To compete at the highest level in a Sport nowadays, it requires a great deal of commitment from both the Coaches and the Players. It would be short sided to not mention the families on that list, so let’s not make that mistake.
Off season workouts, year around Travel Ball and time in the weight room are all parts of the process.
One subject that we have yet to tackle in regards to our Book 📖 is the amount of Softball played by these Home Town heroes prior to Coach Rick Nester taking over in 2013.
Monday morning at 11am I will have an opportunity 🙏 to visit with Mr Alvin Davidson and I believe this Proud Dad might be able to shine some light on this subject !
Already looking forward to the conversation with Gracie’s Dad 👨
If it took place on a Cavalier playing field there’s a good chance that Mr & Mrs Gallimore were in attendance ! Sure enough, Bill and Linda have been experiencing Lady 👩 Cavaliers Softball since the beginning of the Rick Nester era.
In a search for folks in the community that were along for the ride, asking Bill to turn back the clock ⏰ to reflect on what they remember seemed like a natural thing to do.
” Looking back, following the Carroll County High School softball team from 2013 to their unforgettable state championship win in 2015 was one of the most exciting experiences we’ve ever had as fans. It all started when our neighbor joined the team and we began attending games to show our support.
Before long, our casual interest turned into real enthusiasm—we rarely missed a game. As the 2015 season unfolded, it became clear that this team was something special. With every win, the momentum grew, and so did the crowds. By the time the championship game arrived at Liberty University, the energy was electric, and the fan support was overwhelming.
Witnessing Carroll County High School secure its first-ever state team championship was nothing short of amazing. The ride home from Lynchburg was filled with joy, pride, and celebration. Go Cavs Go!!!”
Bill & Linda Gallimore
Thank You Sir, for taking the time to jot down your thoughts 🙏 ➕ your unconditional support of Carroll County Softball.
Mr Gallimore was also able to provide me with an update on one of the 15 players on the field back in Lynchburg. Sydney Childress is currently living in Alaska and teaching School up there. She might win the award for furthest removed from Carroll County…
We knew that we would have coverage galore from both Allen and Craig Worrell but it was a pleasant surprise to uncover a ” Gamer ” from Mr David Broyles ! David and Allen share an office down on Main Street, having done so for years and years. But if you have been fortunate enough to sit in said office 🏢 with them, its easy to appreciate how much they mean to each other.
Allen and his bride 👰 Crystal were on a planned vacation when Chancellor High School came to town on June 1st. David headed over to Cavalier Park and while there was plenty of drama in regards to whether or not the game would get postponed due to storms in the area, there was very little drama as to which team would win the game.
Carroll County squeaked out a 12-0 victory, advancing to the Win and you’re In Game at Fluvana. The Lady Cavaliers were now 23-0 on the season with Mother Nature about to become an additional opponent going forward.
Allen Worrell and David Broyles
There was speculation about the fact that Allen Worrell knew Carroll County High School Softball was on the cusp of something great and he just wanted to share the journalistic Spotlight with his partner in crime. If this was a fiction story, that would be a great movie 🎥 scene.
Worrell would be watching the game from a rental car 🚗, parked in the lot at the nursing home, maybe with a fake mustache…
Seriously, I now have spent 50 years around Newspapers 📰 and I cannot remember working with a duo that care about each other in the manner that Allen & Plucky do. Great to add one more reporter to the list, especially one as skilled as David Broyles !
Scoreboard in Rochester, New York during Timmy’s year of AAA Baseball.
Everything that I am trying hard to accomplish is a very scaled down version of what I watch Tim Tebow do with his foundation. We are proud to be small part of the Tim Tebow Foundation and I could not make my way to Columbia, South Carolina fast enough to watch Tebow play a game for the Fire Flies.
The next time our paths crossed again was in Lexington, Kentucky when they were playing against the Lexington Legends. Anytime we were in a park at the same time as Tebow, there was such an energy in the air !
Page County Softball Complex
The Rumble Ponies were the AA stop ✋ for Tebow and his jersey from there is one of my prized possessions, in regards to clothing.
Tebow had his best season at AA and was on his way to getting a September call 📞 up before an injury to his hand derailed his season.
The following year Tebow headed up to Syracuse and we found him on the road in Rochester. Syracuse would prove to be the final stop on the journey and the highlight of the night 🌙 was seeing Timmy remove my Strasburg Express hat off my Grandson’s head
Retracing the steps 🚶♂️during this process 🙏 will bring back such fond memories!
Everyone who was in Lynchburg on June 13th, 2015 knows that it was Hannah Dalton (Bourne) that was instructed by Coach Rick Nester to wonder off the base to create a rundown. A rundown that would lead to the only run in the Lady Cavaliers 1-0 victory over Woodgrove.
Coach Nester was quick to talk about his initial reaction to meeting Dalton, a sophomore at the time who was hoping to make Varsity in 2013. The meeting took place during the off-season workouts ahead of Coach’s rookie season and Dalton had Nester at Hello 👋!
” Hannah is top class young Lady, one that makes everyone around her better,” said Nester. ” She is the type of person that you want on your team, a Coach is fortunate to have players of her caliber from time to time. Hannah made me a better coach.”
My first conversation with Hannah took place earlier tonight and trust me when I say that it came at a great time. We are looking forward to seeing which part of the 2015 journey means the most to her and after the endorsement from Nester, I am already looking forward to the next time we connect.
One of the four Seniors who led the way back in 2015, we are thrilled to welcome 🙏 Hannah Dalton Bourne to our story !
The road less traveled ! 