Professional Sports

Wilmington Hammerheads

A fun way to spend an evening is to watch Wilmington’s professional sports teams in action.

The oldest team is the Wilmington Hammerheads, a soccer team that has brought increased visibility to the sport in this area. Established in 1996, the Hammerheads play 12 home games from April through August.

Coach David Irving has compiled an 86-37-12 record in the eight years he’s been with the team that is comprised of players from a dozen states and three foreign countries. The Hammerheads play at Legion Stadium on Carolina Beach Road. They also host very well attended soccer camps that take place at the stadium and at local schools.

The Newest Sport

The newest professional sports franchise is the Wilmington SeaDawgs, a basketball team in its second season. Now part of the Premier Basketball League, the SeaDawgs offer a fall/winter entertainment option in downtown Wilmington. The brand of basketball the SeaDawgs play is very free-wheeling, which results in an exciting evening of run-and-gun athleticism.

Kevin Whitted, the all-time leading scorer at E.A. Laney High School (’87-’90), is the head coach of the SeaDawgs. Whitted broke the school’s previous scoring record that was held by a pretty fair basketball player and Wilmington native, Michael Jordan.

Baseball Team Too

Another sports team that makes its home in Wilmington is the Wilmington Sharks baseball team. The team plays in the Coastal Plain League and is officially sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. The Sharks, established in 1997, were League Champions in 1998 and 1999. Players in the league, said to approximate a single A minor league team, come from outstanding college programs. The Sharks print baseball trading cards and holding the card of a young player who goes on to become a superstar could be a rewarding experience.

The home opener for the Sharks is May 28 and the season continues through early August with games played at the Legion.