Monday, July 18, 2022

Billy Laval, Furman University Baseball Coach, to Coach Shelby Team, July 18, 1922

BILLY LAVAL

Billy Laval Comes to Shelby as Coach. . . Famous Baseball Coach Takes Charge of Shelby Team, Buys New Uniforms

“Billy” Laval, famous coach of Furman University and probably one of the greatest baseball men in the south, arrived in Shelby Friday to take charge of the Shelby club for the balance of the season. The local fans are very enthusiastic over the coming of Laval as his reputation for ability to put out a winning team is well known. A game was scheduled with Statesville on the local ground Friday but the team did not come on account of a death in the official circle. Laval had the Shelby club out at practice Friday afternoon and many spectators watched Laval as he taught the boys something new in baseball. The team is now declared to be unbeatable by any amateur team in North Carolina.

The club has already made a good showing this season, playing the best teams in Western North Carolina and Piedmont South Carolina. The Shelby boys have lost only six games this season. Kings Mountain is the only team that has given the locals any trouble so far and they stand tied for first honors. Beginning the first of August, Kings Mountain and Shelby will hook up in a series of five straight games to decide the championship of Western Carolina.

In a few days the Shelby team will be in new uniforms, fresh and bright from the manufacturers. The Shelby fans feel proud of the locals and expect them to capture the state championship.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., July 18, 1922. Photo from the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, online at www.scahof.com/coaches-contributors.

No comments:

Post a Comment