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Oak City Gliders have slid onto the scene—and we are here for it.

Psst… Raleighites, wanna slide in on a secret? Turns out, our city has a baseball team called the Oak City Gliders, and it’s winding up to be a home run this season.  

But first, a little backstory: In 2020, father-and-son duo Reggie and Alec Allred started the Old North State League. Now boasting 15 teams spread across NC, it has quickly become one of the largest summer collegiate baseball leagues in the country. One of the teams comprising that league is, of course, the Oak City Gliders. Though, despite the league being quite the catch, ahem, the local team has gained little attention around the Triangle. We know, pitches be crazy. 

“The problem was, the league had so many teams, they couldn’t keep track of them,” says team owner Phillip Lin. 

In the fall of ’22, the Raleigh resident and avid baseball fan—who’s always wanted to own a team—fulfilled that “field of dreams” by purchasing the Oak City Gliders (and Fayetteville Chutes), and is now leading the team in its third season.  

“I’m very excited to have a team in Raleigh,” says Lin. “I’ve been here a long time, and I think it’s overdue. I hope Raleigh will embrace us like they have embraced other teams.” Take me out to the ballgame… oakcitygliders.com 

Batter Up! Here’s what we know so far about our Gliders: 

• The team will be led by coach Aaron Smith, who was an assistant coach last year, and GM Charles Lucas.
• This year’s roster is TBD, though it’ll be composed of local and out-of-state players.  
• Out-of-state players will stay with area host families in-season. 
• Practices are slated to start in May, with the season running from mid-May through late-July. 
• The season will consist of 16 away and 16 home games.
• Home games will take place at Optimist Park.
• Team colors are red and tan.
• The name Oak City Gliders combines Raleigh’s nickname, the City of Oaks, with the state’s history of being the first in flight.  
• Swag is coming soon (potentially early May).

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