The 6- to 8-year-old Unicoi County Little League baseball all-star team includes, pictured from left, back row, Reed Carroll, Owen Masters, Ty Toney, Miles Gouge, AJ Holt, Wyatt Shelton and Mason Wright; front row, Nevan Sifford, Blake Bennett, Justin Ramsey, Braydan Sifford and Mason Blackburn. (Contributed photo)
The 11- to 12-year-old Unicoi County Little League baseball all-star team includes, pictured from left, back row, coach David Butler, manager Roger Allen and coach Donnie Hensley; middle row, Matthew Whitson, Ryan Allen, Albert Alaniz, Ethan Butler, Rhett Allen, Christian Nasser and Josh Randolph; front row, Angel Delgado, Gabe King, Ethan Falkenstein, Dillon Gast, Dillon Sifford and Emanuel Chavez. (Contributed photo)
From Staff Reports
Of the six all-star teams representing Unicoi County Little League in tournament action this summer, one is still standing – and playing for a state title.
8-10 Year-Old Softball All-Stars
This group of youngsters won the District 5 championship last month, which sent them to the state tournament competition being played in Erwin.
The softball all-stars opened the state tournament on Saturday, July 6, with a 13-3 victory over Dickson County. Later that day, they defeated Smith County 12-2, according to coach Terry Higgins.
These victories set up a game with Goodlettsville on Sunday, July 7, which Unicoi County won 7-4. The win sent the team to the championship game which was played on Tuesday, July 9, after The Erwin Record’s press deadline for this issue.
According to Higgins, if the team wins on Tuesday, they will play in the regional tournament in Cunningham, Tennessee, beginning July 19. The time and opponent for that game is yet to be decided.
6-8 Year-Old Baseball All-Stars
The youngest baseball all-star team was eliminated from tournament play by losses on June 11 and June 12 in Bluff City.
According to coach Nick Gouge, lost 9-6 to Johnson City Major on the first day, then lost to Blountville 10-4 the second day.
11-12 Year-Old Baseball All-Stars
The 11-12 year-old baseball all-star team was also eliminated with consecutive losses while playing in Bluff City.
Coach Roger Allen said the team lost to Johnson City Major 14-4 on July 1, then lost to Johnson City American 15-0 the following day.
The 6-8 year-old softball all-stars, the 8-10 year-old baseball all-stars and the 10-12 year-old softball all-stars were all previously eliminated from tournament play.