesday night. The Lady Knights moved to a 7-7 overall record, improving to 4-3 in Southeastern Athletic Conference play. The game was a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams exchanging punches but ultimately came down to one pivotal inning. West Bladen’s offense found timely opportunities, while thei

East Bladen Softball continues to demonstrate resilience as they work to secure a playoff spot, despite a challenging week on the diamond. With two key games on Tuesday and Wednesday, the team’s 7-7 record and 6-6 Waccamaw Conference standing show they’re still in the hunt, with two non-conference games remaining in the regular season to strengthen their playoff positioning. With the victory, East Bladen has now won six straight games and improved to 7-5 overall, 6-4 in

Bladenboro Middle School's softball team showcased a gritty effort this week, battling through two close games against West Columbus and Central. In a thrilling back-and-forth matchup on Monday, the team narrowly edged out West Columbus 14-13. However, on Tuesday, despite leading most of the game, Bladenboro ultimately fell to Central 14-5 after a tough sixth inning.

Momentum continues to build for the East Bladen softball team, as they battled back for a 5-3 win over Whiteville on Monday night in Waccamaw Conference play. With the victory, East Bladen has now won six straight games and improved to 7-5 overall, 6-4 in conference play.