Pictures / Articles

The Very First One...1982

Kenly News article about the 1982 Kenly Two-Man Wiffle Ball Tournament, form July 1982. (Front Row L-R)- Jason Hare, Tommy Williams, Stacy Moore; (Back Row L-R)- Chris Davis, Mike Grizzard, Ken Ballance, Jeff Davis

Wilson Daily Times - Aug. 16, 1986

It never hurts when your tourney co-director is in the media. These pictures and the article below appeared in the Wilson Daily Times in '86. Notice the raggedy wire fence. Also, you can see back in the pre-state tourney days, we had to umpire ourselves. Try not to notice the short shorts.

Wilson Daily Times - Aug. 16, 1986

This is the first half of the article by Mike. The second half is below. This is way before 23 teams and corporate sponsorship.

WDT '86 - Continued

The second half of a Pulitzer Prize Winning column by Mike G.

2nd Annual State Tourney - 1990

Kenly News, Aug. 1, 1990. Either genetics is much stronger than I assume, or Mickey Grizzard plagarized some of Mike's earlier WDT column. Look how young Joey Creech looks. Unreal. what is he, nine? Actually he was around 16 but who would believe it? Article finishes below.

1990 - part 2

The rest of the story.

Third Annual State Tourney - 1991

Kenly News - July 24, 1991 - If we kept getting this much press, we'd have never left Kenly. Look at Hall of Famer Ken Ballance.

State Champs - 1991

The start of a dynasty. Brand Nubian. Look at that guy who looks kinda like Duane Pittman. L-R- Duane, Brian Wilson, Bill Foster, and Mark Watson.

Fourth Annual State Tourney - 1992

Kenly News - July 22, 1992. Brand Nubian goes back to back. And no, that's not Stevie in the picture, it's a young Paul Lynn Willoughby.

1997 - Smithfield Herald

Smithfield Herald - July 27, 1997. i really don't know who is in the picture. More of a feature than a report on the tourney. Any publicity is good publicity, they say.

1999 - Greenville Daily Reflector

From the Greenville Daily Reflector's "Sportsweek", August 1rst, 1999. Four Future Hall of Famers- Joey Creech (#18), Ritchie Willoughby (#3), Chris Davis (#10), and Jeff Davis (#22). As "Unfair Advantage", they finished second that year.

Greenville Daily Reflector - Aug. 1, 1999

The full article. Hope you can read it, that's as big as i can get it on the site.

Hall of Famer Paul Lynn Willoughby

Also from the Daily Reflector of Aug. 1, 1999. Paul Lynn pitching in the '99 tourney with UA.

Paul Lynn Willoughby HOF

Paul Lynn Willougby receives his Hall Of Fame plaque from fellow HOF member Stevie Edwards.

Legendary Lumber 2007 - 4 Hall of Famers

2007 Champs - Chris Davis, Ritchie Willoughby, Jeff Davis, Duane Pittman

Smithfield Herald

Smithfield Herald article about 2007 champions Legendary Lumber

NATIONAL CHAMPS 2009

National Wiffle Ball Federation Champions 2009 - Legendary Lumber (L-R) Jeff Davis, Duane Pittman, Johnny Baker, Chris Davis

STATE CHAMPS / NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP 2009

G-NATS (L-R) Brian Powell, Josh Murray, Jake Austin, Luke Murray, Brent Powell - State Champs and NWHBF Runners Up

The Best Wiffle Ball In The Nation Is Played In North Carolina!

The two best slow pitch Wiffle Ball teams in America! N.C. versus the rest of the USA: Undefeated 12-0!

2008 and 2009 Back to Back Champs - G-Nats

(L-R) Batboy Austin, Luke Murray, Brent Powell, Brent Powell, Jake Austin

2010 State Champions - Hand-Picked J's

Undefeated Champs - (L-R) Johnny Baker, Jon Moore, Joey Creech, Jeff Finney

2010 All-Tourney Team

Front Row L-R : Jon Moore(Hand-Picked J's), Chris Edwards, Kevin Barbour(Gamers), Brian Powell(G-Nats). Back Row: Johnny Baker (MVP), Joey Creech, Jeff Finney(Hand-Picked J's), Jake Austin, Luke Murray(G-Nats). Not Pictured: Ronnie Adams (Clique)

2012 Champs (Again) Hand Picked J's

(L-R) Jon Moore, Jeff Finney, Joey Creech, Johnny Baker

2012 Runners Up - G-Nats

(L-R) Brandon Powell, Brent Powell, Jordan Liles, Brian powell, Jake Austin

All-Tournament 2012

Top Row (L-R)- Jordan Liles, Jake Austin, Brent powell (G-Nats), Jeff Finney (J's), John Pinder, Jonathon Liles, Paul Lynn Willoughby (Old School)

Front Row: Jon Moore (J's), Jeff Davis (Organized konfusion), Johnny Baker (J's)

Paul Lynn Willoughby

Hall of Famer Paul Lynn Willoughby in the 2010 tourney with the Washed-Up Warriors

Tony Woodard

Washed-Up Warriors Tony Woodard ahowing his award winning batting style.

Brian Cuddington

Brian has been All-Tourney four times, but has been All-Argument every season.

Johnny Baker

Johnny is the Tournament's only four-time MVP, and also has a NWHBF National MVP to his credit.

Hall of Famer Joey Creech

The Youngest MVP ever and a 8-time All-Tourney player. Shown here at the old Kenly Field.

Joey Creech 2010

Here's Joey again, pitching in the 2010 tournament for the Hand-Picked J's.

Jon Moore

Jon, shown here in the 2010 tournament, has been selected All-Tournament 5 times.

Tim Cuddington

Tim has been All-Tournament four times, playing with Organized Konfusion.

Chris Cuddington

Chris was the youngest All-Tournament selection ever at age 13. he plays with his brothers on Organized Konfusion.

Hall of Famer Tony Hamm

Tony was a 3-time All-State selection, and also was the tournament's first permanent umpire as well as a Co-Director.

2015 State Runners Up Four Oaks Fury
(L-R) Brayden Kauppe, Kyle Raulerson, Garrison McLeod, Zach McLamb

2015 All Tournament Team
Top Row(L-R) CJ Jackson, Craig Hardin, Garrison McLeod, Daniel Westbrook, Adam Williams
Bott Row: Tyler Jackson, Spencer Griswold, Johnathon Barefoot, Kyle Raulerson, Jordan Adama

All Tourney 2021- (L-R)- Holden Smith, Tyler Hardin, Caleb Byrd, Craig Hardin, Seth Coats, Gabe Coats, Spencer Griswold, CJ Jackson, Tyler Jackson, Ty Narron (MVP)

BACK TO BACK CHAMPS 2020 and 2021- HIT MEN
(L--R) CJ Jackson, Tyler Jackson, Ty Narron (Back to Back MVP), Spencer Griswold