Bring Back the Love of the Game for 8u All-Stars

On July 10th, life changed forever for the 2022 East Chatham Little League 8u All-Star team from Pittsboro, NC. Our team had just taken the field for the bottom of the 4th inning of our third game in the North Carolina Little League State All-Star Tournament in Wilson, NC. We were 2-0 and on our way to hopefully a third win when shots rang out across our field, striking the center field grass mere feet from one of our players and narrowly missing other team members as the bullets flew past East Chatham’s dugout. Players and my fellow coaches from both teams dove to the field for safety, and along with family and friends hiding under bleachers and behind bushes, waited to see if the shots would continue.

Everyday heroes emerged as parents ran towards the gunfire to try and find the shooter, and coaches covered our players as we army crawled off the field to safety. Thankfully no one was physically hurt that day, but players and their families are still dealing with the mental and emotional wounds from this traumatic incident. Our team was in the middle of an amazing All-Star season, and it’s truly devastating that it had to end this way.

No shooter or motive has been identified at this time. While the circumstances surrounding the shooting are unknown, the traumatic experience of being under fire and knowing that lives were spared by inches continues to haunt those that were there that day. For this group of 7- and 8-year-old ball players, their innocence and love of the game has been tarnished. Many of them have expressed that they are scared to take the field again and do not want to continue playing baseball. It’s our goal to show those 11 boys that baseball is fun and safe…just as it should be known by kids!

Our team has the opportunity to travel to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA to watch Opening Day and games on August 17, 2022. A trip to the LLWS is a bucket list item for most all baseball fans, but for the East Chatham 8u All-Star team it will mean a chance to end their baseball season on a high note and replace the painful memories of July 10th with fun, positive ones. Any financial support to help defray the cost of the trip for the players and their families is appreciated. Costs include bus transportation from Pittsboro, NC to Williamsport, PA, hotel stay for 2 nights, and related travel expenses.

Additional funding raised beyond the cost of the trip will be donated to East Chatham Little League for facility improvements on behalf of the 8u All-Star players to create a “living legacy” in their honor.

Jimmy Simpson - Head Coach of East Chatham Little League 8u All-Stars