News Summary
Beaufort County is excited to announce the return of its junior American Legion baseball team for the summer season. With a competitive history dating back to the early 2000s, this team will feature rising freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Veteran coach Bobby Boyd will lead the roster, comprising players from local schools and the Washington Youth Baseball League 15u all-stars. As the team prepares for an 18-game schedule, local fans can look forward to supporting their young athletes as they aim for another state championship title.
Washington, North Carolina – Beaufort County is set to have a junior American Legion baseball team for the summer of 2023, marking its return after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This team, affiliated with Post 15, has a competitive history that dates back to the early 2000s but experienced interruptions from 2008 until 2015.
The junior Legion team will feature a roster of rising freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Notably, rising and graduating seniors will not be eligible to participate. The team will include several players from the Washington Youth Baseball League 15u all-stars, who secured victory in the state tournament last summer, reinforcing the talent pool for this upcoming season.
Veteran coach Bobby Boyd will lead the team as its head coach this summer, having previously been an assistant coach for last year’s championship-winning team. After tryouts, out of 26 players who attended, 16 were chosen to finalize the roster. The selected players hail from a variety of local schools, including five from Washington High School, four from Southside High School, two from Bath Elementary, two from Farmville Central, and one each from J.H. Rose, Pungo Christian Academy, and Parrott Academy.
Additionally, the team has opened its doors to young athletes from Pitt County. This inclusion stems from the fact that the local organization in Pitt County only has a senior Legion team this summer, providing an opportunity for younger players to display their skills and compete.
The team will begin practicing at Washington High School once the high school baseball season concludes, starting in late May. They are set to embark on an extensive 18-game schedule that will run through the end of June. Home games are planned to take place at the same high school facility, allowing local fans to support the team throughout its season.
In early July, the regional tournament will be hosted by Bear Grass, with the top two teams advancing to the state tournament held in Cherryville. Initial opponents for the junior Legion team will include Riverside, Bear Grass, Edenton, Goldsboro, Ahoskie, and Perquimans, with additional teams expected to join the schedule as the season progresses.
The coaching staff, which includes assistants Glenn Marsh, Michael Craig, and Ryan Kolibabek, is comprised entirely of individuals without sons on the team. Their motivation stems from a genuine passion for baseball and a commitment to the development of young players, making it a priority to foster a fun and competitive environment for everyone involved.
With the combination of returning players and experienced coaches, the team is eager to make an impact this summer, with the overarching goal of not only competing but also striving for another state championship title. The return of this junior American Legion baseball team symbolizes a revival of youth sports in Beaufort County and offers players a chance to enhance their skills while promoting teamwork and sportsmanship.
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Additional Resources
- Washington Daily News: Junior American Legion Baseball Returns
- Wikipedia: American Legion Baseball
- Washington Daily News: Beaufort County Post 15 Tryouts
- Google Search: Beaufort County Post 15 Tryouts
- Your Island News: Veteran of the Week – Kevin Egan
- Google Scholar: Veteran of the Week
- Your Island News: Veteran of the Week – Herbert Washington
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Veteran
- Washington Daily News: Beaufort County Memorial Day Ceremonies
- Google News: Beaufort County Memorial Day
