Wilmington Post 10 will continues its quest in defending back-to-back state championships on Friday as the North Carolina American Legion State Tournament gets underway in Lexington.
After this week’s Area Championship was postponed because of rain, Wilmington won a drawing to become the No. 1 seed in Area II and begin the eight-team, double-elimination tournament Friday at 12:30 p.m. against the Gaston Braves. Wilmington looks to become the first-ever North Carolina American Legion team to win three straight state titles.
The championship game of the tournament is scheduled for early next week with the winner advancing to the Southeast Regional in Asheboro Aug. 7-11. The regional winner advances to the World Series at Shelby’s Keeter Stadium at Veterans Field, Aug. 14-19.
Last year, Wilmington (25-6) became the 12th team in North Carolina Legion history to win state titles in consecutive years. Post 10 accounts for three of the back-to-back winners – in 1959 and 1960, 1994 and 1995 and 2012 and 2013.
Wilmington owns the all-time lead in state championships with 10 titles overall.
Former Wildcat named MVP of All-Star game
There were three student-athletes from the area in Greensboro this week to participate in the annual North Carolina East-West All-Star basketball and soccer games.
Each year, the state’s top seniors are picked to represent their school on the field one last time.
Former New Hanover High School standout and 2014 valedictorian, Tyler George, was named MVP of the boys soccer match on Tuesday after the Wildcat notched a scored and picked up an assist for the East All-Stars in a 5-2 win.
George opened the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 16th minute on a long run finished with a blast to the top right corner from 15 yards out. A long looping pass off the foot of George made it 4-1 East All-Star when his ball found Ryan Turner in the 59th minute, who scored on a soft touch along the back post.
