Avery County Little League

It's National Coaches Day... and you know what?

In the youth sports conversation, coaches aren't always talked about fondly, are they?

We bring up "Daddy Ball."
We mention about favoritism.
We talk about the toxic ones.

And listen:
We KNOW this is a problem that we shouldn't take lightly.
And we SHOULD keep having conversations about how we can make it better.

But do you know who often gets lost in the mix of all of that?

The good ones.

The ones who are constantly thinking about how they can be a better coach for the team and for players individually.

The ones who care just as much about developing the human who will become an adult one day, as much as they do helping the athlete learn how to compete in the game they're playing now.

The ones who support open lines of communication among coaches, players and parents and create healthy boundaries around them.

The ones who aren't afraid to hold kids accountable when they lack sportsmanship or effort, but also don't miss a chance to recognize when an athlete is showing signs of growth.

The ones who are willing to put themselves in the line of sports-parent-opinion fire because they care about helping kids fall in love with and develop in the sport.

The ones who give more time than we will ever know ... because they care about doing the right thing.

To the good ones:

In all of the negative noise around youth sports coaches...
.. we want you to know that we see you, too.

THANK YOU for showing our athletes what a good leader looks like.

THANK YOU for the time you didn't have to choose to give.

THANK YOU for doing what you do for the young athletes who need you most.

Thank you, Coach.

.. for all you do.

—

Avery County Little League recognizes and appreciates every individual that gives so much time, care, and dedication to our young ball players. We could not do it without you!

We encourage you to sign up for this camp🥎It's a great way to learn more about the game or brush up on your skills while helping our high school program! Stop by the Rock Gym in Newland to sign up.

On Saturday, several teams came together at the Avery High baseball field for a men's slow pitch softball tournament to raise money for Avery County Little League. It was a great day and over $2,000 was raised for our program! We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the teams that participated for our kids and especially to Zac and Ashley Robinson for coordinating the tournament. Congratulations to AHT for your win!

Congratulations to our 12U boys team for finishing in 4th place in the 2025 Little League All-Star Tournament⚾️We are so proud of these boys for representing Avery County and representing well! We know we will see great things in the future as the boys continue to compete together in a sport we all love❤️We appreciate coaches Kacey Hughes, Teddy Thomas and Josh Cook for coaching these guys and all the Little League coaches, families, and fans for their support~

There’s just something about baseball boys.

With their way-too-big jerseys and helmets and caps. And their just-as-oversized excitement over getting to play the game.

They never know where they are in the batting order or where a shortstop should stand.
Their strike zone is pint-sized, but they swing with their whole heart.

Is there anything in the world better than warching these guys love the game?

They run like they’re being chased by a swarm of bees, then slide into first (and second, and third, and obviously home) because what good is the game if it doesn’t result in dirt-covered pants?

They beg to be pitcher every inning (first is a close second).

When it’s their turn to wear the catcher’s gear, their bodies practically disappear.

If someone manages to crack a pop fly, they yell “I got it!” and then absolutely do not got it.

Sometimes they cry when they strike out.
Sometimes they celebrate like Hall of Famers after they get walked.
Sometimes they get caught daydreaming in right field.

Every chaotic second is spring perfection, and it’s so much more than a game.

Because from our place in the bleachers, we see how much they’re learning—

To keep showing up.
To cheer for their friends.
To brush off the dirt and the doubt.
To get up and play hard.

We get a front row seat to watch our boys fall in love with the game. And it makes us fall in love with them a little more every time.

There’s just something special about baseball boys.

Our 12U boys are in for another day after beating Boiling Springs 15-2 tonight! We are so proud of the effort they gave to bring home a win❤️⚾️Game time tomorrow will be at 8:00 pm in McDowell County.

This camp is being put on by the Avery High School coaches, let's show them our support! If you can't attend the camp you can take part in their fundraiser if you choose to help🥎

Our softball girls played two tough games this weekend but their tournament run came to an end yesterday afternoon. While we were hoping they would go farther, we are incredibly proud of these girls! For several years we did not have enough players to have a softball division. For a few more years we had only enough for two teams. This year we finally had enough for three teams🙌🏻These girls, the coaches, the parents and fans were extremely dedicated to our softball program and our hope is we continue to build🥎A special "thank you" to Kris Vance, Shane Poore, Paige Garland, Lyndsay Ennis, Renisha Riddle, Garren Vance and countless others for the work they put into the girl's teams this year! You are appreciated!

There’s something about a softball girl.

She’s sunburned, sweat-soaked, and covered in dirt—and still, she shows up. Game after game. Pitch after pitch. She pulls on her mask and puts on her glove and digs in. She’s gritty. She’s tough. And when it’s all on the line, she wants the ball. She wants the play. She wants to be up to bat.

You can see it in her eyes: she’s a powerhouse in a ponytail, all heart and hustle. She’s raised on dirt and diamonds, and win or lose, she shows up for her team.

Because there’s something about a softball girl.

Wishing our 12U boys and our 12U softball team the best of luck as we travel to McDowell County for the All-Star Tournament this morning. Both teams play at 10:00 (boys) and 12:00 (girls)⚾️🥎After a very challenging year we are proud of all the teams in our district! It is a blessing to see them on the field! Let's play ball!

Our 10U team played hard in heat they aren't used to but came short in the tournament. We are so proud of these guys and we know they have lots of baseball in their future! Thank you to our coaches, Dakota Harmon, Zac Robinson, and Jason Ferrell plus all of the parents and family members for their support!

Our 2025 All-Star Teams⚾️🇺🇸As the week
progresses we will post updated brackets and game news. The 12U boys and 12U softball will take the field in McDowell County on June 28th. We wish all of our teams the best of luck!

Update: our boys are playing again this evening against Forest City Little League

Our 10U All-Star boys will travel to Cherryville this morning to begin their tournament. We will update the bracket throughout the tournament days. Good Luck guys, we are proud of you!
⚾️Walter Franklin
🇺🇸Jase Franklin
⚾️Mason Thomas
🇺🇸Jeremiah Robinson
⚾️Silas Thomas
🇺🇸Gideon Wilson
⚾️Jony Velasquez
🇺🇸Nolan Ferrell
⚾️Gage Mulwee
🇺🇸Ben Turner
⚾️Jackson Harmon