Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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704-484-1047 www.shelbyinfo.com Our 38th Year • Issue No. 25 • June 24, 2021 "In GOD We Trust" Celebrating 10 years in Shelby-Cleveland County! AUGUST 12-17 TICKETS ON SALE NOW! www.AmericanLegionWorldSeries.com Legion World Series to be held as originally scheduled by MICHAEL E. POWELL Writer – CF Media michael@cfmedia.info The "Boys of Summer" are back and the American Legion World Se- ries has 'em! Always a fan favorite, ALWS baseball is back after a 2020 hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted in a recent media release in which the head of the nation's largest veteran's organization announced the ALWS's eight-team championship tournament will be played in Shelby, N.C., Aug. 12-17, weather permitting. American Legion National Commander James W. "Bill" Oxford noted he is "…extremely excited about the return of this fantastic event," add- ing that with the "… availability of vac- cines and additional data showing that young people par- ticipating in outdoor activities represent a low risk for spread of the virus, we feel that we can conduct a safe World Se- ries." Oxford added, "This is a very dif- ferent environment than what we faced last year. Many of us eagerly await the umpire's welcoming ALWS returns to Shelby It's time to "Play Ball" N.C. TRACTOR & FARM SUPPLY 299 Railroad Ave., Rutherfordton • 828-288-0395 Mobile: 828-429-5008 • mf1dpshehan@gmail.com SALES • SERVICE • PARTS IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! PROUDLY SERVING RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND, GASTON, LINCOLN, POLK COUNTIES AS THE AREAS HOMETOWN MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER. Great Selection Great Selection A New Mexico Post 13 player waits for umpire's call. (photos provided) Missouri Post 253's pitcher readies a 'heater' at the 2019 ALWS. The 2019 American Legion World Series winners, Idaho Falls Bandits' catcher and pitcher have an im- portant inning conference. North Dakota's Brayden Michael Koenig makes the tag at the 2019 ALWS. words, 'play ball!'" According to Shelby ALWS officials, Idaho Falls, ID, won the 2019 ALWS 5-3 win over Fargo, ND, on Wednes- day, Aug. 21, "…after a rain delay on Champi- onship Tuesday forced the game to be com- pleted the next morn- ing." 2019 marked the third straight year Idaho sent a team to the ALWS, and the state's ninth appearance over- all. 2019's champion- ship was the state's first. The 2021 ALWS will be the 10th World Series in Shelby-Cleve- land County since the city became the official home of the tournament in 2011. Executive Commit- tee of Cleveland County ALWS Baseball Inc., Chairman Eddie Hol- brook, said they are responsible for recruiting volunteers and establish- ing the portion of the organization for which their chairmanship over- sees. "My job is to organize the com- mittee, raise funds for the organi- zation and make sure everything moves forward," said Mr. Hol- brook, a retired County Commis- sioner (2006-2018). Holbrook, a former 20-year college basketball coach, was a sporting goods busi- ness owner for four years; and a fundraising official for 25 years. He noted the ALWS committee's goal is to run the tournament in 2021 as it was run in 2019. "The challenge for our com- mittee is doing seven months of work in three and a half months," he said. "Keeter Stadium turf and fencing have been completely re- placed in the last year; all else is good to go." Mr. Holbrook noted health guidelines will be followed as per N.C. and Cleveland County dic- tates, adding that neither appears at this time to have any restric- tions. He continued, "Our committee is not anticipating any problems. We have been in contact since 2019 and much of our member- ship has been intact for more than 10 years. We have a solid, experi- enced group of volunteers." The N.C. State Tournament is to be played in Cherryville, N.C., Tuesday, July 27 through Sunday, Aug. 1; the Southeast Regional, at Asheboro, N.C., Tuesday, July 20 through Saturday, July 24; and the ALWS in Shelby Aug. 12-17. The American Legion will ob- serve Center for Disease Control guidelines and local and state public health mandates for all of its national programs.