Diamonds 💎 are a Girls 👧 Best Friend and the fellas like them too : The final chapter is about to begin !

95% of the time, my content is designed to be consumed in 90 seconds or less, but this one will be different, WAY different.

God’s sun 🌞 is rising here at Cavalier Park on The Hill, and it is time to put as many mental final touches on the festivities planned for today as possible.

The plan, from start to finish, was to create seven books 📚, one for each day of the week. The seventh one will focus on a lifetime relationship with God.

The first five have been a blast, and today will act 🎬 as the closeout for number six. 50 years’ worth of stories from a lifetime of Baseball ⚾️ and Softball games. The stories are designed to tell a story about the people who make up the games and the story behind the scenes.

When a person wakes ⏰️ up and realizes that they have reached the end of a journey, he or she has a choice to make. Should I sneak out the back door and exit Stage Left or……………

Today is set to be a great final chapter with two dozen different storylines but for now, I need to take my 22 morning 🌄 pills 💊 and get started.

The Energizer Bunny 🐰 played by Raylee Goins…..

Seriously, gotta get started because company is coming after Church ⛪️ and there is oh, so much to do still yet !

Stop ✋️ on by, if you like – there is no charge to cross the Boulevard today….

I will be adding to this post 📫 all week so I encourage our readers to stay tuned !

I feel Blessed 🙌 to be able to go 15 rounds with my partner and dear friend, Kevin Burress today !

We have A-Listers coming over today, so yes, we needed a Red Carpet for them !

Greg Bolen, Joi Ogle and Samantha Reed are all kinda a Big Deal !

Coach Nester is not going to be happy about the fact that deer practiced on his field last night.

One of the many questions that Lin and I bounced back and forth during the drive back from Durham last night was this one ?????? What is the goal that folks want to accomplish on Sunday ?

The easiest answer is this : the day is designed to celebrate your program in the most positive manner possible ! Invite your former players and their families back, invite your fans out, then treat the day like an after church picnic.

The fork in the road for Coach Nester and I is this – the actual game today is extremely important to him and his staff because it is a free look see 👀 into next year’s team.

For me, it’s about promoting both the past history of the program, protecting the current players, and sharing a few laughs with people with whom I have a ton of respect

Plus, it’s an opportunity to put my platform, one in which everyone is equal on full display.

Vickey Ritchie and our ” One Team ” will be a big part of today. Ryan McCafferty, The Walls family, and the real life show that is Kristy Jones all get a piece of the pie 🥧.

The Big Kevin (Burress ) and Little Kevin (Lineberry) are a HUGE part of this story.

Samantha Reed, Joi Ogle and Greg Bolen all have other places they could be today but that trio are coming here by choice.

8:25 am – Thoughts being working 💪 on right now…

Vickey Ritchie and the placement of her / our athletes alongside both our alumni and current players. It would be hard to explain how much thought has to go into this part. If I hadn’t spent the past five years in a gym with them, I would not understand this either.

We have 27 players set to play as I type this out. 13 current players in the third base dugout and 14 alums that will be in the first base one.

Vickey has soooooo many amazing individuals that hang out with us, but their individual challenges are very different. It’s extremely important that we place everyone in a spot where they will be in their comfort zone !

9:15 – just finished up comparing notes with Vickey Ritchie and we are roughly 80% set with her part !!!!!

Next up : 30 minutes with Greg Bolen !!!

I’m trying hard to find a way to limit this to just 30 minutes…..

Greg Bolen is THE MAN 👨 and I wish I could go all Chad Powers so that I could be a student in one of his classes !!!

The first question for Mr Bolen has to be: Do you remember the day that you first accepted the fact that you are Greg Bolen ? When God blesses 🙌 you with a personality that is larger than life, you have to be prepared to deal with it and that is harder to do than you think.

Carroll County is the 40th or so place that I’ve called home, not a typo. I have met some AMAZING people here, and Greg Bolen bats lead off on that list. I wish that our paths crossed more often but when they do…….

9:45 am – I was excited about someone arriving, so I’m not alone…

It’s the Boss !!!!

Scoreboard reflecting the season ending walk – off win 🏆 over James River !

10:20 – This happened.

Kristy Jones 🫳 dropping off the Vickey Vouchers created by Ron Cochran !!!

10:25 – Travis Leath is in the House 🏠

The importance of the Moment of Silence is the next line to address. Hix Miller is a Big Part of what we do here at Cavalier Park, and he just lost his Mother.

We aren’t just going to do a moment of silence. It is our plan to have it mean as much to Hix as Hix does to us !!!!

10:52 AM…..

5:33 PM …. Elvis is leaving the building…

To Be Continued, for days to come !!!!

Who says you can’t be in multiple places at the same time ???? We have a number of things happening right now, and while Lin and I are in Durham, we do have a few friends… Live for the Day

Shawn Montgomery and Cross Country, Cindy Edwards and Varsity Volleyball, Nikki Heflin, and JV Volleyball all matter, even from a distance !

Coach Montgomery has sent in his results from the meet, and Travis Osborne is keeping me current from the JV Rebel Classic in Glade Springs.

Meanwhile, I am having a next level conversation with regard to tomorrow afternoon in hopes of getting everyone involved on the same page !

Ryan McCafferty and Greg Bolen are both gracious with their time. I am truly looking forward to seeing 👀 both tomorrow. Kristy Jones and Ron Cochran are two more…..

10am to Noon : our prep time.

Noon – 1:30 : Focus on the two race 🏁 cars, their families, and young Ryan.

1:30 – 2:00 – Greg Bolen, Kevin Burress and I will go live from the pitching circle, breaking down the day for everyone !

We will have a very special set of introductions that will include a Moment of Silence, live National Anthem performed 🎭 by two wonderful people and the last official piece of business will be Mr Bolen tossing out our Ceremonial First Pitch. I holler out, Play ▶️Ball, and we begin the game shortly after 2 pm.

We will continue to create an atmosphere around the game, but please note 📝 that Coach Nester wants a ” REAL” game to be played out, and it’s his day….

I’m not sure exactly what my partner, Kevin Burress has in mind for his race car driver, Dakota Walls but I do know that my driver, Kristy Jones, the Mon with the plan, will be very actively involved with our Alumni team !!!

The rest of the post 📫 will include cross country, two levels of volleyball 🏐 and maybe some Duke University Football as the day plays out.

If any of that interests you, please 🙏 check back. If not, it’s all good. Getting the final update on the festivities has now concluded….

Just the start of our cross-country coverage !

More to follow…

1:30 pm updates !

From Shawn Montgomery :

File this one under good things come to those who wait !!!!!

Cindy Edwards has checked ✔️ in with her update after 2 matches :

We opened by defeating Radford and followed up with a hard fought setback against a very talented Abingdon High club.

Travis Osborne let’s us know the following from down in Glade Springs!

The second match is now underway !

Joi Ogle has checked in !!!

From Travis :

Individual results from all four teams !!

Side Note 📝 – watching 👀 UNC – Clemson while having lunch and the new Aflac commercial with Ben Affleck is three miles beyond funny 😁 but only if you have seen The Accountant movies 🎬

See, I could tell you how long of a week our Lady Cavaliers are finishing up or I can let someone else do it…

Courtside with Travis Osborne, that has a nice ring 💍 to it !

Callie Harris is playing volleyball 🏐 South of the Border today !

We are equal opportunity, so how about Joi Ogle, Courtside !

3:20 pm update :

Kevin DeHaven has to scramble for his eligibility guide because of what just happened down in Abingdon !!!!

” I will say Kimmie Weddle gave a pep talk that had me motivated to go onto the court🤣”!!!!!

Mr. DeHaven, does Joi Ogle have an eligibility left ?????

Did the speech work ?

We won in 2 sets !!!!!

We see 👀 you, Kim Weddle or should I say, we hear you, girlfriend !!!!

Before we head over to Wallace Wade Stadium 🏟, let’s see 👀 what is happening over in Glade Springs

We will pick this back up once inside the Stadium !!!!

Short walk completed, now in our seats 💺

From the cellphone of Clara’s Dad 👨

Duke executed an on side kick on first play of game !!!!

Back over to Travis Osborne in Glade Springs :

Mr Austin, with the 411 on the first two matches

4:45 update : here in the S.A.T Bowl, it’s scoreless after the 1st quarter.

North Carolina State just suffered as heartbreaking of a loss one could imagine.

Carroll County High Varsity Girls 👧 had one Lady Cavalier running in the cross country today.

From Joi Ogle :

Lady Cavaliers dropped the opening set in their next match.

Nate Sheppard just scooted 32 yards for a TD, Duke leads 7-0 [10:42-2]

How about are Middle School 🏫 Boys cross country runners 🏃‍♂️:

Nate can score on a passing play as well, now 14-0 [5:29-2]

More from Joi in Abingdon…Very energetic finish to win 2nd set !!!

Stanford University with a TD with 0:16 remaining in the first half…still up 14-7 at 5:32 pm

5:35 – Halftime here in Durham, NC + Travis awaits the start of the 4th JV match and Joi is ready for the third set of Varsity.

Lin’s catches the intro…

Shawn Montgomery and his Varsity Boys held their own today !

Hey, Kevin Burress…..do you see 👀 this !

Joi Ogle from Abingdon :

Lost 16-18, Played hard to the end

No doubt about that, Thank you, Ma’am !

Travis Osborne with JV :

Wise Central takes opening set, 25 – 10

Joi Ogle :

Playing again at 6:30 for 3rd place is what I am hearing…

6:04 pm – Nate the Great with his 3rd TD of the day, and my chant is “He’s just a Sophomore”.

Mr DeHaven confirms what Joi mentioned… one more match for Varsity.

Just two odd people being two odd people

WC takes the win 25-22 to finish out our day.

Thank you, Brother Osborne !!!

Coach Diaz is a trickster today, and it just led to a fourth TD, now 28 -7 !!!!

6 :35 pm – end of the 3rd quarter, up 28-7 battery 🔋 down to 20%…

They gave an award to 14 individuals who display merit, good sportsmanship, and character in honor of Kirk Nairn. Ali Wright was awarded it from Carroll !!!!!

6:51 pm – Duke punches 👊 it in, 35 – 7 with 8:20 remaining in the game.

🔌🔌🔌 Kara Lawson and our Lady Blue Devils!

Hey Travis Osborne, December 3rd is the night Dawn Staley is coming up to Cameron Indoor Stadium 🏟 – want to be my ➕️1 ????

7:07 updates :

Phone 📱 at 14%

Duke up 35 – 7 at 2 minute warning ⚠️

Playing Northwood. We are up 8-3 ( Varsity VB )

2 things happened at 7:16 pm

8 : 22 pm – Updates !!!

There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for the Kiddos and coaches on The Hill but I’m limited to my Dance partners.

Some days, I am the one at the Prom fighting back tears 😢 because no one will ask me.

Tonight, it was like Leo Sayers..

Thank you to all who participated today !

Cindy Edwards, Joi Ogle, and Kevin DeHaven ➕️ Michelle Nicholson for posting it ( Abingdon )

From Glade Springs : Brother Osborne and Austin Keith

Shawn Montgomery from Cross Country.

Kevin Burress, Ron Cochran, Kristy Jones, Greg Bolen and Samantha Reed along with Coach Nester in regards tomorrow’s event….

Travis updates that our precious cargo is safely

Varsity at Ceacker Barrell, Lin, and I 83 minutes from Laurel Fork.

Back safely amongst the Cows 🐄 in Laurel Fork at 10:20 pm

Next Stop ✋️, Cavalier Park !!!!

You know the feeling that something is missing….

Greetings from Greensboro, the home for today’s Morning 🌄 Brew !

Travis Osborne and his Bible Verse of the Day

Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Today is set to be a busy, busy one and on so many different fronts.

#1. Nikki Heflin and Kelly Holderfield are heading over to Glade Springs for the Junior Varsity version of the Day long Rebel volleyball 🏐 Classic.

#2. Cindy Edwards and Company are heading in the same direction as our Varsity Lady Cavaliers are playing in a tournament in Abingdon.

#3.

I believe that I have all of the steps 🚶‍♂️ in my head for tomorrow afternoon at Cavalier Park, but now it’s about getting everything in the correct order. It is a different type of batting order for sure.

#4 – We are going to attend an event here in a bit that is an anomaly for two reasons. I have been a fan of Duke University and its football program for half a century. Pulling for them is the perfect example of cheering for the underdog as we had a twenty year stretch of being the worst team in the country.

Prior to the game against Stanford University at 4pm, we get to attend a special gathering that involves receiving an ACC Championship ring 💍.

This is wack for two reasons, the first being that we won the ACC in football and the second half being that the school is giving one to every season ticket 🎟 holder !

#5 – Kris Richardson and Kevin Burress. Today, my thoughts are with Kris and his family, and tomorrow, I will be partnering with Burress and his !

Should be a tremendous 24 – 36 hours !

Have yourself a Blessed Day 🙌😇🙏

Let’s call 📞 this one : The glass half full and Patti’s little Girl 👧 has grown up into quite the Impressive Pillar of our Community !

Family Night 🌙 for Middle School Volleyball 🏐above, the roster below

While I have NEVER turned down anyone who has asked for my assistance, I will admit that certain people that I perk up when I hear from them. Mrs Kayla Nester of Laurel Fork is on that list !

Start to finish Kayla, and I might have 5 minutes each invested in our conversation with regard to what we teamed up on last night on The Hill.

Being that I dreamed about teaching others how to use their words for good, this story will be a teaching opportunity.

To write ✍️ a story like this one, know who you are writing it for and what you hope to accomplish with it.

Here’s a short list of reasons not to write a story – to gather social media followers or to promote your own brand.

This story is being written for the benefit of Mrs Patti Goins, and the hope is to show gratitude 🙏 in her direction.

The story will only be sent to two people by me, Patti Goins and Kayla Nester. The story is theirs, and what they choose to do with it is entirely up to them. To share or not to share, is entirely up to them.

The next note 📝 in my case, anyway, one should note that I do not put my name on my stories because I am not looking for people to applaud me but instead focus on the subject.

The age-old line of “Are you a glass half empty or a half full ” fits perfectly here.

Thursday night was the sixth of 10 dates that I blocked 🚫 off for the betterment of Cindy Edwards and her volleyball program. I normally show up 60 minutes before it is time to start so I can be totally prepared. The normal window 🪟 is 4:30 – 9:00.

Kayla Nester wears enough different Hats 👒 that I’m not sure if there is a closet in her home big enough to store them all. One of said Hats is the responsibility of being the Middle School 🏫 Athletic Director.

It turns out that three of the ten nights 🌙 were going to be expanded versions because our Middle School team would play in front of our Junior Varsity team. This adds another 60 minutes of work and 15 minutes of preparation.

Glass half empty person says, really, do we have to stay that much longer ?

Glass half full person has a very silly grin 😁 on his face because now he can reach out and distribute kindness and grace to yet another group of young people and their families !!!!

The list above shows 17 players and two coaches for a total of 19. Then you ask if there are any others who should be listed because it is free to do so.

You see 👀 the list above, and you see the tools I use for the more difficult names. Now, look at the photo that Cindy Edwards hopped up and took for me. See how many family members came down to join in our baseline introduction with just five minutes’ notice !!!

The night of the match, Kayla and I talked for roughly 60 seconds, and then she moved on to her next task. I moved over to the Floyd County bench to meet their coaches.

One has to note just how well our CCMS draws fans, at least the ones that I’m at or helping with. Not only do they show up for a 4:30 match or game, but they remain engaged, which makes my job sooooo much more enjoyable.

I have to believe that everyone on our side found the experience enjoyable, even though we fell 2-1 to Floyd County.

My connection to Kayla Nester is now in year six, and I’m proud to say if there’s anything that I can do to move a needle for her, count me in.

Now, circle 🔵 back to connect the dots to Patti Goins. Before Kayla Nester existed, she was Kayla Goins, the older daughter of Patti and Scotty.

Now, a number of people could have helped Kayla Nester become the force to be reckoned with that she is, but what happened next has the way she was raised written all over it.

At 5:26 a.m., this message popped up :

” Thanks for doing the Middle school game last night. They loved it!”

The two of us make a good team because we share the same focus and drive when it comes to things that matter in regards to other people’s children.

I joke about getting let into the building during the fall and how much it means to me. My line is this, I’m a preacher without a pulpit and a teacher without a classroom. Helping Cindy Edwards gets me as close as I can, and adding Kayla Nester is the icing on the cake 🎂!

I see you, Patti Goins, and all I can say is THANK YOU.

I just looked up and realized that it is now Saturday morning 🌄 and no longer Friday night.

That means that Kris Richardson is going to be in my thoughts today ! Hope it is everything that it can be….

Congratulations 🎊 to the 🏈🏈🏈 Cavaliers !!!