Center 'Stars' trip to Series caps big summer - August 3, 2010
By John Krueger - Sports Correspondent

DOTHAN, Alabama -- They had battled hard since February, sharpening their skills, hoping for the coveted trip to their first-ever Junior Dixie Boys World Series appearance. The Center All-Stars came together, sweeping through the State Tournament at home, finishing it with an exclamation point with a no-hitter thrown by Colton McSwain.

The Center All-Stars then became the Texas All-Stars when they traveled here to Dothan, Alabama for the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series, taking on the 11 best teams the nation had to offer up.

They may have only advanced to the third round, but it was a much more successful season than that for Bob Reeves' squad. They picked up the experience of a lifetime, much like NFL players that make it to the Super Bowl.

"We're so proud of these boys and the effort they gave throughout this tournament," Reeves said following Monday's third-round setback to Virginia, 5-4. "Our hitting wasn't where we wanted it to be, but we're still extremely proud of the boys. They fought hard the whole game today and throughout the tournament.

"To lose this game in the bottom of the seventh inning was a hard way to go out, but it doesn't take anything away from the way they played."

Reeves was assisted on his coaching staff by Roscoe McSwain and Paul Horton. Members of the 2010 Texas World Series All-Stars included: Dalton Horton; Colton McSwain; Caiden Rainbolt; Taylor Tomlin; Adam Reeves; C.J. Garner; Alec Lucas; Eric Vaughn; Josh Burns; Caije Ranes; Kam Owens; Tanner Murdock; and Chris Caraway.

Texas began the tourney with a tough 3-1 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. Although they didn't hit the ball with anywhere near the tenacity they showed at the State tourney, the Shelby County players won the game with smart baserunning, outstanding pitching by McSwain, Horton, Owens and Tomlin.

Horton topped the team at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

On Sunday the weather had an effect on Texas' effort. With its game with Florida tied 0-0 in the top of the third, the game was delayed for almost one and one-half hours because of lightning in the area.

The game was stopped with two outs and Florida batter Jimmy Hartley having two strikes against him. But after the long break, Hartley drew a walk. And before the half inning was over Florida would go on to score two runs against a suddenly flat Texas squad as Shelby County's representative fell 5-2.

Faced with a must-win situation on Monday morning, and knowing it would have to win twice during the 100-plus temperatures of Alabama to advance to the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Texas took a 4-1 lead against Virginia and appeared to have the game in hand with strong-armed Taylor Tomlin on the mound and working late into the contest.

But a pair of baserunning mistakes along with a critical error in the seventh frame allowed Virginia to come back from a 4-3 deficit to shock Texas and knock it out of contention for the national championship.

But despite coming up short of the championship, Reeves said the players will use what they experienced here in Dothan as they prepare for their future careers. There was even talk about working to make a return trip next season before they left.

"We were right there every game," Reeves stated. "An error here and an error there, or a big hit here and there and we would have put one or two runs on the board easy.

"But this trip was about much more than just this season; it's about the experience of being here, playing against the best the nation has to offer and taking this experience and learning and growing from it next year and for these players during their high school careers.

"That's what playing Dixie baseball is all about."

Note: A large group of parents and fans made the trip to Alabama to support the team. Other than the host team and the other team just down the road in Troy, Texas had the most fans, which appeared to be the most vocal. And the generosity and support of the fans in Shelby County, who supported this team in words and financing the trip, brought the Shelby County community that much closer together.

TEXAS JUNIOR DIXIE
BOYS ALL-STAR ROSTER
2 - Gaije Ranes
3 - Tanner Murdock
7 - Taylor Tomlin
8 - Colton McSwain
9 - C.J. Garner
11 - Caiden Rainbolt
15 - Alec Lucas
17 - Dalton Horton
21 - Josh Burns
26 - Adam Reeves
34 - Kamden Owens
55 - Eric Vaughn

Head Coach: Bob Reeves
Asst. Coach: Paul Horton
Asst. Coach: Roscoe McSwain

Junior Dixie Boys World Series - Virginia shocks Texas All-Stars, 5-4 - August 3, 2010
By John Krueger - Sports Correspondent
Photos by Mark & John Krueger

Texas left fielder Cam Owens throws the ball back to the infield during Monday morning's third-round contest at the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series.

DOTHAN, Alabama -- Needing a break in their morning game in the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series here at the Miracle Field Complex on Monday morning, the Texas All-Stars saw things going their way after coming up flat on Sunday night and being tagged with their initial defeat of the double-elimination tournament.

Trailing Virginia 1-0 in the top of the third frame in this third-round game, Texas used a pair of errors and two timely hits to score four times and then held a two-run lead until the bottom of the sixth frame as Taylor Tomlin was pitching a gem.

Texas third baseman Tanner Murdock prepares to make a tag on a Virginia baserunner during Monday morning's game at the World Series in Dothan, Alabama. Virginia eliminated Texas, 5-4.

But Virginia was not to be denied as it chipped away at the Texas lead. It scored a run in the sixth to slice the lead to 4-3 and then used an error and a dramatic deep triple to the gap in left-center field in the bottom of the seventh by Tristan Howerton to push the tying and winning runs across the plate to eliminate Texas from the tourney.

It was a shocking defeat for Texas as it appeared to control the contest throughout. Tomlin went the distance on the mound, a different strategy than the coaching staff had used through the State tournament and the first two rounds of the national tourney. But faced with having to win two games in one day to stay alive, the Texas coaches felt that with Tomlin on a role they'd stay with him.

"It was working so well [with Taylor on the mound] that we were nervous to make a change," Texas pitching Coach Roscoe McSwain reasoned. "A lot of times you bring in a new pitcher and he might struggle for the first few pitches and we didn't have any room to do that; and we felt very confident in how he was pitching because Taylor had stayed strong all the way through.

Texas second baseman Eric Vaughn lays down a bunt during Monday's Junior Dixie Boys World Series game against Virginia.

"They just got lucky and hit a few balls in the gap today."

Tomlin struck out six batters, walking just two, while allowing three earned runs (five total). But it wasn't quite enough to pick up the victory.

Tomlin outperformed his counterpart from Virginia. Starting pitcher Roger Bennett only lasted 2.1 innings, giving up four runs (one earned) on

Texas first baseman Adam Reeves prepares to catch a throw from Colton McSwain during action Monday at the Junior Dixie Boys World Series.

one hit, but walked two and struck out four before he was removed after Texas scored four runs in the top of the third.

Texas had pounded the ball in the State tournament in Center two weeks ago, posting double-digit scoring in each game. It wasn't so against the nation's best. While Tomlin limited Virginia to six hits, Texas managed just five hits on the offensive side.

Tomlin, called 'T-Squared' by his teammates, helped his cause offensively by posting a 2-for-3 outing at the plate, driving in a run. Josh Burns went 1-for-3 with a RBI and Dalton Horton posted a 1-for-3 showing, scoring once and driving in another run. Adam Reeves accounted for the other Texas hit, while Alec Lucas, Cam Owens and Tanner Murdock each crossed the plate in the contest.

Texas' Dalton Horton slides into home base for one of four third-inning runs scored by the all-stars from Center. Texas led 4-1, but fell from the tourney with a 5-4 setback to Virginia.

Other Texas players contributing included Colton McSwain, Eric Vaughn, C.J. Garner, Gaije Ranes and Caiden Rainbolt.

And although Texas was strong overall, three mistimed errors by the Center squad's defense spelled the end to the season.

Howerton's triple was his only hit of the game for Virginia, but it was a huge connection. Dustin Crews went 1-for-2, with a double, a run scoring, a stolen base and a run driven in. Andrew Link, Ethan Woltz, Thomas Cole and Ryan Tomlinson also posted hits for Virginia as they advanced to play Georgia Monday night. But that would be as far as Virginia would advance as it eliminated by Georgia, 12-11.

In other action in early games on Monday at the World Series, Georgia eliminated host-Dothan, Alabama, 17-13, Alabama knocked

Texas designated hitter Alec Lucas slides into second base during Monday's game at the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series in Dothan, Alabama. Texas fell, 5-4, and was eliminated from the tourney.

Louisiana out of the tourney, 8-4, and Mississippi stopped Florida, 10-3, in a battle of unbeatens.

In late action Monday night, Florida eliminated Alabama, 12-0, and South Carolina topped Mississippi, 7-0, in another game of unbeatens.

There are now just four teams headed into the semifinal round of the national tourney. Georgia is set to play Mississippi in an elimination game at 5 p.m. on Hardy Field, and unbeaten South Carolina will take on Florida at 8 p.m.

The championship round is scheduled for Wednesday.

Virginia used smart baserunning to take a 1-0 lead over Texas in the bottom of the first frame. Adrian Moran-Branch walked, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Crews then hit a fly ball to right field and the sacrifice was deep enough to drive home his teammate.

Texas starting pitcher Taylor Tomlin had a strong outing Monday morning at the Junior Dixie Boys World Series in Dothan, Alabama. Tomlin allowed three earned runs, while striking out six, but took the loss in a 5-4 setback to Virginia.

Texas came alive in the third when Lucas and Owens both walked to lead off. Burns moved them up with a sacrifice bunt and Murdock was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Horton hit a hard liner back to the pitcher, which he couldn't handle and Lucas plated and Dalton was safe with an infield single. But Virginia's Bennettmade the situation worse when he overthrew first after picking up the loose ball. That resulted in Owens scoring from second on the play and Murdock creating a 3-0 when he scored as well. Horton created a 4-1 lead when Tomlin successfully bunted down the third-base line and there was an error on the first-baseman.

But Tomlin was left standing at second base when the third out was called, one of two key baserunners left stranded in scoring position when innings ended.

"We left too many men on base," Texas assistant coach Paul Horton commented, "But these kids did a heck of a job and we're very proud of them and the effort they gave here."

Virginia would go on to score an earned run in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 4-2 and then add a run on two hits in the sixth to chip away even more, 4-3.

After Texas failed to score in the top of the seventh, a critical fielding error by a Texas infielder with one out put Link on base for Virginia. Moran-Branch then walked and that set up Howerton's heroics to end the game and Texas' season.

Florida hands Texas first loss of World Series - August 2, 2010
Submitted By John Krueger - Sports Correspondent

Texas catcher Josh Burns tries to catch the ball and make a tag on Florida's Josh Kelly during action Sunday.

DOTHAN, Alabama -- A rain delay of nearly one and one-half hours changed the tempo of this second-round Junior Dixie Boys World

Series game between Texas' representative from Center and Florida. Within one out of closing out Florida in the top of the third, the long delay resulted in Texas coming out flat and Florida going on to capture a 5-2 victory.

The setback was Texas' first of the tournament and dropped the Center team into the losers' side of the bracket heading into action on Monday here at the Miracle Field Complex. Texas will take on Virginia in an elimination game at 10 a.m. at Hardy Field in an elimination contest for both teams. A loss will send Texas home, while a win will advance the team to a 5 p.m. game against the winner of the survivor of Georgia and Dothan, Alabama, who also play at 10 a.m.

In other second-round contests on Sunday, Louisiana rebounded from a shocking first-round setback to eliminate North Carolina, 4-3, Georgia knocked Tennessee out of the tourney, 8-2 and Dothan eliminated Arkansas, 8-0. Mississippi topped Virginia, 13-10, and South Carolina handed Alabama its first setback in winners' bracket games.

Texas baserunner Caiden Rainbolt is about to be tagged out as he slides into third base during Sunday's second-round contest at the World Series in Dothan, Alabama.

After not hitting the baseball solidly in its 3-1 opening victory over North Carolina on Saturday, it appeared early on in Sunday's contest against Florida that Texas was holding its own defensively as its batters began making contact with the baseball.

Early in the third inning the game was scoreless and Texas catcher Josh Burns had just combined with Taylor Tomlin to throw out a Florida baserunner on a steal attempt for the second out in the top of the frame. But an earlier rain shower, which had appeared to pass over the area, began building back and lightning was detected in the area.

Tournament officials ruled that both teams must clear the field of the Texas-Florida game, as well as the Dothan-Arkansas contest being played on the next field, until the threatening weather cleared.

The storm cell appeared to stall near Dothan, cooling temperatures, but not bringing any more rain to the sports complex. However, the delay lasted 1:55. The Texas-Florida game was stopped with Texas needing just one strike of ending the frame.

After the delay, Florida managed to score a pair of unearned runs with two outs to take a 2-0 lead after three innings. Texas players' appeared flat after the delay and an error on defense was turned into the two key runs.

"We were definitely flat after the delay," admitted Texas Assistant Coach Paul Horton. "After that break I saw this things turn around.

I told [Head Coach] Bob [Reeves] and [Assistant Coach] Roscoe [McSwain] that [Florida] is not better than us - no way, shape or form; and if we hit the ball against their starter like we did later against their closer it would have been no contest.

"Here's the deal: We needed one strike to get out of that inning. I wish the umpire would have let us get out of that inning. But they scored [one] earned run the whole night and we made some mental mistakes that cost us that game. But that's baseball."

Horton said if his players come out strong on Monday and hit the ball like their capable of, the Texas coaching staff has confidence that they can continue their run toward the national title.

"If our players will come back tomorrow and show what they're made of, we'll be just fine," Horton stated. "The key is pitching and hitting and we're not hitting. I will say this: we hit the ball better [Sunday] than we did yesterday and we have to continue to relax and do the things that got us here.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time our defense is great; we just had a couple of mental mistakes today. If we don't get the hitting up and down the lineup like we're capable of, we're going to be in trouble. But we feel we'll be alright."

Texas dropped the contest despite outhitting Florida 7-5. Six different Center all-stars recorded hits in the game, which was played under surprisingly cool weather. After the rain shower just prior to game time blew through, the skies remained cloudy and temperatures dipped into the low 80s.

Texas shortstop Taylor Tomlin and first baseman Adam Reeves each had identical 1-for-3 efforts at the dish, while Caiden Rainbolt also went 1-for-3, while throwing out two baserunners while playing catcher in relief of Burns.

Other Texas players performing well included Colton McSwain, Alec Lucas, Cam Owens, Eric Vaughn, Gaije Ranes and C.J. Garner.

Devon Diaz led Florida with a 2-for-3 outing, connecting with a double and driving in a run.

Horton started the contest for Texas on the hill and received the loss despite only giving up two unearned runs in three innings. He gave up two hits,

while fanning four and walking just one.

Owens pitched one frame, allowing an earned run on one hit with one strikeout. McSwain pitched 2.1 innings, giving up two unearned runs on one hit with a strikeout. Tomlin finished the game on the hill, allowing no runs on one hit with a strikeout.

Casey Sutherland was the winning hurler for Florida, working five scoreless innings on four hits with four strikeouts. Quenton Davis picked up the save in two innings of relief.

After Florida took the 2-0 lead after the break in action, Texas saw its opponent added another run in the top of the fourth to pull out to a 3-0 advantage.

But Texas wasn't finished and continued to battle back. In the top of the sixth Burns reached base on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a single by Murdock. Horton singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Burns. Murdock plated on an error and suddenly Texas had cut the deficit to 3-2.

With an opportunity to tie the score, Horton was standing at third base. But a ground out ended the threat and Florida kept the slim one-run lead.

Florida then scored a pair of unearned runs on a hit and an error in the seventh and that was enough to keep Texas at bay.

Now the character of the Texas squad will be tested as the team attempts to keep its championship bid alive on Monday.

"These kids play well with their backs against the wall," Coach Horton explained. "They proved that tonight when they got down and fought back and cut the deficit to one run. But then a baserunning error cost us.

"We're going to have to put it all together tomorrow if we expect to stay alive."

2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series Tournament Schedules
(At. Dothan, Alabama)

Saturday, July 31
Gm 1: Texas (Center) 3, North Carolina 1
Gm 2: Florida 6, Louisiana 5
Gm 3: Mississippi 14, Tennessee 4
Gm 4: Virginia 8, Georgia 7
Gm 5: South Carolina 8, Arkansas 0
Gm 6: Alabama 7, Dothan, Ala. 6
Sunday, Aug. 1
Gm 7: Louisiana 4, North Carolina 3 (North Carolina eliminated)
Gm 8: Georgia 8, Tennessee 2 (Tennessee eliminated)
Gm 9: Dothan, Ala. 8, Arkanas 0 (Arkansas eliminated)
Gm 10: Florida 5, Texas (Center) 2
Gm 11: Mississippi 13, Virginia 10
Gm 12: South Carolina 4, Alabama 3
Monday, Aug. 2
Gm 13: Virginia vs. Texas (Center) (Hardy Field), 10 a.m. (elimination game)
Gm 14: Georgia vs. Dothan, Ala. (Brewton Field), 10 a.m. (elimination game)
Gm 15: Alabama vs. Louisiana (Hardy Field), 1 p.m. (elimination game)
Gm 16: Florida vs. Mississippi (Brewton Field), 1 p.m.
Gm 17: Georgia/Dothan, Ala. winner vs. Virginia/Texas winner (Hardy Field), 5 p.m. (elimination game)
Gm 18: Florida/Mississippi loser vs. Alabama/Louisiana winner (Brewton Field), 7 p.m. (elimination game)
Gm 19: Florida/Mississippi winner vs. South Carolina (Hardy Field), 8 p.m.

Texas shuts down North Carolina, 3-1 - August 1, 2010
By John Krueger

Texas' Dalton Horton slides.

DOTHAN, Alabama -- The Texas Junior Dixie boys shook off some early tournament jitters and received some timely hits and excellent pitching and defense when they needed it to record a 3-1 victory over North Carolina in the first round of the 2010 Junior Dixie Boys World Series here at Hardy Field at the Miracle Field Complex.

The challenge ahead for the all-stars from Center won't get any easier as they will move on to take on the Florida All-Stars Sunday at 4 p.m. in the winners' side of the bracket in the second round. Florida overcame a 4-0 deficit to knock off the Louisiana All-Stars, 6-5. Florida won the contest in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the tying and winning runs with two outs.

Texas asst. coach Paul Horton congratulates Adam Reeves.

It wasn't much easier for Texas as it scored three unearned runs on four hits, while leaving baserunners stranded, but took advantage of five North Carolina errors.

Outstanding defense and pitching drew the attention of Head Coach Bob Reeves, who said he figured his team was going to have to be on the top of its game going into the national tourney.

Texas' Dalton Horton (left) congratulates Adam Reeves.

"We were tight, tight, tight today - it was pretty obvious," said Reeves following the game. "But now that we have one game under our belts, I think they'll do better tomorrow.

"North Carolina had great pitching and we knew they would. We researched them on the internet and their games have been tight and they have had strong pitching. We'd like to have hit the ball better, but we took advantage of opportunities; and other than leaving several baserunners stranded, we got the job done pretty well.

"It could have been better, but we'll take the win anytime. These kids did a great job and didn't lose their composure."

Colton McSwain led the Texas attack, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. He also picked up the victory on the hill, throwing two scoreless innings after getting the starting nod. He gave up just one hit, while striking out three and hitting two batters.

Texas' Taylor Tomlin steals second.

Dalton Horton worked in relief for Texas, allowing an unearned run on one hit with a pair of walks. Kam Owens pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering just two hits.

Taylor Tomlin gained the save. In 1.2 frames he gave up no runs on one hit with one strikeout.

"Our pitching strategy went pretty much as we planned," Reeves reasoned. "We pitched four guys and all of them were way under their limit so they'll be ready for tomorrow - plus a few more guys that we didn't even use."

Texas' Colton McSwain rounds first base.

North Carolina 'burned' it’s starting pitcher, Logan Haines, who went over the 45-pitch limit and won't be able to come back on Sunday when his team takes on Louisiana at 1 p.m. Haines pitched six innings, giving up three unearned runs on four hits with 12 strikeouts and just two walks.

Steven Hutsell finished the game on the hill for NC, fanning two and walking one while not giving up a run or a hit.

Texas didn't exactly hit the laces off the ball, but Reeves said he wasn't convinced that they would be able to. Other than McSwain, only Tanner Murdock and Caiden Rainbolt recorded hits - but they were timely hits that drove in the three runs.

Texas head coach Bob Reeves (left) talks to assistant coaches Paul Horton (center) and Roscoe McSwain during the North Carolina game.

With the game scoreless in the top of the second, Texas designated hitter Alec Lucas had reached base on an error and moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third when Eric Vaughn reached base on an error. Murdock then sliced a RBI-single through the left side of the infield, pushing the go-ahead run across the plate.

Texas Colton McSwain makes a catch in center field.

After North Carolina tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, McSwain gave Texas momentum in the sixth when he led off with a double to left-center. He moved to third when Tomlin reached base on an error and Tomlin put two runners in scoring position when he stole second.

Rainbolt had the 'weight of the world' on his shoulders when he stepped to the dish with two outs and a chance to give his team not only momentum, but confidence heading into the final frame. Rainbolt then calmly stroked a slow-rolling single through the infield and the throw couldn't beat Rainbolt and allowed both McSwain and Tomlin to score.

Texas' Eric Vaughn tries to make a catch of a throw from catcher Josh Burns.

"We have guys all through the lineup that came through for us when we needed them; that's what they've done since we put this team together," Reeves said. "We feel we have excellent hitters in positions 1-9 in the lineup, so we expect the No.8 hitter to do was much as the 4-hole hitter. And they came through just like we expected them to."

Other Texas players who contributed to the win included catcher/second baseman Josh Burns, first baseman Adam Reeves, Kam Owens, C.J. Garner and Gaije Ranes. In addition to drawing a walk, Reeves made an outstanding snare of a line drive to end the sixth inning to leave two North Carolina baserunners in scoring position. And, in addition to his outstanding play behind the plate, Burns also recorded key assists while playing second base.

Now it's on the second round and the next challenge of the nation's best Dixie ballclubs.