Bill Smith Park
Southport, NC
Review by Gary
Debuting in 2025, the city of Southport, NC “shell-ebrated” the arrival of their new team, the Oak Island Loggerheads. The city’s newest “shell-ebrities” play their summer home games at newly spiffed-up William “Bill” Smith Ballpark, five miles from the Atlantic shoreline and 35 miles from the South Carolina border. The Loggerheads are a collegiate summer baseball team participating in the Old North State League’s Coastal Division.
The ballpark was undergoing improvements on this visit and two nice fellows allowed me access while they updated the cinderblock press box. A shiny new chain link fence was installed for the upcoming season while the ballpark’s new scoreboard sat unopened in boxes in the right field corner.
The infield dirt looked freshly delivered and ready to be dragged, while the grass on the diamond may have needed some sodding. The only things that indicated that this was the Loggerheads’ habitat were the 8’ x 10’ banners that hung on the dugout fences. Would the ballpark be ready in a month for the home opener? Time would tell.
Seating options at Bill Smith’s ballpark looked sparse, but this venue may be akin to a few of the Cape Cod League summer collegiate stadiums where the majority of fans bring their own chairs and foodstuffs. Located on Fish Factory Road in Southport, NC, Bill Smith Ballpark is part of a complex that has four baseball fields, disc golf and kayaking, in addition to the loads of outdoor fun to be found in this nice little town near Oak Island.
If one has not surmised, a loggerhead is a turtle indigenous to Oak Island and nearby Caswell Beach.
Editor’s Note: Oak Island’s Chelonians would make their June 2025 home debut on time, albeit with a 17-2 “shell-lacking” by the visiting Shallotte Shallywags.
2025
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