Reader Poll: Can Red Springs win the Tobacco State League championship?
By Chase Murphy | Summer Intern | The Robesonian | July 20, 2025
I'll admit it, when I signed on as a summer intern at The Robesonian and they gave me the Red Springs baseball beat, I was disappointed. You see, our humble little publication is located in Lumberton, and the Auctioneers are considered the No. 1 team in our readership area. Everyone in our building thought the Auctioneers would be the flagstaff team in the league, and the Springs would bring up the rear.
Red Springs is about 20 miles to the north and west of our offices. Even though it makes sense that longtime sports editor Ben Swift would get the hometown Auctioneers beat, I felt relegated to the also-ran franchise.
Well, the Robins have proved a lot of people wrong this summer (including me), and even though I am already getting gray hairs (for real!) from the stress this team has caused me, I am glad in the end that the Red Robins beat fell to me. I have an endless scrapbook of memories, and I've watched some great baseball (pitcher Dan McSwain -- 9-0 record -- is the REAL DEAL!).
So now, I ask you fair reader, as the regular season draws to a close:
Can Red Springs actually win the championship? They've proven they can hang with anyone (sweeping league-leading Sanford recently). But they've also proven they can disappear in key moments as well.
I think they've got the pieces, but let us know what YOU think. Sound off: Will the inaugural TSL championship banner be coming to Red Springs? If not the Robins, then who? Surely not the Auctioneers! Sorry, Ben. Hope I still have a job when this goes to press.
Thanks for reading if you've made it this far! -- Chase Murphy
