Stop ✋️#1 this morning took place out in Elk Creek, Virginia. It was my first time in Elk Creek, and my photos were designed to be background pics 📸 that are designed to wrap around some that Vickey would send after the fact.
Vickey Ritchie is an inspiration to me on a regular basis, not just on Mother’s Day weekend. The amount of time, energy, and effort she pours into her Special Olympics BB group is boarding on being off the charts.
Most parents have unconditional love for their own children, and later in life, your ” family” expands when you children take on a spouse. Every weekend, Vickey Ritchie finds the energy to spread her mothering across every member of our group who chooses to attend an event. The reason why I try to sneak in at least one or two lines about Coach being height challenged is to keep her humble because she has one serious skill set !
The map of the day when the alarm ⏰️ went off way too early this morning.
Happy Mother’s Day to coach Vickey ! Thank you for being you and doing so for oh so many people 💕 and so very often !!
Mom is hard at work ahead of the 3pm first pitch versus Galax High School 🏫
Casey Burcham is a man with a plan and is continuing to build his program on the east side of The Hill at warp speed.
Heading into the rare Saturday afternoon meeting with the Maroon Tide, the Pipeline sits at a remarkable 35 – 9 record mark on the season.
Craig Worrell capture of the 2025 – 2026 team that calls Bill Worrell Field home.
Carroll County High School Athletic Director and former baseball coach Kevin DeHaven sits atop the incredibly well constructed Pipeline. DeHaven turned over the keys 🔑 to the program just two years ago, and to say that Burcham hit the ground running would classify as an understatement.
The varsity team, known to our readers as the Burcham Bunch, started the day at 10-4. Burcham (Class 2001) has built quite impressive staff at the top level.
Steve Combs (1985) has been a part of the baseball program forever and a day. Flanking Casey & Combs is fellow alumni Chuck Berrier (’96), Eric Spencer (’95), Rick Carlson, Brogan Bowman (2017) and Brandon Lineberry.
The second tier of the Cavalier program is the group we love to call the Nester Nine. Others will just call them the six time defending Three Rivers District Champions.
Adam Nester (2010) is the head coach and his assistant coaches are Jason Hart and Ryan Phillips. The squad sits at 12-1 on the campaign as they search out their seventh straight crown 👑.
Next on the Moms of Carroll County Baseball ⚾️ is the voice of the team, Dr Samantha Reed. Today, her oldest son, Blake, is batting second and playing shortstop.
While we haven’t created a nickname for the Not Ready for Prime Time players, Head Coach Larry Snow and his staff also have the train flying down the tracks. Assisted by Brian Quesenberry, Chad Brown, and Tom Jackson, our middle school team currently sits at 13-4 on their season.
Level four of the pyramid also goes by a couple of different names. The sixth grade team or developmental team is led by the duo of Jared Ogle and Jeremy Hendrick.
Burcham has a blueprint in place and has built a farm system, similar to a Major League Baseball team. Each MLB team has a club at AAA, AA, and A ➕️ a rookie squad. The thing that makes this group truly POP 🎉 is the fact that it is loaded with former players who both know the game of baseball and what it means to wear the colors.
Wyatt Ogle is the Senior of the Day !
First Pitch at 2:59, game time temp 69°
Galax goes quietly in the top of the first inning.
To tell the story about the organization without including The Castle 🏰 on The Hill would be rather silly. The fact that the structure exists is not a shock, but the fact that it all happened so fast might be the bigger story.
CCHS has plated three runs already here in the bottom of the first inning.
Ryan McCafferty of The Carroll News is now in the house 🏠 so everyone will be able to read a grown-up gamer later on !
America’s 🇺🇸 Past TimeMom 👩 #3 Deana Burcham and her two kiddos !
Eli Worrell has just entered as a curtosey runner, and the Cavs have now batted around
Chanson Rakes just cleared the bases with a Bomb 💣. Now, 8-0
The game isn’t the story today. It’s about a well constructed pipeline that is producing wins 🏆 at every level. It’s not a quick fix here because DeHaven left the shop in a great place, and the hard-working Burcham possesses Mad Skills. When you add in that the coaching tree 🌳 is a who’s who of Cavalier baseball ⚾️, it might be wise the buckle up because this rocket 🚀 has launched.
Vickey Ritchie is Mom to many, and Sheila Harris is called Mother by three rather impressive young ladies.
Shelia Harris is living the dream of any Mother this week, and her joy spreads across all three of her Kiddos!
Today is the 178th commencement 🎓 service at Emory & Henry. This moment belongs to the middle daughter, Natalie Harris. It was right after we moved here that a trip to E & H was made to document the signing day for the one that I dubbed ” Jan Brady.”
Natalie was following in the footsteps 👣 of her Big sister, Adrienne Harris. Adrienne went from The Hill to E &H with two dreams to chase. Goal ⚽️ #1- continue her soccer career at the next level and Goal #2 – earn her degree in hopes of returning to Carroll County and following in the footprints 👣 of her Mother, Shelia.
Shelia Bunn and Marion Harris raised three children. It’s still a mystery to many about what Marion said way back when to secure the hand ✋️of this young Lady.
Adrienne Harris McGuire received the highest honor 🎖 that an elementary school teacher can earlier this week when she was named Teacher of the Year at Hillsville Elementary School. Last night, at Tommy Thompson Field Coach McGuire hosted a send-off of her second senior class.
Coach handled the event with as much class as a parent of one of the six young student athletes could hope for.
Speaking of proud parents from last night, Shelia Harris was one of the half dozen moms participating in the ceremony. Callie ” Half Pint ” Harris is finishing up her four years on The Hill, and the 5’2 spark plug has somehow managed to match the determination of her two older sisters.
Breaking the trend of the Harris girls, the little one just signed her letter of intent at Ferrum College
Callie with her Basketball 🏀 teammates on signing day.
Shelia has an extra burden similar to the likes of Mrs Greg Bolen, Mama Smoot, Myranda Burress, and even my own bride 👰♀. Being the spouse of a cartoon like character is not always easy and involves a great deal of rolling ones eyes.
Inside of a seven day window 🪟, Shelia has witnessed the following, in no particular order :
Daughter #1, known on our site as ” The Future,” was honored 🎖 by her peers for her skill set in her classroom. She also has taken over the family business as the gatekeeper for Girls Soccer at CCHS.
Daughter #2 – Natalie Harris is minutes away from walking 🚶♀️across the stage to pick up piece of paper #1 of 2. Natalie came to E & H with a plan in mind and even managed to learn and play LaCrosse after her volleyball career ended.
Daughter #3 – Half Pint is now on her way to the next chapter. Graduation is weeks away now, and it would take a self standing story to list her accomplishments during her stay on The Hill. The first time, I realized that this young lady would not be held back by her lack of size, which took place in the winter of her sophomore year.
Alyssa Ervin and three fellow seniors were back for a third attempt to capture a State Championship in basketball. Veteran head coach Marc Motley was in need of a fifth starter, and it was Half Pint that earned the spot.
Shelia Harris might need oxygen by the end of the day Sunday, but thankfully, it will be Mother’s Day, so Marion will do his very best to show both his wife and his Mother 👩, that they are loved and appreciated.
The next Mother in the spotlight will be Vickey Ritchie. The road to E & H today went through Elk Creek because that is where Coach is working her magic 🎩 today
In closing, we see 👀 you, Mrs Shelia Harris and WOW !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 