Blountstown Dixie Youth AA All-Star team wins state title
The 2016 Blountstown AA All-Star Team won the district championship against Port St. Joe on June 13th, qualifying them for the Dixie Youth State Tournament to be held in Chipley on July 2nd-5th. There were 9 teams competing for the state champion title. The teams included: Blountstown, Chipley, Cottondale, Port St. Joe, Baker, Holmes County, East Lakeland, Grand Ridge and Graceville. Saturday and Sunday (July 2 and 3) was pool play where each team played four games, two each day.
The 4 teams with the top records from the pool play, advanced to the championship games to be held on Monday and Tuesday (July 4 and 5). The 4 teams that advanced were Blountstown, Holmes County, Port St. Joe and Grand Ridge. The championship games were double elimination. Port St. Joe and Grand Ridge were eliminated in the first several games, leaving Blountstown and Holmes County to play for the State Championship title. Blountstown beat Holmes County 14-11 in the final game to win the Dixie Youth Machine Pitch State Championship title!
This team of 7 and 8 year old boys played a total of 8 games in 4 days in 90-100 degree heat. They played with determination, as a TEAM and gave it their all. Coaches are Jeremy Whitworth, Eric Layne, Allen Bates, and Mannie Stafford. Players are Aiden Bates, Aiden Layne, Connor Hansford, Aa’Den Williams, Tripp Hill, Carson Stafford, Griffin Pickron, Jacob Phinney, Alex Dunlap, Creed Whitworth, Cole Watson, and Barrett Purvis.
