Kinston Kickoff: Small Business Unite for Intense Kickball Showdown
Get ready for an exciting and fun-filled evening as Lenoir County's small businesses come together for a friendly kickball tournament at Grainger Stadium. This first-of-its-kind event, organized by the Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce, will take place today, with gates opening at 5:30 pm and the opening kick scheduled for 6 pm. Entry is free for spectators, and concessions will be available for purchase throughout the event.
The tournament will feature nine teams from small businesses across Lenoir County, each with their own unique team name. Participating teams include Bojangles Cajun Kickers, Truist Chasing Benjamins, SECU Natural Born Kickers, Farm Bureau Major Liability, Additive America Kickin' it with... Zac, Harp and Dills The Harp and Dill experience, First Flight The Aviators, Neuse News Sports The G.O.A.T's, and Lenoir County 2 Legit 2 Kick.
Though this is the first year for the event, Zac Holcomb from Additive America is no stranger to winning kickball championships in Lenoir County. He is estatic for the event and believes it is great for the community.
"We are really excited for the upcoming tournament. Anytime that you get the opportunity to hang out with other fun folks in the community, it is sure to be a good time," Holcomb said.
"This is a prime example of why this community is such a great place to raise a family. It is a town that takes the time to do fun events like this at such a treat of a location like Historic Grainger Stadium. We are a small business and have fielded our team with other small businesses from La Grange to Pink Hill and back up here in Kinston. We are looking forward to having a great time with the other teams as we all strive to not pull any hamstrings!"
Neuse News Sports wasted no time in trash-talking, as BJ Murphy sent many engaging email replies to the other teams and even submitted a picture of the winning team via Facebook weeks before the competition.
"Neuse News Sports is excited to participate in our first Chamber event. Unfortunately, our entire schedule was interrupted by the infamous Heith Harrison of Farm Bureau. Only he could ensure us old timers were playing kickball after 8pm," Murphy said. "We're expecting the trophy, and it could save us all a lot of time by simply engraving The G.O.A.T.s and presenting it to us during the opening ceremonies."
Murphy got the pot stir with his bold predictions but that didn't scare away Heith Harrison from Farm Bureau.
"While they're posting TikTok videos and trying to get likes and shares on Facebook, we'll be running around the bases and changing their acronym from GOAT to TOAD (Terrible On Any Day), " Heith said.
Sarah Bartlett from the Chamber of Commerce expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, "I am very excited to see these major players in our Lenoir County business world hash it out on the field! I think it should be a lot of fun and hope everyone will make it out to come watch." The Chamber's goal is to open up a line of conversation with businesses in the area and provide a platform for networking, marketing, and advocacy.
Adding a touch of local flair, the tournament will be emceed by Shane Aube, a seasoned announcer for the Down East Wood Ducks, and will kick off with a performance of the National Anthem by Ciarra Kennedy. The tournament's format is double elimination, ensuring an action-packed evening with multiple games being played simultaneously.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to support local small businesses and enjoy a night of entertainment and friendly competition. Gather your friends and family, and head to Grainger Stadium tomorrow to cheer on your favorite teams!
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