WS: Texas All-Stars enjoy community support
against Sulphur Springs at the 2010 Junior Dixie State Tournament.
(Photo by John Krueger)
DOTHAN, Alabama -- For the fifth time in the history of Dothan, the city was selected to host a Dixie World Series event. The city has no doubt learned from experiences of past years and improved upon the pageantry of welcoming the nation's best.
For the Texas (Center) Junior Boys All-Stars, this is their first trip. And although they plan on having the time of their collective lives, they have come with one main mission: to win.
Texas opens play in the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series on Saturday, facing a squad from Hope Mills, North Carolina at 1 p.m. on Hardy Field here at the Rotary Miracle Field Complex at Westgate Park.
A win on Saturday would advance Texas into the winners' bracket on Sunday against the victor of Saturday's Florida/Louisiana contest. That second-round contest would be played on Brewton Field - one of two fields used for the tourney - at 4 p.m. A setback in the first round of the double-elimination tourney would put Texas in the losers' bracket, taking on the loser of the Florida/Louisiana game at 1 p.m. on Hardy Field.
Twelve teams, including the all-stars from Center, will be vying for the championship, which will be decided on Wednesday.
"The boys can win," said Texas Head Coach Bob Reeves, talking about his squad's chances in the tournament. "If they play like they did in the state tournament - when they played to win - they have just as good a chance as anybody. That's not being cocky, but you have to approach a tournament like this with a degree of high expectations and confidence if you expect to win."
The Texas squad is made up of catcher Josh Burns, first baseman Adam Reeves, second baseman Caiden Rainbolt, shortstop Taylor Tomlin, third baseman Eric Vaughn, left fielder Alec Lucas, center fielder Dalton Horton, right fielder Tanner Murdock and probable starting pitcher Colton McSwain. Other members of the team who will see action include C.J. Garner, designated hitter Kamden Owens and Gage Raines. Murdock's status is questionable after re-injuring ligaments in his right ankle at the Texas State Tournament, which was played in Center.
Texas' players are also versatile and have the ability to perform at a top level at a number of positions, which is another luxury for the team's coaching staff.
Reeves receives assistance on his coaching staff from pitching first/base coach Roscoe McSwain and third-base coach Paul Horton.
Although Colton McSwain, who hurled a no-hitter and fanned six in the state championship final against Paris (Center won 12-0), is the leader of the Texas pitching staff, he, by no means stands alone. In fact, Reeves said just about any player on the Texas squad has the capabilities of working on the hill.
"One of our strengths is we have a number of players who we have enough confidence in that we can put them on the mound and feel they can get the job done," Reeves stated. "We plan on using the same rotation that worked so well for us at the state tournament, pitching them no more than two innings so we can keep them fresh and they can come back and pitch the next day.
"Our goal is to work toward the championship game and we don't plan on that changing. This team has confidence every time it takes the field. And it is such a closely-knit group that we expect them to win."
Reeves added that so much as gone into the success of the team that it truly feels like it is a true representation of the Center and Shelby County community when they take the field. He commended the many donations from businesses and individuals in the community, which made this trip financially viable.
"This is a good community and they give and give and give," Reeves praised. "And, although it's not surprising that people have supported us so much, in a way it's surprising as to where some of the money has come from.
"I can't tell you how many people each day have come up to me on the street, in businesses, in church and all sorts of places and have said they were proud of us and wishing us good luck [at the World Series]. And it's not surprising that people have given to this team financially, but what has been even more encouraging is the number of retired people that have come up to me and just handed me a check and said they wanted to be a part of this experience.
"It's those kinds of things that make us feel that this is a total community effort and we appreciate it so much."
Reeves said the coaching staff is going to try to keep players on some kind of a routine during the trip so they can enjoy their experience, but be ready to play when the time comes as well.
"We're trying to get them in a routine as soon as possible once we get here because we want to give them enough down time to relax and be rested before we start playing," Reeves reasoned. "We'll have certain times when there is 'lights out' and give them time with their families, but we also going to try to have them ready to play because there are no slouches here; they all champions."
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 31
Gm 1: Texas (Center) vs. North Carolina (Hardy Field), 1 p.m.
Gm 2: Florida vs. Louisiana (Brewton Field), 1 p.m.
Gm 3: Tennessee vs. Mississippi (Hardy Field), 4 p.m.
Gm 4: Virginia vs. Georgia (Brewton Field), 4 p.m.
Gm 5: Arkansas vs. South Carolina (Hardy Field), 7 p.m.
Gm 6: Alabama vs. Dothan, Ala. (Brewton Field), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 1
Gm 7: Texas (Center)/North Carolina loser vs. Florida/Louisiana loser (Hardy Field), 1 p.m.
Gm 8: Tennessee/Mississippi loser vs. Virginia/Georgia loser (Brewton Field), 1 p.m.
Gm 9: Arkanas/South Carolina loser vs. Alabama/Dothan loser (Hardy field), 4 p.m.
Gm 10: Texas (Center)/North Carolina winner vs. Florida/Louisiana winner (Brewton Field), 4 p.m.
Gm 11: Tennessee/Mississippi winner vs. Virginia/George winner (Brewton Field), 7 p.m.
Gm 12: Arkansas/South Carolina winner vs. Alabama/Dothan, Ala. winner (Hardy Field), 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 2
Gm 13: Losers' Bracket game (Hardy Field), 10 a.m.
Gm 14: Losers' Bracket game (Brewton Field), 10 a.m.
Gm 15: Losers' Bracket game (Hardy Field), 1 p.m.
Gm 16: Winners' Bracket game (Brewton Field), 1 p.m.
Gm 17: Losers' Bracket game (Hardy Field), 5 p.m.
Gm 18: Loser's Bracket game (Brewton Field), 7 p.m.
Gm 19: Winners' Bracket game (Hardy Field), 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 3
Gm 20: Losers' Bracket game (Hardy Field), 5 p.m.
Gm 21: Winners' Bracket game (Hardy Field), 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 4
Championship Round
Gm 22 at Hardy Field, 5 p.m.
Gm 23 (if necessary) at Hardy Field, after Game 22.