The North Carolina Junior Legion state tournament is set to open on July 18 at Cherryville’s Fraley Field, bringing together the region’s top junior teams for a weekend of competition.
Mocksville, the Area III champion, will not take part after a missed filing deadline left the squad penalized with a paperwork technicality that barred them from the event.
High Point, the Area III runner‑up, has also withdrawn, citing an insufficient number of players to field a competitive lineup.
With those spots open, tournament officials are contacting the remaining semifinalists, including South Rowan, to determine which teams will step in and keep the bracket balanced.
Opening Day Schedule
Game 1 at 10 a.m. will feature Wilson from Area 1 against the TBA representative from Area 3.
At 1 p.m., Game 2 will see the Area 3 slot face off against Beaufort, the second‑seeded team from Area 1.
Game 3, slated for 4 p.m., matches Hampstead from Area 2 against Shelby from Area 4, while the final slot of the day, Game 4 at 7 p.m., will host the host team Cherryville against Castle Hayne from Area 2.
Brian Pitts, who coordinates the event for the North Carolina Junior Legion, said the organization is moving quickly to finalize replacements and ensure a smooth start to the tournament.