Featured Top Story Editor's Pick Spotlight This group of McDowell County 8-year-olds is competing in the Babe Ruth World Series jason.koon Jul 20, 2026 Jul 20, 2026 Updated Jul 22, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The McDowell 8U All-Star softball team is going to the World Series. kAm%96 E62> H:== A=2J :? E96 q236 #FE9 (@C=5 $6C:6D :? u=@C6?46[ p=232>2[ DE2CE:?8 yF=J ac] xEVD E96 7:CDE E:>6 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ 92D D6?E 2 E62> E@ E96 6G6?E] k^Am The McDowell County softball all-stars celebrate winning the 2026 8U Western North Carolina State Championship earlier this summer. Submitted, Jamie Hanlon kAm%96 E62> 92D 2=C625J 925 2 5@>:?2?E DF>>6C] %96J H6?E c\_ :? E96 5:DEC:4E 492>A:@?D9:A 2?5 b\_ :? E96 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E] %96J 362E }@CE9 qF?4@>36 :? E96 7:?2=D `_\a E@ 364@>6 E96 a_ae g& (6DE6C? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 $E2E6 r92>A:@?D] %96J H@? E96:C 5:DEC:4E 2?5 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E 82>6D 3J 2 4@>3:?65 D4@C6 @7 hd\bc] k^Am kAmx? p=232>2[ E96J H:== 4@>A6E6 282:?DE D@>6 @7 E96 E@A E62>D 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5] %96 E@FC?2>6?E CF?D yF=J ac\pF8] a] %96C6 H:== 36 2 D6?5\@77 6G6?E 7@C E96 E62> @? |2:? $EC66E :? |2C:@? @? (65?6D52J 2E e A]>]k^Am People are also reading… WNC Renaissance Faire set for this weekend in McDowell County Baxter International issues recall of IV solutions made at McDowell County plant Forest City man charged with shooting back window out of vehicle in McDowell County Wildflowers flattened at Burke County I-40 exit, Highway Patrol investigating Marion man accused of waving gun at people floating on Catawba River McDowell Sheriff’s Office, highway patrol, Marion police operation results in 136 charges McDowell County animal advocate says well-known cat who lived along greenway missing Morganton Festival is this weekend with fun, food, games, music. Here's the schedule Nonprofit to build two new homes for Hurricane Helene survivors in McDowell County Find out where the Carolina Panthers landed in ESPN's final preseason power rankings See which western NC high school football team had to cancel this week's games due to injuries 1 killed, 2 injured after train hit car in Hickory; Charges are pending in investigation Lake Lure business gets slight eviction reprieve as judge leaves open combining suits Culturas Unidas Festival returns to downtown Marion Burke superintendent addresses Draughn, Freedom football game called at halftime The McDowell County 8U softball all-stars show off their state championship rings earlier this summer. Submitted, Jamie Hanlon kAm%96 E62> :D >256 FA @7 !C6D=66 q@H6?[ $6C6?:EJ r2AAD[ r2=6:89 vC:?5DE277[ qC:=6J vF:??[ w2CA6C w2?=@?[ w2CA6C wF896D[ qC2J=66 |4r=@F5[ $@A9:2 |4}66=J[ {J5:2 |4}66=J[ t>6CJ |4!6E6CD[ t=2:?2 |@4<[ q@??:6 !66< 2?5 pC: '2==:?:] %96 E62> :D 4@24965 3J ':4E@C:2 q@H6?[ |2C:DD2 r@I[ +24< !66< 2?5 y2>:6 w2?=@?] k^Am Jason Koon is the Sports Editor for the Hickory Record and can be reached at jason.koon@lee.net. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. jason.koon Author email Follow jason.koon Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Over 100,000 US girls playing flag football this year Girls flag football has surged in popularity, now ranking in the top 10 girls sports nationally with over 102,000 participants projected by 20… Why aren’t more kids playing sports? ESPN devotes $5M to get them back "Take Back Sports" focuses on increasing youth sports participation among 6- to 12-year-olds by improving accessibility and emphasizing fun, c… Little League World Series: Meet the 2026 teams headed to Williamsport The bracket for Williamsport is complete. The 2026 Little League World Series is loaded with powerhouse teams and standout players ready for t… Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video LIV Golf Files Bankruptcy ROBBERY in Ann Arbor + Baton Rouge BEAT-DOWN ROBBERY in Ann Arbor + Baton Rouge BEAT-DOWN Is Michigan's clock controversy actually controversial? Is Michigan's clock controversy actually controversial? Mets players visit NYC firehouse ahead of Sept. 11 remembrance Mets players visit NYC firehouse ahead of Sept. 11 remembrance
jason.koon Author email Follow jason.koon Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Over 100,000 US girls playing flag football this year Girls flag football has surged in popularity, now ranking in the top 10 girls sports nationally with over 102,000 participants projected by 20…
Why aren’t more kids playing sports? ESPN devotes $5M to get them back "Take Back Sports" focuses on increasing youth sports participation among 6- to 12-year-olds by improving accessibility and emphasizing fun, c…
Little League World Series: Meet the 2026 teams headed to Williamsport The bracket for Williamsport is complete. The 2026 Little League World Series is loaded with powerhouse teams and standout players ready for t…
