🎩 Old North State League welcomes new teams, realigns divisions | four more teams become privately owned🎩
our two favorite rivals have left the Central; expansion team and last year's runner-up to join division
The ONSL gained four new teams this offseason: the Wake Forest Fungo, Edenton Steamers, Jacksonville Ospreys, and Tarboro River Bandits.
The Central Division, which the Reidsville Luckies compete in, experienced a myriad of changes. While the Oak City Gliders and Sanford Spinners stayed put, the Clayton Clovers, who lost in the ONSL Championship Series last season, joined the division, as well as the newest addition to the league, the Wake Forest Fungo.
Unfortunately, I will now be forced to hate on the High Point Hushpuppies and Sandhills Bogeys from a distance, as they have joined the Western and Southeastern Divisions, respectively. Sad.
The Fungo team, which has been in action for years, is owned by Joe John. This past season, they were independent of any league, and John stated the following about the team finding the ONSL as a partner. “After going independent for a season, we are thrilled to join the Old North State League. We wanted to find a competitive League that values the player experience as much as FUNGO always has. This is an exciting time for FUNGO fans with the major upgrades at Flaherty Park combined with FUNGO joining ONSL which will bring highly talented teams to Wake Forest from towns in the Mountain, Piedmont and Coastal Regions of North Carolina including local rivals from Raleigh, Clayton, Reidsville, and Sanford.” (h/t to WF Fungo Blog.)
As for the name, Fungo is a common baseball game for fielding practice.
In addition to the Fungo, Edenton Steamers, Jacksonville Ospreys, and Tarboro River Bandits joining the league, a few teams were bought this offseason.
The E4 Sports Management Group bought the Lenoir Legends, Danny and Amber Kirkman acquired the Lexington Flying Pigs, and the Anderson Sports Group obtained the Sanford Spinners.
As of today, the only league-owned teams left are the Brunswick Surfin’ Turfs, Kinston Wingmen, Fayetteville Chutes, Sandhills Bogeys, River City Skippers, and our very own (or their very own) Reidsville Luckies.
It has undoubtedly been a busy month for the league, which is dedicated to pushing toward the future each and every year. The L||L will try to keep you up-to-date on all of the Old North State League happenings that take place this offseason.
On the topic of “Krampus” Eric Smith and procrasination, I, while having officially given up on the prospect of the Luckies post-season discussion video being posted, will publish a link to it and a brief summary if it ever makes it out there.
Finally, if you’re from around Rockingham County, consider reading my weekly report on high school football at GreensboroSports.com. Each week, I head to a game in Rockingham County and report on it for the website, along with scores and future opponents fo the rest of the county.