Home Plate gathering for coach Mike Newsome

I want to start by saying as my good friend coach Mike Newsome would always say "I Thank the good Lord" and coach, "I Thank the good Lord" as well.

Next I would like to thank every person who attended tonight at Newsome fields to honor coach Mike Newsome. Mike was a good friend to so many. I will continue to honor him for his support of the children in the Roanoke Valley. He touched so many lives big and small. 

I want to thank a few people personally here, Stephanie Rose and Christian Love for coming to me and asking me to help organize this event to honor to Coach.

Thanks to Troy Smith of TD Sports who stepped up and donated his time and ink for the "Team Mike" t-shirts. Cathy Pruitt for stepping up and handling the T-shirt selling.

Thanks to the City of Roanoke Rapids Park & Rec. for working on the field for 4 hours today after all the rain we had and going above the call of duty for the job to help honor coach Newsome.

Thanks to Chief Chuck Hasty, John Simeon and Coach Jack Goldberg for speaking about coach Newsome. I know it was hard to talk about your friend Jack, and you did an outstanding job my friend. Mike is sitting on his bucket and proud as well.

Thanks to Charles Smith of Today's Electronics for videoing the event.

Thanks goes out to Mike Lucas who handled the field lights and bases for the girls.

Thanks to Steve Heath and Scott Wilson for pitching on both fields.

Thanks to Jimmy Hubert, Jamie Griffin and Chief Chuck Hasty for umpiring.

It was good to see faces I have seen over the 15 years of photographing sports in the Valley and see them come show respect to a coach and friend.

It was also an honor to have Jeane Newsome being able to attend as well and her seeing the people and girls that coach Mike has touched and see the smiles as they played the game coach loved "SOFTBALL".

Thank You for being a friend MIKE, you will be missed so very much as well as all the phone calls reporting scores or just asking who is playing games in the area, but you will always have a spot in my HEART.

Randy Wrenn