Hall of Famer George Whitfield featured in new book

Legendary baseball coach George Whitfield is the subject of a new book by veteran Greenville journalist Bethany Bradsher. Bradsher has authored numerous sports books, including Coaching Third, about ECU baseball coach Keith LeClair, and The Big Rock about the annual fishing tournament.

Covering All the Bases: George Whitfield's Extraordinary Life in Baseball profiles the life and achievements of Whitfield, who grew up in Kinston. He has coached at Goldsboro High School, Hamlet ant Richmond County high schools,and Pitt Community College and is a member of both the NC Sports Hall of Fame and the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. As a volunteer baseball coach for ECU, he worked closely with Keith LeClair for several years. In his final coaching stint at Arendell Parrott Academy in 2015, Whitfield led the team to an NCISAA state championship.

He also served as athletic director at Richmond County High School and Mt. Olive College.

In addition to his comprehensive coaching career, Bradsher's book highlights Whitfield's unique network of connections in high school, college, and professional baseball, including his longtime friendship with baseball legend Clyde King, and his baseball clinic for young players, which has been an annual event for almost fifty years.

Whitfield and author Bradsher will be celebrated at a book launch event May 3rd at 3 p.m. in Ellis Simon Gymnasium at Arendell Parrott Academy in Kinston.