Swingin’ timber: Axemen set to blaze trail in Kingsport in 2021 Appalachian League

Kingsport’s new name in the Appalachian League pays tribute to the frontier trailsmen who blazed a path to the west during their time in the Appalachians.

The Kingsport Axemen will take the field in 2021 in a revamped league that still has connections to Major League Baseball but not to the teams that planted roots in the region like the Mets organization did 37 years ago.

A Boyd Sports spokesperson said the nickname honors Daniel Boone and his group of supporters who were manned with axes and helped thin out brush and timber to carve out the historic Wilderness Trail.

The Axemen will open their season on June 3 at Hunter Wright Stadium and host Bluefield.

(IMAGE: Boyd Sports)