T-ballers, 7-8 Nationals keep on rolling

HE'S IN THERE — Zane Dent (32) of the KBBA 7-and-8 year-old American League all-stars slides in at home during a district tournament game here over the weekend, as teammate Isiah Smith (84) looks on. The National all-stars are finished, but several other KBBA all-star teams are still playing — keep up with them here in the sports section and on kilgorenewsherald.com. One of the farthest road trips for a Kilgore Boys Baseball Association (KBBA) all-star team this year is the trip being made by the 7-and-8 year-old National League all-stars, coached by Bubba Keel, Dickie McFarland, Jeff Davis and Tony Witt.

But so far, it's been worth it. The 7-and-8 Nationals came from behind Monday night, trailing Nacogdoches 6-0, for an 11-7 victory.

The National all-stars have a loss, so they can't lose again. But they were to play again Tuesday night at 6, and a win moves them into the championship round and a rematch with Nac. If that happens, that championship game would have followed at 8.

See an update on these games on the Kilgore News Herald's website, kilgorenewsherald. com.

GOT IT! — Connor Martin of the 7-and-8 year-old American League all-star team makes a catch at second base during one of the team's games in their district tournament last weekend here at the Harris Street parks. The team is just one of several youth baseball teams taking part in various all-star tournaments across East Texas this summer; keep up with all of the all-stars at kilgorenewsherald.com and in the pages of the News Herald. Members of the Nationals this year are Austin Hail, Payton Fyffe, Gus Witt, Garrett Davis, Jackson Walker, Chris Laroux, Thomas Gallant, Jayce Mc- Farland, Colby Powe, Cameron Keel and Garrett Brown.

Two teams played their district tournaments here in Kilgore over the weekend.

It's so far, so good for the T-ball all-stars, who do not have a single loss in their double-elimination tournament. They were also to play Tuesday night, an 8 p.m. start. It's looking very good for them, because if they finish in the top two in the tournament, they'll automatically qualify for their state tournament, to be played in Carthage July 4- 10.

Members of the T-ball allstars are Cade Pippen, Donavan Adkins, A.J. Smith, Zach Porter, Thomas Hattaway, Jack Bolding, Dalton McElyea, Kaylon Ray, Kyle Wheeler, Dalton Chanler, Cannon Copeland and Spencer Thompson. The group is coached by Joey Pippen, Kevin Tinney, Brian Porter and Jeff Wheeler.

Also playing here was coach Gary Dent's 7-8 yearold American League all-star team. The American all-stars lost to Henderson, though, on Monday night for their second loss, and their all-star season is complete.

Members of the 7-8 yearold American all-stars were Zane Dent, Connor Martin, Austin Phillips, Deuce Ervin, Chase Hampton, Harlee Biggs, Isaiah Smith, Kord Laird, Brayden Johnson, Keshon Williams and Chad Batie. Joining Dent as coaches for the team were Trent Logston, Mike Johnson, and Clayton Martin.

The only other KBBA allstar team playing last weekend were the 13-and-14- year-old all-stars, coached by Greg Mehringer, Dee Zimmerman, and Clay Burton. The 14's lost, though, and are out of the tournament.

This year's 13-and-14-yearold all-stars were icky Hendrix, Zane Zimmerman, Jake Jordan, Clint Case, Narcio Amaro, De'Quayvia Brewster, Joshua Burton, Jackson Mehringer, Drayton Williams, Adam Kubiak and Don Andrade.

The remainder of the KBBA all-star teams don't begin their tournaments until this weekend, but there are several of them.

Both of the 9-and-10 yearold all-star teams begin play this weekend. The 9-and-10 National League all-stars play their tournament in Jacksonville, and are coached by Harry Rawls, Joey Pippen and Vic Williams. The roster: Michael Hampton, Tyler Faye, Cooper Rawls, Julie Ann Rawls, Collin Pippen, A.J. Henson, Jacob Mobbs, Zack Dent, William Wood, Elijah Williams, Rodney Coleman and Jax Brantley.

Coach Jeff Tubbs' 9-and- 10 year-old American League all-stars play their district tournament in Chapel Hill starting Friday. Members of the 9-and-10 year-old American all-stars are Jonathan Melcher, Jordan McDonald, Austin W. Miller, Jacob Renfro, Austin Adams, McKinnon White, Patrick Jackson Jr., Dillon Richardson, A.J. Hendrix, Braden Grush and Will Shawn, and assisting Tubbs as coaches will be Patrick Jackson and Thomas Wilkerson.

The 11-and-12 year-old all-stars will play their tournament in Palestine this weekend. Members of the team are Jack Johnson, Bubba Reyes, Brayden Ward, Drew Hampton, Hunter McMorries, Patric Villanueva, Rowdy Cayce, Trey Conrod, Brady Daughdrill, Joseph Shepherd, Jarod Wood and Darrian Sammons, and the squad is coached by Gerald Cayce, Wade Hampton and Bryan Johnston.

Nacogdoches is the destination this weekend for the 11-and-under all-stars, coached by John Ott, Marty Shelton and Tracy Cundieff. The 11-and-under all-stars are Ty Cundieff, Braden Barnes, Jordan Stegman, Mason Lane, Colton Brasher, Mason Gathright, Drew Horst, Hunter Lindsey, Cameron Ott, Francisco Chavez, Garrett Roper and Jesus Garcia.

One other KBBA all-star team won't play in a district tournament, but will play in the 13-year-old Dixie Junior Boys State Tournament on July 11-16 here at Driller Park. Members of the team are Corbin Fincher, Samuel Toon, Clay White, Austin Bullard, Kyle Callens, Austin Clark, Nolan Grush, Weston Johnson, Benny Colbert, Preston Morris, Jake Brantley, Tyler Jones and A.J. Davis. They'll be coached by Scott Clark, Gilbert Lopez and Dean Fincher.

Again, check us out online, kilgorenewsherald.com, for all-star updates, and see more coverage of the KBBA allstars in Saturday's sports section.