The City of Brundidge is a community of champions.

For more years ago than anybody can remember, the Wolf Creek amateur baseball team with its two-fingered pitcher, was putting the sleepy, rural community on the map.

Since that time, the list of champions has grown to great lengths. This weekend, the community will host “Celebrating a Community of Champions” and will honor two giants among the champions and also the champions they led.

Pike County High School state championship coaches Wayne Grant and Major Lane will be the honored guests at “Celebrating a Community of Champions” Friday and Saturday.

Fred Baxter, who played on the PCHS 1988 state championship football team, is spearheading the event that includes a meet and greet at Collier’s on Main Friday night and the “Celebration of Champions” Saturday evening at the PCHS gymnasium.

A football camp for grades five through 12 is also a part of the weekend celebration and is hosted by the One Stop Youth Center in Brundidge.

“Coach Grant and Coach Lane are both members of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame,” Baxter said. “If the state of Alabama has recognized these two outstanding coaches, then Brundidge certainly should. Saying ‘thank you’ to Coach Grant and Coach Lane is way overdue.”

Lane coached Baxter junior high football and in basketball.

“He was a great influence in my life and an inspiration,” Baxter said. “I was fortunate to be on Coach Grant’s first state championship football team, the one that started the championship run at PCHS. Coach Grant greatly impacted my life.”

Baxter went on to play football at Auburn University and in the National Football League. The lessons he learned from Grant and Lane have served him well in his career and in everyday life.

“Celebrating a Community of Champions will be an opportunity for all former Bulldogs to let Coach Grant and Coach Lane know how much they are appreciated,” he said. “And, it will be chance for all of us to enjoy being together and sharing stories and memories.”

The meet and greet at Collier’s on Main will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday and is primarily a get together for former PCHS athletes. However, Baxter said others associated with the teams and the times are welcome.

“It will be fun to sit around and reminisce and some of us have family members that are still a part of PCHS athletics and they will enjoy sitting in,” Baxter said.

Baxter and some of the other former PCHS football players will participate in the football camp on Friday and Saturday as a way of giving back.

The “Celebration of Champions” will be from 4 until 6 p.m. Saturday at the PCHS gymnasium and the public is invited.

“At this event, we will recognize Coach Grant and Coach Lane and publicly thank them for the positive influences they have been on so many lives,” Baxter said. “Mayor Isabell Boyd and Pike County School Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell will be among the dignitaries. Chip Wallace, who announced our football games, and, Rev. Bob Sandifer, who was our chaplain. will be there. The celebration will be like a locker room talk. A lot of people will contribute. It will be a great event and we invite the community to come out and celebrate a community of champions.”