Published: Jul 03, 2008 11:53 AM
Modified: Jul 08, 2008 04:28 PM
County champions in four division of Tar Heel Leagues Inc. play will be crowned over this week at Smithfield Community Park.
Twenty-two teams (21 from Johnston County and one from Jacksonville) are taking the field in Coach-Pitch (ages 7-8), Midget League (ages 9-10), Little League (ages 11-12) and Junior League (ages 13-15) play. Play continues nightly during the week through next Monday, July 14.
Each division winner earned the Tar Heel League District V championship and a trip to their respective state tournament later this month or in early August. All of the tournaments are double-elimination.
The first title will go out in Junior League play. Johnston County North and Johnston County South are meeting in a best-of-three series, which began Monday night. Game 2 was set for Tuesday and, if needed, Game 3 would be Wednesday night.
Midget League play will begin its championship round on Thursday night. If a deciding game were needed, it would be played at 6:30 on Friday.
Championship rounds in Coach-Pitch and Little League play were both set for Monday night, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Admission nightly is $3 for ages 13 and older, $1.50 for ages 6-12 and free for kids five and under.
Herald Sports Editor D. Clay Best can be reached at 934-2176, Ext. 135, or by e-mail at
clay.best@newsobserver.com