All-star teams set for state tournaments

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 24, 2016

LAGRANGE – Will they meet again?

In the 11-12-year-old Dixie Youth Baseball District 1 tournament that wrapped up on Thursday, the Hogansville and Troup National all-star teams played three times.

Hogansville won two of those games, including Thursday’s district-championship game.

Now, both teams will turn their attention to the state tournament that will be held in Macon.

It’s possible the two county foes, who have played three games decided by one run apiece, could play again, this time on the state stage.

Hogansville coach Scott Thompson, whose team wrapped up the district title with a 3-2 win on Thursday, wouldn’t be surprised to see Troup National again.

“We expect to see them at state at some point,” Thompson said. “They’re great, and we’ll be happy to see them there. We’re glad that they’re going, and representing Troup County. There’s great ball in Troup County.”

Hogansville and Troup National will be joined by the top teams from all of the other districts in Georgia.

The state tournament will get under way on July 15, and it will be held at the West Macon complex.

The winner of the state tournament will qualify for the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in August.

For the past two years, a Hogansville team has finished second in the state tournament.

In 2014, the 9-10-year-old team reached the state-championship game before falling short, and the 11-12-year-old team placed second in the state a year ago.

As satisfying as it was to win the district title, Thompson said the team’s major goal is to win state.

“Now, we’re moving on,” Thompson said. “It’s not mission accomplished yet.”

Troup National, meanwhile, is glad to have more baseball to play following Thursday’s disappointing loss.

“It’s never fun losing, but you learn a lot of lessons,” Troup coach Ben Jackson said. “It’s how you respond when you lose that’s important. We’ve still got baseball left.”

The 7-8-year-old Dixie Youth Baseball state tournament, meanwhile, is getting under way today in Manchester.

The Troup National team qualified for state by finishing second in the district tournament last weekend.

Troup National will play it state opener today at 5 p.m. against West Macon.

On Saturday, Troup plays Brookwood at 11:30 a.m. and Swainsboro White at 3:45 p.m., and it will face Baconton at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports

By Kevin Eckleberry

keckleberry@civitasmedia.com