Jay Stacy feels his Columbus 9-year-old Dizzy Dean baseball team is warmed up and ready to go for the state tournament.
Stacy only needs to look back on his team”s second-place finish and championship at a 10-year-old tournaments in Hatley and Louisville as proof his boys are prepared for their game against Ackerman at 10 a.m. today. The team was scheduled to play Saltillo, but Saltillo dropped out, which forced tournament organizers to take away Ackerman”s first-round bye.
Stacy feels his strategy of playing against teams made up of older players has given his players confidence entering the state tournament at Gary Park in Eupora. He said he didn”t tell the players they were playing older competition until after the tournaments.
“I am real pleased with our team and feel good about them,” said Stacy, who coached the Studdard and Associates Braves in the regular season in Columbus” Propst Park league. “I think we”re going to be real deep in pitching and we have some pretty good hitters.”
Stacy has four players from his Braves team that finished 13-1 and won its division. The team is made up of All-Stars that were voted on by league coaches. The 10 players with the most votes were named to the team. Stacy added one player to the mix, and he is confident Columbus has a fine squad set to represent it. His group will be tested because pitchers are allowed to throw only 12 innings in the state tournament. With as many as eight games to play, a pitcher who burns up six innings in one day might not go too far.
But Stacy said all 11 players on his team could pitch if his team is in a bind. Factor in a strong defense with all of that pitching depth and Stacy hopes he has a winning formula.
“I think we should do well,” Stacy said. “I think we have a real good chance of winning state.”
Team members are: Cade Stacy, Lawson Studdard, David Young, Jamad Horn, Tyler Murphy, Landon Sanderson, Davis Fitch, Presley Hall, Stallone Shelton, Ethan Chaney, and Zach Clay.
Columbus 7-year-old teams set to take field
This will be the first time many off the All-Stars on the Columbus 7-year-old Americans and Nationals teams take part in a state tournament.
Americans coach Henry Dismuke Jr. and Nationals coach Derrick Saucer said their players are excited and like their teams” chances at doing well at the event, which begins today and runs through Sunday in Louisville.
“I think our defense will be pretty solid,” Dismuke Jr. said. “We have a real good hitting team, and I think we will fare well. I hope we do.”
Dismuke Jr. likes the chemistry on his 16-player squad and between the parents of the players. He said many of the players have been together since Tee-Ball, which has helped everyone come together as “one big happy family.”
Dismuke Jr. led the Mitchell Law Pirates to an undefeated season in the Propst Park league. He credits coaches Luther Hackman Sr., Kareem Hamilton, and Berk Huskison for their help in preparing the team for its first game of the tournament against Grenada Rec at 4:30 p.m. today.
“We have people playing in different positions,” Dismuke Jr. said. “With coach-pitch baseball, most of the All-Stars played in the infield (in the Propst Park league) and are going through the transition of being converted into outfielders. That has been a little bit of a struggle, but I think they have done a good job.”
Team members are: Brandon Watson, Wesley Miller, Luther Hackman Jr., Trenton Bouldes, Lunden Hamilton, Henry Dismuke III, Gibson Vought, Decamby Willis, Drew Huskison, Luke Sneed, Mack Howard, Trey Naugher, Jaylon Lewis, Antonio Roland, Jackson Smith, and Tyliq Stallings.
Saucer, a former baseball player at New Hope High School, has enjoyed his chance to coach in this age group.
Originally, he said he was going to help coach a group of 8-year-olds, but a parent called him and asked him if he would like to be head coach of a 7-year-old team. He said he was surprised by the offer and excited to help out.
Saucer coached the Hydro Vac Athletics to an 8-4 record that helped the team finish first in the New Hope league, and third overall.
“We should be pretty solid,” Saucer said. “We”re ready to get the tournament started and see how we do against the competition.”
Saucer expects his team to hit the ball well and to be fine on defense. Like Dismuke Jr., he said his team has moved players to different positions and has tried to convert infielders into outfielders. He is anxious to see the results.
“We”ll be all right on defense,” Saucer said, “but our strong point is definitely hitting. Hopefully we will win. We should win. If they play smart and think about what they”re doing we”ll win.”
Team members are: Hunter Carr, Chance West, Brodie Williams, Jeremiah Jethro, Landon Townley, Rhoe Williamson, Gates Gerhart, Caleb Parr, Trey Parnell, Jacob Doughty, and Matthew Stanford.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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