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August 26, 2023 Segment 2
North Carolina has a state law that declares that public schools don’t start class until after August 25th. There are several school districts that are rebelling against the state law & starting a bit earlier. This has lengthened the time that we speak on the Back-to-School time period including speaking with Langston Wertz, Jr., about high school football.
It’s a time to celebrate one of the heritage sports of America, Baseball. The Little League World series takes place in Williamsport, PA each August and our friend & local man, Lee Clinton, always takes his place as part of the grounds crew for this annual event. An event that has been going on for the past 76 years.
The 2023 Little League World Series is taking place August 16 to August 27 with ten teams from the United States and ten teams from other countries competing.
Clinton’s regular job when back home in Clover, SC, is working for Clover School District #2. However he heads to Williamsport to take care of the multiple practice fields & the Historic Bowman Field located at the Muncy Bank Ballpark.
During his time there in the past week, two Major League teams showed up. The Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies played on August 20th within Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field for the MLB Little League Classic game. The Nationals won 4-3.
Clinton stated that although the MLB utilizes their own ground crews, his crew & the Little League Players all get to sit and watch the MLB game.
Fans of the ground crew (like Clinton’s interviewer, Bill Bartee from local Charlotte outfitter, Jesse Brown’s) haven’t gotten to see the grounds crew as much. This is due to the lack of rain this year & the less time to cover the field during air time on ESPN.
Another Carolinian that was a part of the 2023 LLWS was the late ESPN personality, Stuart Scott (1965-2015). Scott was a part of the Northwest Forsyth (N.C.) Little League as a youth & is being posthumously enshrined as the 62nd person Little League® Hall of Excellence.
Get ready for tailgate season at Jesse Brown’s. Camp Chairs, Yeti coolers & drinkwear, & the best looking selection of Duck Head Clothing in Charlotte.