Carter County League beginning fifth season

from staff reports

   Getting set to enter its fifth year of existence, the Carter County League is growing with the speed of a steaming fastball.
   An organization that started with eight teams and 97 players will be up to 24 teams and 320 players (ages 4 1/2 to 14) when the league jamboree opens a new season this coming weekend at Unaka Elementary.
   Action begins Friday as Iron Mountain meets L&T at 5:30 p.m. in a girls lower division softball game. Iron Mountain plays I.R.S. at 7:30 p.m.
   Two pee-wee baseball games will be held that night, with Whitehead Construction taking on Barbara Kimbrel Allstate at 6:30. Birchfield Construction and Horseless Carriage square off at 8:30.
   A full load of activity is planned for Saturday, starting with opening day ceremonies at 8:30 a.m.
   Boys tee-ball takes the field first as Estep's Trucking battles Northeast Credit Union at 9. From there it's Dino's vs. David's Trophies at 10, Grindstaff Chevrolet vs. Pennington Auto Sales at 11, Whitehead Construction vs. Ritchie's Electric at 12, and Climate Controllers vs. Dino's at 1.
   Girls tee-ball is next on tap, with Stoney's Pizza competing with Pizza Plus at 2, then Ron's Masonry taking on Dino's at 3.
   Girls upper division softball gets going at 6 p.m., when David's Trophies will play Threads Unlimited. Miller's Plumbing/Watauga Lodge and Peters Concrete conclude Saturday's schedule with a 7 p.m. contest.
   In addition to providing a sneak preview for the season, the league will also offer a first look at a nicely manicured field.