West Point ready to host state baseball tournament
Published 9:02 pm Friday, July 12, 2019
- Submitted by Steve Mason | Times-News 14 and under: Pictured in the front row, from left, are Lawton Lauderdale, Jhon Akins, Garrett Huckleberry, Braydon Bowen, Trevor Holmes and Marquavious Ramsey. Middle row, from left, are Coach Mark Lauderdale, Dylan Stotsky, Julian Dukes, Joshua McDonald, Braydon Moseley, Mikey Posey and Coach Ernest Ward. Back row, from left, is Coach Steven Davis, Sr. Not pictured is Steven Davis, Jr.
WEST POINT — West Point gets the chance to show off its facilities this upcoming week for this year’s baseball 14 and under state tournament.
The tournament kicks off on Saturday and will continue until July 18. In addition to West Point, five other teams are playing in the double-elimination bracket. Elbert County, Cartersville, Northern, Hobgood and Athens are all coming over to the Greater Valley Area for the next week. The last unofficial time that West Point hosted a state tournament was four years ago.
“Anytime you host an event like this, you have people coming from all over the state, you want to make a good impression,” West Point Parks and Recreation director George Greene said. “You want to do a good job and you want them to leave with a good feeling of our town, our area and you want them to want to come back.”
West Point’s 14 and under baseball all-stars begin to play on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. EDT. With a win in the first game, West Point returns to the field on July 16 at 6 p.m. With a loss, the team plays its second game on July 15 at 8:30 p.m.
“Come out and support the hometown team,” Greene said. “It’s an economic impact for West Point, Valley and the LaGrange area. We want to be good hosts, be hospitable to them and look forward to everybody having a good time. We want to show off West Point while all these people are here.”
Greene and a few other employees affiliated with the recreation staff have spent the past several days getting the stadium prepared for the tournament. The crew spent most of Friday afternoon outside in 90-degree weather to make sure the diamond was in its best playing condition.
“The lead up’s the worst part because you have a million things you’re trying to do,” Greene said. “Once the tournament gets started though, it’s done. It’s just playing games and praying for no rain.”
Sitting in the Point University baseball dugout for a very brief break, Greene’s face brightened up as he wiped the sweat off his forehead when asked how he feels after hosting a successful tournament.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “It means vacation’s coming.”
Greene also noted that parking for the tournament will be $5.
