West Point league sends three teams to state tournament
Published 9:21 pm Friday, July 6, 2018
- 16 and Under: The West Point softball All-Star 16 and under team, on the front row and from left, are Dallas Strickland, Madison Bryant and Ava Brown. The middle row, from left, are Bailey morrison, Sydeney Goddard, Merredith Woodham and Morgan Watkins. The third row, from left, are Miranda Butler, Hadkeigh Livingston, Britten Stephens,Makayla Chambers and Jennifer Albertson. The back row, from left, are Matt Livingaton, Tug Livingston and Sarah Warren. Submitted
WEST POINT — The West Point Parks and Recreation program is sending three little league softball teams to the state championship in Cartersville today.
The 10 and under, 12 and under and 14 and under All-Star girls are all playing in the tournament for a chance to advance to the regional stage.
“[We’re just excited] to see how they match up against the teams they’re playing,” Parks and Recreation coordinator George Greene said.
The All-Star teams were selected at the end of West Point’s season in June. The All-Star team managers were selected by a league-wide vote from every manager. Every team has at least two all-stars selected for the squads. This season, there were five teams in the 14 and under category, three 12 and under teams and four 10 and under teams.
The 10 and under All-Stars start off the action today against Columbus Northern at 10 a.m. A win against Columbus Northern would grant the squad another game on Sunday at 2 p.m. If the youngest West Point team competing at the tournament loses its first game, the team will return to action on Monday at 10 a.m.
The 12 and under All-Stars face off against Harris County at 10 a.m. as well this morning. If the 12 and under team defeats Harris County, the group returns to action on Sunday at 2 p.m. A loss to Harris County assures the team’s second game will begin on Monday at 10 a.m.
The 14 and under All-Stars begin action at noon today, where the team will face the winner of Columbus Northern and Vine Ingle, which is near Macon. The team was given a bye because the state drew the teams randomly, not because of a predetermined seeding system. A win would make the team’s second game at 4 p.m. on Sunday, while a loss would make the second game on Sunday a couple of hours earlier at 2 p.m.
The state tournament comes after a long season for the league, where every division finished play two weeks later than expected. The 14 and under girls league ended 16 days ago.
“It went well until the end when we started having rain,” Greene said. “We had to back them up about two weeks due to spring rain towards the end of May.”
In previous years, the West Point Parks and Recreation leagues have produced a handful of baseball state champions in older divisions. This year, the teams will have the opportunity to accomplish the same thing at Hamilton Crossing Park.
