The disappointment felt by our community this past week as a result of the Down East Wood Ducks (DEWD’s) team being sold and eventually moving to South Carolina, is less a result of business and market forces out of our contol and more a sense of losing hope our community can sustain minor league baseball indefinitely. The glimmer of hope is there’s a lease through at least 2031 albeit with a new lessee and no guarantee the new team will have the same allure and level of play during that time. Still, there’s hope.

The messaging coming from our leaders has been optimistically confusing, cautiously reactive, and clear as mud, even though a pending sale has been known since late March of this year (and rumored for longer). We can only hope a soon-to-be hired Public Information Officer for the City of Kinston is on the fast track to employment.

The community’s reaction to the news has been mixed with hurt and confusion. In my opinion, much of that was avoidable as our leaders had plenty of time to iron out a consistent message given how long these discussions have taken place. To recap: 

• In February, the Texas Rangers announced the development of a park and team in Leland, NC. 

• On May 10th, 94.3 The Game reported the potential sale of the team and the relocation to Spartanburg, SC.

• On May 18th, Kinston Mayor Don Hardy said, “I don’t foresee them [Down East Wood Ducks] leaving at all… You may have heard a lot, but I can assure you that they love being here and we love having them here.”

• On May 23rd, the Texas Rangers announced they were selling the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings, and subsequently, we confirmed the team would also be moving to Spartanburg, SC.

Make no mistake the City of Kinston (i.e. property taxpayers) owns the stadium. There is no team without their leadership. There is no agreement without all sides agreeing it’s in each other’s best interests. The hope is although the economics for the City of Kinston to maintain a minor league team work against the City of Kinston, the pride in our community to keep the stands full in Grainger Stadium continues to be worth the investment.

We are a community where the market works against us at times, where we can be looked over, and where others may not expect us to succeed.

And that’s why we must fight for Kinston and Lenoir County at all times.

We’ve got to find ways to say “yes” for the best interest of our community. For our future.

“Yes” for our students.

“Yes” to the community college play.

“Yes” to the local non-profit.

“Yes” to bringing your neighbor’s trash can up from the street.

“Yes” to emceeing or contributing to a fundraiser.

“Yes” to fighting for what’s right.

“Yes” and “Yes” and “Yes”

Because it’s so easy to say “no”, ignore, or think someone else will do that.

For now, we’ll say “thank you” to the Texas Rangers for taking a chance on us. We’ll encourage our city leaders to continue fighting for us. And, at least this citizen, remains hopeful 2024 isn’t the last time we hear “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.