Teams head to All-Stars
Published 4:42 pm Wednesday, July 6, 2016
The boys’ six and under coach pitch team will play in the State Dixie Youth Tournament in Dothan on Thursday, July 7 at Eastgate Park. Pictured are, first row from left to right, Kevin Freeman, Porter Beasley, Jadaveon McCreary, Greyson Matthews, Jacob Walden and Jacob Rogers. Pictured are, second row from left to right, Logan Murphy, Will Blackmon, Logan Frazier, Jayden Laird, Connor Schofield and Mason Cox. Pictured are, third row from left to right, the coaches for this team Brian Blackmon, Chris Matthews, David Cox and Jody Rogers.
By Shayla Terry:
The Luverne All-Star teams are all on the prowl for a win this weekend in the State Tournaments.
Luverne will have three teams compete this weekend for a chance to move on to the next round of play. The three teams are the six and under all-stars, eight and under all-stars and the five and six year old girls softball all-stars.
The Luverne All-Stars six and under team is being coached by Chris Matthews with Jody Rodgers assisting. The team consists of 12 players, and will move forward to play in the State Dixie Youth Tournament in Dothan on July 7-12.
Matthews says he has great hopes for the tourney.
“We want to have a good showing and compete well,” he said.
“If we make it to Saturday, I will be really happy with my boys.”
“The boys have shown a lot of hard work and dedication,” Assistant Coach Jody Rodgers said, “They take pride in showing up and giving 100 percent.”
The six and under team will compete against Monroe in its first game on Thursday, July 7 at 8 p.m. at Eastgate Park in Dothan, Alabama. The six and under is a coach’s pitch league.
The Luverne All-Stars eight and under team will make a showing at the State Tournament in Troy, Alabama. Head Coach Jeremy Kilpatrick says assembling the all-star team was tough.
The eight and under Dixie AA machine pitch baseball team is scheduled to play in the State Tournament against Muscle Shoals on Friday, July 8 at 5 p.m. at the Troy Sportsplex. Pictured are, first row from left to right, Steven Malone, Aiden Sampley, Bryce Poitevint, Brady Kilpatrick, Marquel Parks and John Braden Catrett. Pictured are, second row from left to right, Grant Taylor, Aiden Warr, Bryce Rushing, Tavion Rainey, Randy Harris and Uriah Barginere. Pictured are, third row from left to right, the coaches for the team John Catrett, Jeremy Kilpatrick, Chris Warr and Justin Knight.
“There were a lot of good players in the league this year,” Kilpatrick said.
The eight and under team placed third in district competition, thus securing a ticket to state tournament play.
“It‘s been exciting,” Kilpatrick said.
“These are a good group of guys. I hope we do well and learn a lot in the state tournament.”
The eight and under Luverne All-Stars are scheduled to play against Muscle Shoals on July 8 at 5 p.m. at the Troy Sportsplex.
Kilpatrick is assisted in coaching by Justin Knight, John Catrett and Chris Ware. The eight and under league is machine pitched.
The girls’ softball team is going to Montgomery to get dirty and secure a win. The team consists of 12 five and six year olds, most of which have been playing together since last year.
The Luverne All-Star girls did well in district play, only losing to the first and second place teams. Head Coach Michelle Ballard says she is happy with the girls playing.
“We’re hitting really good,” she said.
“We’re narrowed our strikeouts, and the girls are doing aggressive base running.”
The softball team will play Tallassee at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 8 at Edward Thompson Park in Montgomery, Alabama. The girls’ six and under team is a coach’s pitch league. Ballard is being assisted by Jimmie Ballard, Misty Morgan and Leigh Ann Brown.
All of Luverne’s All-Star teams attribute their success to the hard work of the players and the dedication of their parents.
The five and six-year-old girls’ softball team will play Tallassee at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 8 at Edward Thompson Park in Montgomery. The girls’ six and under team is a coach’s pitch league. Pictured are, from left to right, Tatum Ballard, Natalie Beck, Haylee Campbell, Sarah Strickland, Peyton Faulk, Ellie Butler, Jamie Morgan, Cheyenne Owens, Kayleigh McCreary, Brooke Horn, Saraah Tanner-Baker and Camryn Brown.
“We pick the kids for their talents, and we’re so glad they have good parents,” Ballard said.
“The parents help so much,” said Rodgers.
“We don’t have one team mom or team dad, they’re all team moms and team dads.”
“Without the parents, we wouldn’t be able to make it,” Kilpatrick said. “We have a good group. The kids and the parents make the experience.”
