It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Louisiana Monument by Costello & Company in Sterlington, LA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Sterlington, LA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“These are skilled professions that give wonderful care. Thank you! Special thank you to Patricia”
“Always Best has been amazing in helping me with my father who has Alzheimer's and”
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“I love their caring services and would recommend them to anyone wanting to age in”
“The company is TOP TIER, very flexible with my son’s school hours, always very nice.”
“The company is an amazing company! The staff is wonderful, and the pay is great!”
“Always best care caregivers are very dependable and very hard workers goes above and beyond”
“I've been working with Always Best Care for over a year now, and I can”
“Always best senior care is a great company to work with. I've been working with”
“Always Best Care is a commendable agency specializing in placing reliable caregivers in the homes”
“We have been very pleased with services from Always Best Care. They are awesome! They”
“Angela Powell is the best! She wears her scrubs, comes right in my mother’s home”
“This agency is very caring and professional. If an issue arises they make sure it”
“Other Always Best Care has allowed my dad and step-mother to stay in their home. These”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care started helping me in July,”
“By far the best personality for this job. Plenty of patience and a bubbly attitude.”
“Summer Riggs made new homeownership a reality for our family. I highly recommend Summer Riggs!”
“Current employer I love the staff everyone is very understanding and the clients are nice”
“My husband and I will be gone on a 50th anniversary vacation trip for 14”
“Summer has always been excited about new homes and it shows in her work. She”
“Always Best Care was a GOD send for me. I did not worry about my”
“I am a current client of this provider We've been extremely pleased with Always Best Care”
“These are skilled professions that give wonderful care. Thank you! Special thank you to Patricia and McKinsey for you attention to detail on multiple occasions!❤️”
“Always Best has been amazing in helping me with my father who has Alzheimer's and he had a stroke so he has limited mobility. They even go the extra mile and I'd like to mention Cynthia and Tracy for their outstanding service! It truly takes a hero to do what you guys do, as this is a very difficult job that requires amazing patience.”
“My family and I love Always Best Care!”
“The workers are nice and knowledgeable of their job. I would recommend the company to others”
“I love their caring services and would recommend them to anyone wanting to age in place. Thank you Always Best Care!”
“The company is TOP TIER, very flexible with my son’s school hours, always very nice. I love them! A HUGE help for me!”
“The company is an amazing company! The staff is wonderful, and the pay is great! I would highly recommend this company.”
“Always best care caregivers are very dependable and very hard workers goes above and beyond for their clients”
“I've been working with Always Best Care for over a year now, and I can honestly say it's been an incredible experience. The support from the office staff is top-notch - they're always available to answer questions, provide guidance, and help with any issues that arise. The clients I've worked with have been wonderful, and I appreciate the care and attention the company puts into matching caregivers with clients who are a good fit. I highly recommend Always Best Care to any caregiver looking for a supportive, flexible, and rewarding work environment. Keep up the great work & thanks so much!”
“Always best senior care is a great company to work with. I've been working with Always best for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. My clients are so sweet The company is very family oriented They don't just care about the clients they also care about the workers. My daddy was in the hospital and ended up passing away the company allowed me to take off so I could be at the hospital with my daddy, and after he passed away they allowed me to be off rest of the week.”
“Always Best Care is a commendable agency specializing in placing reliable caregivers in the homes of elderly patients. Recently, I engaged their services to find a caregiver for my grandmother, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome. Cyndi Williams from Always Best Care was instrumental throughout the process. Her dependability and understanding made the entire experience smooth and reassuring. From our initial consultation to the caregiver placement, Cyndi and the staff at Always best Care ensured that my grandmother's needs were prioritized, which greatly eased what could have been a challenging transition. Thanks to Always Best Care, my grandmother is not only well cared for but also genuinely happy with her caregiver. This has brought immense relief and peace of mind to our family, knowing that she is in capable hands. Overall, I highly recommend Always Best Care for their professionalism, compassion, and commitment to providing excellent elderly care services. They have truly made a positive difference in our lives during a time of significant adjustment. Claire Breslow”
“We have been very pleased with services from Always Best Care. They are awesome! They are very thorough, punctual, caring and helpful group. Shout out to Cynthia for going the extra mile to facilitate VA help for my step father. If your loved one is in need for in home care I highly recommend this company.”
“Angela Powell is the best! She wears her scrubs, comes right in my mother’s home and gets busy doing whatever my mother needs her to do. She just takes it upon herself to do things that she sees that needs to be done. Angela has a great disposition. I can tell she loves what she does. Our family absolutely loves and appreciates Angela. Thank you to Always Best Care!!!!!”
“This agency is very caring and professional. If an issue arises they make sure it gets solved.”
“Other Always Best Care has allowed my dad and step-mother to stay in their home. These ladies quickly learned the routine that they like and take very good care of them. The office staff are so helpful and quick to find a replacement sitter if someone calls in sick. I highly recommended this agency for your loved ones”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care started helping me in July, 2022. My husband needs daily care and we have been more than pleased with the caregivers that they have provided. The Staff is so professional and efficient, yet like family at the same time. Their focus is on their patients and the families. They have made my life so much easier. Highly recommend!!”
“By far the best personality for this job. Plenty of patience and a bubbly attitude. I will definitely be using her again when I’m ready to sell. I highly recommend her.”
“Summer Riggs made new homeownership a reality for our family. I highly recommend Summer Riggs!”
“Current employer I love the staff everyone is very understanding and the clients are nice and you will never find a better place to work and they are very respectful, understanding and caring bosses. They pair you up with clients that matches your personality. I really love working for this company and how they treat their employees.”
“My husband and I will be gone on a 50th anniversary vacation trip for 14 days. During that time our wonderful caregiver has agreed to be “on-call”. We are so grateful for her and there is no way we could take this trip without the peace of mind that her presence gives me! Thank you ABC for the service that your company provides and for the personal touch that you and your sister provide. Marilyn Get Outlook for iOS”
“Summer has always been excited about new homes and it shows in her work. She loves her job because she gets to find the perfect home for her clients. I highly recommend Summer to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.”
“Always Best Care was a GOD send for me. I did not worry about my Mother . I could go to work and know she was in excellent hands Very professional. Came on time. Treated us like family”
“I am a current client of this provider We've been extremely pleased with Always Best Care of Monroe. They've been very helpful and the caregiver that we have working for us is fantastic. I would give them a very high recommendation. They started in July and have done exactly what we wanted them to do for our needs, and met those needs.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Bayou Boeuf RV & Campgrounds in Sterlington, LA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Granny's Family Restaurant or visit Layton Castle, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Sterlington, LA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Sterlington, LA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Sterlington, LA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
North WebsterLumberjacks1-3Thursday, Oct 22, 2026SterlingtonPanthers2-2North Webster Varsity Football @ SterlingtonGame InfoThe North Webster varsity football team has an away conference game @ Sterlington (LA) on Thursday, October 22 @ 7p.ScorekeeperMatchupRosterGame DetailsTeam ComparisonNorth Webster (Springhill)111.0Rushing Yards/GSterlington322.3North Webster (Springhill)61.0Passing Yards/GSterlington110.3No...
North WebsterLumberjacks1-3
Thursday, Oct 22, 2026
SterlingtonPanthers2-2
Game Info
The North Webster varsity football team has an away conference game @ Sterlington (LA) on Thursday, October 22 @ 7p.
MatchupRoster
Game Details
Team Comparison
North Webster (Springhill)111.0
Rushing Yards/G
Sterlington322.3
North Webster (Springhill)61.0
Passing Yards/G
Sterlington110.3
North Webster (Springhill)61.0
Receiving Yards/G
Sterlington110.3
North Webster (Springhill)172.0
Total Yards/G
Sterlington432.7
North Webster (Springhill)61.0
Tackles/G
Sterlington62.0
North Webster (Springhill)2.0
Sacks/G
Sterlington0.3
North Webster (Springhill)-
Points/G
Sterlington0.7
Key Players
Avg. Per Game
Braylon Washington
#7WR/FS
Rushing Yards
95.0107.7
Tj Burch
#6RB/OLB
Justin Stewart
#6QB/SS
Passing Yards
61.0103.7
J-rob Breen
#7QB/WR
Jardin Gill
#19
Receiving Yards
37.033.3
Devyn Downs
#1WR
Braylon Washington
#7WR/FS
Total Yards
95.0154.3
J-rob Breen
#7QB/WR
Jeremiah Washington
#15OLB
Tackles
10.07.3
Drew Vocker
#3MLB
Javion Hawthorne
#0
Sacks
1.00.3
CJ Holmes
#25
Not Enough Data
Points
--0.7
William Lyon
#84K
Scoring Averages
| Final | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Webster | 20.5 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
| Sterlington | 33.2 | 12.2 | 9.0 | 6.8 | 5.2 |
Rankings
Louisiana
#218
#51
Louisiana Division II Non-Select
--
#6
Louisiana Division III Non-Select
#28
--
Monroe
--
#9
Shreveport
#63
--
Season Recap
Overall Record
1-3
2-2
District
0-0
0-0
Non-District
1-3
2-2
Head to Head
0-0
0-0
Home
1-1
1-1
Away
0-2
1-1
Neutral
0-0
0-0
Common Opponent
0-0
0-0
Playoff
0-0
0-0
In-State
1-3
2-2
Out-of-State
0-0
0-0
Win %
.250
.500
District %
.000
.000
PF
82
133
PA
85
99
They weren’t even supposed to be there. Yet the Duplin County All-Stars took an opportunity given to them by a technicality and turned it into something special.Tuesday afternoon concluded the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series tournament, held in Sterlington, La, with the host team defeating the All-Stars 3-11. The two sides previously faced off on the winners’ side of the bracket Monday morning, with Sterlington winning that game 12-2.In the final game of the Series, the All-Stars got on base early in the first inni...
They weren’t even supposed to be there. Yet the Duplin County All-Stars took an opportunity given to them by a technicality and turned it into something special.
Tuesday afternoon concluded the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series tournament, held in Sterlington, La, with the host team defeating the All-Stars 3-11. The two sides previously faced off on the winners’ side of the bracket Monday morning, with Sterlington winning that game 12-2.
In the final game of the Series, the All-Stars got on base early in the first inning, with Davis Smith hitting a single on a line drive to left field on the sixth pitch he saw. The chance to build on this was short-lived, as Sterlington recorded three straight outs to keep a runner stranded on first.
Hatch Becher got the start for Duplin County, hitting a batter on his first three pitches to send Sterlington’s Cal Rollinson to first in the bottom of the first. In the next at-bat, Harper Mills hit a single off Becher to advance Rollinson to third. This set up an RBI by Rand Garvin to send Rollinson home from third and give Sterlington a 1-0 lead. Next at-bat, both Garvin and Mills decided to attempt steals, with Garvin landing on second base and Mills getting home to add another run for Louisiana. A fly out hit from Rowen Johnson sent Garvin to the plate to put Duplin down three runs before Joseph Bruscato grounded out to end the inning.
The All-Stars fought back immediately in the second inning. A single base hit by Hampton Bass on a line drive to center got Duplin back on base. During Noah Bass’s at-bat, a passed ball was fumbled by Sterlington’s catcher, allowing Hampton to move to second. An error was made in the next at-bat by Mills following a pickoff attempt on Hampton, gifting Duplin County a run as he made it home.
Both Dan Wilson and Tanner Serafini walked for the All-Stars in their at-bats, sending Konnor Sholar to the plate next. On his plate appearance, Sholar bunted the ball, forcing another error out of Mills that sent Braylen Gomez (pitch running for Wilson) and Serafini home to tie the game at 3-3. One more error would occur from Sterlington before the host team collected two outs to end the top of the inning.
Stopping the bleeding, Sterlington settled in on offense in the bottom of the second.
After a fly out from Mav Franklin, Evan Elias hit a ground ball that Duplin County’s Smith had an error on, getting Elias on base. Sterlington gained two runners on base following a single by Luke Powell, before loading the bases after Becher hit Rollinson again in his second at-bat of the day. With the bases loaded, Mills hit a fly ball to right field that was caught by Sholar, but sent Elias home and Powell to third, as the host team took the lead 4-3. Another error from Duplin sent Powell and Rollinson home to add two more runs before the inning was over.
Both offenses cooled off over the course of the next two innings, with no runs scored until the bottom of the fifth inning.
It was Sterlington who broke the scoreless drought, scoring five straight runs. Powell, Mills, Macon Williams, and Rylan Newsom contributed RBIs to build an insurmountable 11-3 lead. The game ended with the host team named World Series champions.
Despite the runner-up finish, the All-Stars ended their World Series run with a 4-2 record, defeating every team they played except Sterlington. All fell to Duplin County on their path to becoming World Series finalists. Over the course of the past week, the All-Stars were able to find ways to overcome close games, particularly against Hardee and Hattiesburg. Against Mississippi, it was a defensive showing with both sides refusing to concede until extra innings, where Duplin managed to walk the game off thanks to the game-winning bunt by Gomez that brought Sholar home. Then, when facing Hardee County down 2-3 in the bottom of the seventh, RBIs from both Smith and Marshall Rumbold brought in the game-tying and game-winning runs to carry the All-Stars to another victory. In a win-or-go-home game against Hartsville following their first loss to Sterlington, the All-Stars didn’t need extra innings. They put up 10 runs in six innings to solidify their best offensive showing of the tournament.
As the dust settled and the tournament run came to an end, reflection started to set in for the Duplin team.
“To me, it’s the experience of a lifetime.” All-Star head coach Will Rumbold said in a follow-up interview Thursday. “It was always a dream of mine as a little kid to try and go play in a World Series. That dream continued throughout my adulthood in coaching, as I had never had that opportunity. It was everything I expected, and a bit more.”
Rumbold said he loved the effort his team showed over the course of the six games the team played in the World Series. Even with the offense performing a bit slower than they expected going into the tournament, there was no quit on the Duplin County side.
“It was awesome to watch,” he said of the team mentality. “It’s kind of one of those things as a coach, you tell your players to have faith, believe, and to never give up. We saw that the first day against Florence County. We got to the fourth and fifth innings, not really hitting the ball or producing anything at the plate. I wouldn’t say every inning was three up and three down (outs). By the fifth inning, I told them, ‘look, y’all need to be selective with these pitches; we need to try to get this guy off the mound (Fisher Parker).’ I felt like once we get this guy off the mound, we could probably win this game. We were down going into the sixth, and he was still on the mound. I started to think this might be it; we might be running out of time.”
When Parker left the mound in the bottom of the sixth, he was replaced by Brantley Marlow, and then later Lawson Mouzon. That switch kick-started the offense for Duplin, who scored five unanswered runs in two innings to win the game 7-4, after being down 4-2 in the first five.
“Their relief pitchers kind of struggled a little bit,” Rumbold explained. “We ended up plating five runs, and I told the team that we had to go back out and defend. I said, ‘If you’ll just believe and just have some faith, things can happen in the right way.’ We ended up getting three outs and not allowing any more runs in the seventh to win that game 7-4.”
In the games against Sterlington, the team just wasn’t able to muster up the same success they had against everyone else they had played.
“Our pitching was kind of not where we wanted it to be,” Rumbold said. “As far as who we could have throw. Jase Woodard was not able to pitch anymore. We had pitched him both Monday and Tuesday, so he wasn’t going to be available to pitch on Wednesday. Hampton had pitched against Hartsville; we kept him under his limit to try to save him, possibly, if we did go to a game two on Wednesday (against Sterlington) for a championship.”
While the All-Stars didn’t walk away as the champs, the mood wasn’t somber when their game against Sterlington ended. It was the opposite, actually, with many of the players overall enjoying their experience in Louisiana.
“The kids said that this was an opportunity of a lifetime,” Rumbold recalled. “I could remember hearing murmurs before the state tournament that they were ready for the season to be done. As we got to the state and started playing, they said, ‘I want to be here, I love it.’ It was kind of the same thing once we got down here; the kids were excited. I heard no complaints and no gripes. Just the camaraderie and the brotherhood that was built not just between the team, but the families involved. They were very supportive.”
The team held devotions over the course of a couple of mornings between the families that traveled with the team. Before the last game against Sterlington, Rumbold called the fans within the stands onto the field to participate in the team’s prayer.
Content writer Trevon McGlone can be reached via email at [email protected]
Nine players from Sampson County, who teamed up with the Duplin County All-Stars, have qualified for the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series.Noah Bass, Marshall Rumbold, Jase Woodard, Tanner Serafini, Dan Wilson, Hampton Bass, Henry Stevens, Davis Smith and Braylen Gomez all contributed to the All-Stars’ run, with the team winning three of its five games during the state tournament. The boys will compete in the Junior Boys 54/80 World Series at the Sterlington Sports Complex in Sterlington, La., from July 17-22. Their first opponen...
Nine players from Sampson County, who teamed up with the Duplin County All-Stars, have qualified for the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series.
Noah Bass, Marshall Rumbold, Jase Woodard, Tanner Serafini, Dan Wilson, Hampton Bass, Henry Stevens, Davis Smith and Braylen Gomez all contributed to the All-Stars’ run, with the team winning three of its five games during the state tournament. The boys will compete in the Junior Boys 54/80 World Series at the Sterlington Sports Complex in Sterlington, La., from July 17-22. Their first opponent will be Florence County, S.C., on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.
“The way Dixie Boys Baseball works here in Duplin County, we’ve got a league,” Duplin County All-Stars coach Will Rumbold explained. “Our team was comprised of Wallace players, and I have some Sampson County and Clinton players. Sampson County and Clinton do not offer Dixie Boys baseball. So, when they get done with majors, I believe that’s all that’s offered over there.
“I had Hampton Bass play for me last year, and his dad, Ed Bass, mentioned to me that some of these other boys might want to play, too. I told him registration starts early, so I’d make sure to get the message out to them. They all registered, wanting to come play.”
Rumbold’s league team finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, earning him the opportunity to lead the Duplin County All-Stars into the state tournament. There, the All-Stars faced Columbus County, Onslow County, Hoke County’s 14U All-Stars, Hope Mills and Lumberton. Duplin County dropped its opener to Columbus County, 7-4.
“I think I psyched out my team that first game,” Rumbold said with a laugh. “I grew up in Bladen County, so we always had to play Whiteville in Columbus County. Unfortunately, we were never successful. Whiteville was a hotbed for baseball and always has been. So I kind of told the boys we were playing Columbus County. I probably talked them up more than I should have. That’s not a team we should have lost to. I don’t want to take anything away from those coaches or those players. I just think nerves got us.”
That moment flipped a switch for the team.
Over the next three games, the All-Stars outscored Onslow County, Hoke County and Hope Mills by a combined score of 32-4, posting victories of 11-1, 10-0 and 11-3, respectively.
“They started gaining confidence, they started hitting the ball better,” Rumbold recalled. “That confidence just kept rolling.”
But it wasn’t just confidence that fueled Duplin County’s momentum. It was also personal.
Last year, Hatch Becher and his East Duplin teammate, Konnor Sholar, were eliminated from the tournament by Hoke County, which went on to win the state title and advance to the World Series. This time, Becher wanted the opportunity to take the mound against Hoke.
“Hatch was wanting the ball and stepped up to the mound,” Rumbold said. “He said, ‘I want the ball,’ which is something every coach loves to hear.”
Becher delivered. In four innings, he allowed just one hit, struck out three batters and did not allow a run. Of his 59 pitches, 30 were strikes.
Despite winning three games, the All-Stars appeared to see their season come to an end following a 5-4 loss to Lumberton, which captured the state championship and initially earned a berth in the World Series.
Then everything changed.
“It used to be whoever the state champion was, that’s who went to the World Series,” Rumbold explained. “Last year, teams played at a distance of 54/80 — 54 feet from the pitcher’s mound to home plate and 80 feet between the bases. This year, I went down there to the coaches meeting before we started the tournament. I walked around the field, and I’m like, ‘This doesn’t look right. The mound looked farther than it normally is.’ The Brunswick County coach said, ‘They went to 60/90 this year.’”
Each league represented in the state had to franchise both the 54/80 and 60/90 divisions, depending on which field dimensions the state champion selected.
Lumberton chose to compete in the 60/90 World Series. Brunswick County had only franchised the 60/90 division and not the 54/80 division, making it ineligible for the second berth in the 54/80 World Series.
Duplin County, meanwhile, had earned the tournament’s sportsmanship award.
“I didn’t find this out until we won the award,” Rumbold said. “The state director pulled me aside and told me he needed to talk to me after the award presentation. That’s when he informed me that if we wanted to go, they would put our name in to go to the World Series. When he asked, I said, ‘I’m going to be honest, I need to talk to my parents because everybody thinks we’re done.’”
On the way back from the award presentation, Rumbold immediately began calling parents to see whether the team could be assembled one more time. All but two players were able to commit to making the trip.
“There were a few others that had already made plans,” Rumbold recalled. “Two of the three players had big vacation plans; their parents had already paid for it. Those were the ones going back and forth, but most people were all in when I told them we had an opportunity to go.
“They wanted to know how because, the day before, I told them our season was done and, unfortunately, we didn’t make it. Now here I am the next day telling them about the opportunity to go. So I’m having to explain that whole situation on the technicality of us being able to go. I was a little nervous at first because I didn’t know if everybody would commit, but I was willing to do whatever the majority wanted to do.”
The Dixie Boys Baseball World Series is a double-elimination tournament. The All-Stars must win six games to be crowned World Series champions. If Duplin County defeats Florence County on Saturday, it will advance to face the winner between Hattiesburg, Miss., and Texarkana, Texas, later that day. If the All-Stars lose their opener, they will face the loser of that matchup Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.
Now, during the 70th anniversary of the World Series, the All-Stars have the opportunity to compete on what may be the biggest stage of their young baseball careers.
“The main thing that I’ve told them is this is an opportunity of a lifetime,” Rumbold said. “There aren’t many people who can say they went to a World Series at any level of baseball. I think that’s starting to sink in for them. We’ll meet tonight (this past Monday at the time of the interview) as well as tomorrow. Those will be our last two meetings before we travel. Most of the families are traveling on their own, so I won’t see them again until we get down there. I think it’ll definitely hit them during the opening ceremony when they see the other teams. It’s going to reignite that passion and fire. They’re going to be excited and ready to play.”
The opportunity is especially meaningful for Rumbold, who will experience it alongside his son, Marshall.
Rumbold played baseball in high school, following in the footsteps of his father, James Marshall Rumbold Jr., who played for Sanford Central High School during the 1960s. His father passed away when Rumbold was just 11 years old. Now, decades later, he will coach his son on one of youth baseball’s biggest stages.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet; it’ll probably hit me either at the opening ceremony or when we take the field,” Rumbold admitted. “Just thinking about it, it’s very exciting. It’s a connection that reminds me of my dad a lot, especially with Marshall being named after him.
“I’ve posted a few things on Facebook, and there’s one post that almost chokes me up every time I read it. It means a lot because my dad meant so much to me. I was only 11 when he passed away, so I think about him often and hope I’m making him proud. I know that in that moment, he’ll certainly be looking down with a lot of pride in the fact that he has a son and grandson sitting on a field in Louisiana playing for a World Series.”
Content writer Trevon McGlone can be reached via email at [email protected]
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