The following is a letter from Roanoke Rapids Youth Baseball Association President Todd Locamon and one of the coaches from the Laurinburg team who played in the Southeast Region Tournament this past week.

Everyone,

I wanted to take a moment (after a long, cool, refreshing nap) to shout out a big THANK YOU to each of you for your efforts in making the Southeast Regional Tournament a huge success.  It took active involvement from all of us to make this event special for our guests and I am still amazed at how each of your respective departments and people responded. I hope you are as proud of your people as I am of each of you!

Roanoke Rapids is my "home" and has a very special place in my heart. Our town was represented in a very special way this past week as multiple departments, organizations and groups all came together to show our guests what teamwork and hospitality are all about. In addition to the 13 All-Star teams competing at the park, we had another all-star team come together and put on a display of organization and professionalism that would make any coach beam with pride!

I am so proud of each and every group that participated in this event!  Every coach and parent I spoke with was just amazed at the community involvement and how we all pulled together to make them feel special. Businesses, hotels and restaurants all welcomed the teams with open arms. Please read the attached email I received from one of the Laurinburg coaches this morning.

Joe, Emery, Wes and Lori - Your teams are truly the Southeast Regional Champions!!!

Thank you all once again.

Todd Lockamon
RR Youth Baseball

To The Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County Citizens.

I just had the opportunity to spend   five days in your wonderful town while I was participating in the Babe Ruth Southeastern Regional Baseball Tournament as a coach.  I would like to offer my thanks to all the fine men and women that helped make this an amazing week not only for the young men and women that played but also for the friends and family that attended the event.  I have been around our local Optimist Program as a player, coach and volunteer and I like to think we are the best around as far as clubs but I will tell you that you guys in Roanoke Rapids are amazing.

I would especially like to single out the tournament director, Mr. Todd Lockamon.  Having participated in many of these tournaments I can tell you that the amount of pressure and moving parts to make this event a success is enormous and Mr. Lockamon organized this tournament better than any I have ever played in, regardless of the size of the town that was the host.

I would also like to extend thanks to all of the volunteers, police officers, EMT’s, high school students and park workers, not only was the park in fantastic shape but your help and hospitality was a blessing in what has become a cruel and self -centered  world.  I have to mention what to me was the most important and moving part of the tournament, during the opening ceremonies, Mr. Al Haskins, was ending the ceremony by turning over the microphone to Sheriff Wes Tripp for the opening prayer, but before he did Mr. Haskins said “yes one thing we do in Roanoke Rapids  is pray”, thank you for that Mr Haskins, in our ever challenging world it is a great feeling to know that people are still aware of “ where to find our answers and guidance”.

After meeting your Sheriff and Police Chief, I can tell you to rest assured, these guys “ get it’ and you are in great hands. They took the time to talk with our kids and parents and offer help in any way possible.  Their staff members were just as helpful and you can tell they are a reflection of the leadership. 

A big thank you also goes out to Mr. Randy Wrenn of rrspin.com, your pictures have made lifetime memories for us.

From our first encounter with the folks at the Roanoke Rapids Theater until our last golf cart ride to the parking lot, I cannot express the gratitude  I have for each and every person that helped make this a fantastic event.

We in Laurinburg face many of the same challenges that Roanoke rapids faces, our towns are fighting for jobs and trying to keep our peaceful way of life intact.  We came to Roanoke Rapids with only nine players and advanced to the championship round, the same way the small town of Roanoke Rapids showed up in a championship way of hosting this tournament.  There is a lot our country can learn about how “we” do things in our small towns!  I am sure I have omitted some people that made this a great weekend and with that I apologize but please know I recognize and appreciate all you did.

Hopefully there was an immediate, all be it small, economic impact the area benefitted from, but in the big picture you created an ambassador and life- long advocate of Roanoke Rapids in myself.  In closing I would like to wish the town and all of the great people of Roanoke Rapids much continued success and prosperity. 

Best regards and God Bless

Kevin Milligan

Laurinburg NC Optimist 9 year olds