KBBA honored as Texas Dixie's league of the year
Organization wins bid to host two more state tournaments this summer
From special reports

The Kilgore Boys Baseball Association was honored at the recent Dixie meeting at LeTourneau University, as the league of the year in Texas Dixie for its work in hosting the State Dixie 15- &-16 Pre-Majors Tournament.

KBBA was also recognized for celebrating its 30th consecutive year with a Dixie franchise banner.

The organization also earned the right to host two Dixie state tournaments this year. KBBA will host the 13-year-old Dixie Boys State Tournament in July at the KBBA baseball complex on Harris Street, and will again host the State Dixie 15-&-16 Pre-Majors.

"We've been working hard at KBBA to bring Texas State Dixie Baseball to Kilgore the last two years," KBBA President Brad Brown said. "It brings tourism to Kilgore, and additional money to our organization, not to mention the highest-quality level baseball to our community in the state. We value our partnership with the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce in recent years, and we thoroughly appreciate the many moms, dads, volunteers, and sponsors of Kilgore to make these tournaments happen.

"Being recognized in this fashion from both Dixie Youth and Dixie Boys Baseball is a testament to all the hard work our volunteers make each summer for our kids. We appreciate Dixie's recognition and their trust in us for running quality tournaments."

Brown represented KBBA at the Dixie meeting at LeTourneau, as did other KBBA officers Dean Fincher (vice president), and Bryan Johnston (treasurer).

The organization also picked up its banners for hosting the 2006 state Dixie 7 & 8 machine pitch tournament and the 2007 state Dixie AAA 9 & 10 South tournament.

Earning "League of the Year" honors from Texas Dixie Boys Baseball for its work last year hosting the State Dixie 15/16 Pre-Majors at Driller Park was no small feat. That tournament, originally scheduled to be hosted in Paris, was re-scheduled at the last minute to be played in Kilgore due to inclement weather. The Kilgore 15-&-16 team won that tournament and earned the right to play in the Dixie World Series in Thomasville, Alabama.

The KBBA is a spring-and-summer baseball league open to all interested Kilgore boys that want to play baseball. KBBA is affiliated with Dixie Youth and Dixie Boys Baseball. Annual seasons start play in April and run through June.

KBBA sign-ups for this year will begin this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the KBBA complex on Harris Street. Other dates to register are February 22 (from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and February 23 (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), both at the complex on Harris.

For more information, call KBBA at (903) 984-4170 or contract the organization by e-mail (Stephanie Osteen) at kilgorebaseball@yahoo.com.