Diamonds 💎 are a Girls 👧 Best Friend and the fellas like them too : The final chapter is about to begin ! September 20, 2026

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 !!!!

6:19 PM – Home 🏡 and car 🚗 unloaded!!!

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A very late Morning 🌄 Brew needs to be added!

Travis Osborne and his Bible Verse of the Day :

Psalm 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

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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….

72 hours of planning needs to be typed out in order for everyone to understand what all they have been invited to on Sunday afternoon !

The photo 📸 above the brain 🧠 child of my dear friend, Ron Cochran ! It’s called the Vickey Voucher, and in the business I’m in, we call this part a 2-fer !

See 👀, Vickey Ritchie and her / our Special Olympics Basketball program are set to be our honored 🎖 guests on Sunday. The first half of the 2-fer is that Vickey normally has food available for the team during the halftime break. Treating each of them to lunch not only keeps their routine going but it enables Lin and I to cover the bill with the dedicated people who have offered up their Sunday afternoon to work the Concession stand !! Win, Win 🏆

From 12:00 until 2:15 pm, I will do my absolute best to provide as much good, clean fun as possible and at the same time shine a light on as many people as we can.

Now, we have the Concession Stand and the Special Olympics covered, so what’s next ?

We have signed up such a next level duo to perform our National Anthem that we had to hire them a Personal Security detail !

Greg Bolen, yes, the same Greg Bolen that his name plastered across our very site this story appears on has agreed to protect the dynamic duo of Samantha Reed and Joi Ogle !!

I’m pretty sure that it’s ever so rare, once in a lifetime performance, that we feared that the cost of admission would skyrocket to see 👀 this, but I remembered that everything is FREE!

The amount of respect 🙏 I have for these two women is matched only by the respect I have for our National Anthem itself !

Let’s circle 🔵 back to Vickey Ritchie and Company for a minute. The athletes will be participating in our introductions in the same way it is handled with an International soccer ⚽️ match ! Half on the Alumni side and half on the Lady Cavaliers side.

Three more groups that I do everything I can to show appreciation and support for will have center stage in the parking lot from Noon to 2pm.

Kristy Jones and her family, Eddie and Dakota Walls ➕️ Ryan McCafferty of The Carroll News.

Kristi Jones has two very special children and a pretty cool Father to boot. The car above belongs to their family and Maci is about to slide 🛝 into the seat that her Big Brother, Trenton has occupied for a number of years.

Dakota Walls, pictured here with the Alumni group last year, is the son of Carroll County graduate 🎓 Eddie Walls. Dakota is currently a student on The Hill and a treat to work with !

The third factor in this triangle 🔺️is young Ryan McCafferty. Ryan officially started the job at The Carroll News, which I unofficially handled across a few years. It has been an absolute pleasure to assist Ryan and his efforts at every turn possible. Sports in general, but his passion is Motorsports.

I will be turning over the 🎤🎙🎤 to Ryan for this part, and I have complete faith in his ability to handle the situation with both 👪 families. A mixture of Q & A, ➕️ photo 📸 ops with both cars will be included !

At roughly 2:15ish, we will flip the script and have the rest of the day be about the softball game scheduled between the current high school players and the alumni players.

At this point 👉, I will simply try to hang out with my Hero, Greg Bolen, because he’s frickin Greg Bolen !!!

Maybe, if I slip him $20.00, he can get me an autograph of our singers !!!

One point to clarify is that the singing is not designed to be humorous, not even a little.

See, I care about a number of people in the community, and this will be my final attempt to create a performance like this, I wanted to love and appreciation for Special Olympics Basketball, Carroll County Softball, Carroll County High School, The Carroll News, Dakota Walls and Kristy Jones +

A great deal of heavy lifting 🫴 for sure and I simply could not accomplish this without some key players.

The field and the program belong to Coach Rick Nester, the school 🏫 is run by Mr Chuck Thompson, the Athletic Department by Kevin DeHaven.

Samantha Reed, Joi Ogle, and Greg Bolen are people that I feel blessed to interact with from time to time ! Ron Cochran is one kind soul…

No cost, food available for purchase, our own version of a Car Show, a singing performance that probably be an One and Done and then some softball at one of the nicest facilities in the Commonwealth.

Know, you know what I know as Thursday night has become Friday morning 🌄.

Our eight week winning streak begins in just a minute… Special Olympics Basketball 🏀 practice !

This might be the first time in our partnership with Vickey Ritchie that we ended up in the Hillsville Elementary School 🏫 gym on eight straight Sunday afternoons !

The law of averages will end the streak at some point, but not today!

” Once upon a Boo Ridge ” is today’s theme, and we have a building full of energetic people looking to enjoy each other’s company.

The unofficial count of folks in the Gym today is 36 ! Partners, athletes, and Family members team up to create that total.

It’s halftime over in Germany 🇩🇪 and the USA 🇺🇸 just pulled within 45 – 43 on a Caitlin 3-ball.

USA on a 13-2 run spanning the break, turning 39-45 into 52-47.

It’s break time here in the gym, and once the snacks are done ✔️ it will be on to playing some Hoops ! [3:05]

The results from the games…

Danny and Company ran into a buzz saw today in the Ravens.

2:00 pm. is the time that everything will be happening today, and our Morning 🌄 Brew acts as a preview…

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Four of a kind is the winning hand ✋️ and today is about four 2’s…

We have a group of Carroll County High School alumni who are heading over to Fries 🍟 ( pronounced Freeze 🥶🧊) for a double elimination tournament !

The former Cavaliers are guaranteed to play a minimum of two games.

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The second event that is getting started at 2 pm is taking place in Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪.

Kira Lawson and our USA 🇺🇸 national team are set to face France 🇫🇷 in the FIBA championship game.

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The third deuce also has a Duke University feel to it as Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts will be hosting the Baltimore Ravens in their season opener. Last year, we took a fun group to the house that Peyton Manning built for the initial ball game for Jones in Indi.

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The fourth of our four 2’s will take place at Hillsville Elementary School 🏫.

Vickey Ritchie and our Special Olympics Basketball 🏀 practice runs from 2 – 4 pm.

Have a Blessed Day 🙌😇🙏