Friday Feature January 7, 2022
I have not been in town long, but I have learned that Whiteville and Columbus County love their sports. I am excited to cover the next generation of leaders from this community. Not everyone can move on and follow their dreams of being a professional athlete, but there have been many from Columbus County, Whiteville to be more specific.
If Whiteville had a Hall of Fame, it would be filled with some great people, many of them athletes. At one point in the nineteen eighties ABC News labeled Whiteville, North Carolina as “Baseball Town USA.” That name has stuck around for almost fifty years. The most recent baseball sensation from the area is MacKenzie Gore. Gore currently is a pitcher with the San Diego organization. He was picked by the Padres as the third overall pick in 2017. MacKenzie was also ranked in the top five prospects of 2020-2021. Gore was recently in Whiteville rehabbing a blister on his pitching finger and enjoying the holidays with his family.
Going back to the eighties there was a long history of high school standouts, draft picks, and future big leaguers from Whiteville. Many of these players paved the way for the town to become a regular stop for college recruiters and major league scouts. Whiteville won three State Championships in the eighties. 1983,1985 and 1989 the squad was led by Coach Linwood Hedgepath. This legend would have a spot in the Whiteville Hall of Fame (WHOF). Coach Hedgepath had the pleasure of coaching back-to-back first round draft picks Tommy Green and Patrick Lennon. Both these players have earned a spot in our fictitious WHOF. Tommy Green was picked 14th overall in the first round of the 1985 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Green even tossed a no-hitter in 1991 when he pitched for the Chicago Whitesox. In 1986 the eighth overall pick of the first round was Patrick Lennon. Lennon was also the Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year 1895-1986. If I am mentioning stand-out players of the eighties, I cannot leave out Chuck Baldwin. Baldwin was lured out of high school to play for the Baltimore Orioles farm team. He also earned the 1986 Atlantic Coast Player of the Year.
Besides Major League Baseball Whiteville has produced professional athletes for the NFL, NBA, and LPGA. Maggie Will was a three-time winner on the LPGA tour. Three-time Pro-Bowler and 1992 first round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders Chester McGlockton was from Whiteville. He spent 12 seasons in the National Football League. Former NCAA Champion and NBA player Chris Wilcox was from town. Wilcox was the eighth overall pick of the Los Angeles Clippers. Another basketball player, Reggie Royals, was a 6-10″ big man drafted by both the ABA and NBA before the two leagues merged. If you do a Google search for current Whiteville celebrities, the first name that comes up is Dax Harwood. Dax was born David Michael Harwood in 1984. Dax also wrestled in the WWE as Scott Dawson before he signed with AEW. He has held many tag-team titles belts and is proud to call Whiteville home.
Besides the athletes I mentioned, there were so many prominent citizens that deserve to be in the WHOF. I hope to tell you more about them in future features right here on Columbus Country News. Stay with us for weekly “Friday Features” where I will cover something special or give my opinion on what is happening in the world of sports. If you have a story suggestion or an athlete you would like to see featured, please email me the information vinny@kool1039radio.com .
– Vinny Pagano is the Sports Editor for Columbus County News and Sports Director for WTXY Kool 103.9FM & AM1540. Local Sports stories, as well as questions and comments can be sent to sports@kool1039radio.com
