VALDOSTA —
The 8-year-old All-Star team from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority’s youth league begins the Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series this morning in Southaven, Miss.
The 8-year-old Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series begins today and lasts until July 24. The team from Valdosta plays its first game at 11 a.m. Eastern time today against Pinellas Park, Fla. The Valdosta team will also play a game at 5 p.m. today.
“They’re going to be very excited,” head coach Dan Kerrigan said.
The 8-year-old World Series is a coach-pitch competition.
Each team is guaranteed at least three games. First, they will compete in pool play against two or three other teams. Then the top 32 teams will move on to the double-elimination championship series, while the other teams go to the single-elimination consolation bracket.
“Our first goal is to get into the championship double-elimination series. And then, of course, the second goal would be to win the championship series,” Kerrigan said.
The team has taken the nickname the Valdosta Blazers, in honor of Valdosta State University. Kerrigan is a former VSU baseball player.
The members of the Blazers are: Matt Pearson, Mason Steel, Labryn Depta, Cash Phillips, Wyatt Crosby, Nate Bowman, Lamonte Lindon, Ryan Flint, Colson Moody, Joel Michael Presley, Kyler Oathout and Daniel Kerrigan. The players were chosen by the coaches from the VLPRA’s 8-under coach-pitch league.
Dan Kerrigan, Brent Depta, Blake Steel and Mark Pearson are the team’s coaches.
Kerrigan believes the team has improved since it competed in the state tournament earlier this month at Valdosta’s Freedom Park.
“I feel like we’ve practiced those areas that needed attention, and I feel like the boys responded well,” he said. “We had a couple of exhibition games in between. Those went well. Hopefully they’re peaking at the right time.”
Defense will be crucial for every team at the World Series. In coach-pitch baseball, teams that don’t commit a lot of errors are often the ones that win consistently.
“We cannot give six outs an inning. We can only provide three outs an inning to the other team. Those big innings for the other team are what kill you. We’ve got to be consistent and steadfast on defense,” Kerrigan said. “You can have five great innings and have one inning blow up, and you get into a big problem there. If we can make the plays we’re supposed to make and not give up big innings, we’re going to be successful.
“The coaches are pitching here, so nearly every batter is always going to put the bat on the ball. We scored a sufficient amount of runs in the state tournament — 24 runs — but we had a couple of innings where the other team got the best of us, and we gave them six, seven outs, and that’s not going to get it done.”
Whether the team wins or loses, Kerrigan wants the players to give their best effort, have good attitudes and sportsmanship and represent Valdosta well with their actions.
“There’s two things we expect: good attitude and great effort,” Kerrigan said. “Those two things take zero talent. That’s what I expect out of every one of them.”
“These boys are better boys than they are ballplayers, and I think that’s what I enjoy most is I’m working with some fine young men,” the coach added.
Most of the players will have parents in the stands cheering them on.
“We have a great following. The vast majority (of the parents), if not all, are here,” Kerrigan said. “Great support for the boys.”
Kerrigan says the Blazers will also be cheering for another team from Valdosta in Southaven. The VLPRA’s 10-year-old All-Star team begins its World Series on Saturday in Southaven.
“We’re representing Valdosta as a community, the 8- and 10-year-olds,” Kerrigan said.
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Related Photos
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Nate Bowman of the Valdosta Blazers hits the ball during the state tournament earlier this month at Freedom Park. Bowman and the Blazers will begin the Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series this morning in Southaven, Miss. Christian Malone | The Valdosta Daily Times
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Labryn Depta of the Valdosta Blazers hits the ball during the state tournament earlier this month. Depta and the Blazers are playing in the Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series. Christian Malone | The Valdosta Daily Times
Discussion
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