Two teams advance to state!

HEADED TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT — The 5- and-6 year-old T-ball all-stars and their coaches were all smiles Wednesday night after their 27-16 win over Carthage in the district tournament. Pictured are all the T-ball allstars 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. Also pictured is Kaylon Ray, throwing a ball to first. The team is coached by Joey Pippen, Brian Porter, Jeff Wheeler and Kevin Tinney, and sponsored by Mickie and Brandi Ray, Jeff and Tami Bolding, Jeff and Joanie Wheeler, Brian and Tonya Porter, Shannon and Allyson Thompson and Dale and Christy McElyea. They defeated Carthage and Jacksonville twice each. Several Kilgore Boys Baseball Association all-star teams haven't even yet started their district tournaments, but two have already qualified for the state round, and did so in style.

The 5-and-6 year-old T-ball all-star team got to play its district tournament here in Kilgore, and had a great time doing it. The T-ballers held off Jacksonville on Tuesday night, 21-20, then defeated Carthage on Wednesday, 27-16, to clinch the tournament championship. The top two from that tournament go on to the state event in Carthage, which will be played July 4-10. The Carthage team that Kilgore defeated qualified for state by making the finals, and there will be two Carthage teams in the state tournament in their town.

Kilgore's T-ball all-stars, coached by Joey Pippen, Brian Porter, Jeff Wheeler and Kevin Tinney, will begin the state tourney Saturday, July 4. Members of the T-ball all-stars this year 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 7-and-8 year-old National League all-star team pulled off something incredible in their district tournament in Palestine. The 7-and-8's lost their very first game of the tournament last Friday to Palestine, then won five straight to capture the tournament championship.

GOOD JOB, GUYS! — With their backs against the wall after an early loss, the 7-and-8 year-old KBBA National League all-star team (above) won five straight games and captured the district tournament in Palestine. They're moving on to the state round in Carthage. Front row (from left): Cameron Keel, Garrett Brown, Jackson Walker, Kenneth (Chris) Laroux, Jayce McFarland, and Austin Hail. Middle: Colby Powe, Kaylon Jackson, Michael (Thomas) Gallant, Payton Fyffe, Gus Witt, and Garrett Davis. Back row: coaches Dickie McFarland, Bubba Keel, Jeff Davis, and Tony Witt. In doing so, they, too, will be going to Carthage for their age division's state tournament on July 4-9.

The National all-stars won two games on Saturday, came back from being down 6-0 to beat Nacogdoches 11-7 on Monday, and were losing Tuesday night to Palestine, 6-1, before coming back to beat Palestine 9-8.

Their opponent in the tournament championship was Nac, and as they did on Monday, Nac again took a big lead, going in front 9-1. Kilgore's Nationals came back yet again, and outlasted Nac, 10-9.

The group is coached by Bubba Keel, Dickie McFarland, Jeff Davis and Tony Witt, and the players are Austin Hail, Payton Fyffe, Gus Witt, Garrett Davis, Jackson Walker, Chris Laroux, Thomas Gallant, Jayce McFarland, Colby Powe, Cameron Keel, Kaylon Jackson, and Garrett Brown.

Several all-star teams have yet to begin their summer ball, but many will this weekend.

Both of the 9-and-10 year-old allstar teams were to begin play Friday. The 9-and-10 National League allstars 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, which was to start Friday. Members of the 9-and-10 year-old American allstars are Jonathan Melcher, Jordan Mc- Donald, 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 Mc- Morries, 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 allstars, 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.

Added to this weekend's schedule, now, is the Dixie Majors Tournament in Marshall, where a Kilgore team that includes many of the Kilgore High School varsity players will come together one more time in hopes of earning a Dixie Majors World Series trip to Charleston, S.C. later this month.

Members of the team are Nathan Mendenhall, Blake Elliott, Will Mixon, Timothy Boaze, Javarri Kelly, Danny Sharpe, Nick Sullivan, Nick Gaut, Brandon Terry, Ryan Heimer, Xavian Sanders, Andrew Ector and Trace DeBerry. They'll be coached by Donny Heimer, Tim Boaze and Louis Kelly.

They play Chapel Hill at 4 p.m. Saturday in Marshall, and with a win, would play on Sunday at 4 p.m.

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.