Team presented with the World Series’ Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row!

Seminole County Allstars place third in DYB World Series

 Team presented

 with the World Series’ Sportsmanship Award 

for the second year in a row!

After going undefeated and winning the Dixie Youth Baseball State Tournament, the Seminole County Recreation Department Allstars earned a spot in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, held in Anderson, South Carolina July 29 through August 3.

Representing the State of Georgia, the Seminole County Allstar team placed third out of ten teams participating in the World Series Tournament. In addition to Seminole County, the Georgia team, the tournament included teams from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Taking home the third-place trophy was not the only award Team Georgia received during the World Series. After the Championship game on Wednesday, Team Georgia was presented with the Sportsmanship Award.  This is a very prestigious award and was voted on by all of the umpires that called games throughout the entire tournament.  This is the second year in a row that Seminole County and Team Georgia has been presented with this award.  After checking Dixie Youth Baseball’s historical records it appears the Seminole County All-star Team is the only team in history to be presented the Sportsmanship Award in back-to-back years for the “O”zone division in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series. 

The World Series events began on Thursday, July 28 with a set of skills competition that included a base running, around the horn, and a home run derby.  Participants in each of the skills competitions were: base running:  Reed Phillips, Cullen Hicks, Zach Odom, and Jack Palmer; around the horn:  Reese Bridges, Brody Rogerson, Luke Scott, Luke Akers, Preston Deal, and Hezekiah Judkins; homerun derby:  Creek Durden.  Once the skills competitions concluded, all teams participating in the World Series were treated to a team meal at the Anderson County Civic Center.  After the team meal, The Seminole County Allstars then participated in the opening ceremonies, which included a parade of all teams participating in the tournament.

Games began on Friday, July 29 when the Seminole County Allstars, now Team Georgia, faced Team Alabama, from Ariton, Alabama.  Team Georgia watched as this game slipped away early and were never able to recover.  This game was a pitcher and defensive duel between both teams, but Team Georgia was unable to get their bats going and fell 2-0 to Team Alabama.

Team Georgia’s next game was Saturday, July 30 versus Team Virginia.  Team Georgia got things going in the first inning when Luke Scott grounded out to the pitcher and Jack Palmer scored on the play.  Team Georgia’s bats remained hot and after the first inning ended, Team Georgia was up 3-0. Team Georgia came back out fighting in the top of the third inning scoring six runs and ending the inning 9-0.  The game ended in the fourth inning by run rule with Team Georgia coming out on top 10-0. Team Georgia’s pitchers, Luke Akers and Zach Odom, threw a combined no hitter in the win.  Team Georgia had nine total hits in this game, led by Preston Deal and Luke Scott, each with multiple hits in the game.  Team Georgia also had nine stolen bases in this game with Jack Palmer leading in stolen bases with three.

On Sunday, July 31 Team Georgia faced Team North Carolina.  Three of Team Georgia’s pitchers, Luke Akers, Hezekiah Judkins, and Preston Deal, all pitched a combined shutout of Team North Carolina.  Luke Akers led Team Georgia to the victory on the mound by pitching two complete innings allowing zero runs and zero hits and striking out two batters.  Brody Rogerson, Preston Deal, Creek Durden, Hezekiah Judkins, Luke Scott, and Reese Bridges all got hits in the game and Team Georgia defeated Team North Carolina 5-0.

On Monday, August 1, Team Georgia faced Team Tennessee.  Team Georgia’s bats remained hot in the victory over Team Tennessee.  Team Georgia collected 15 hits in this game and Preston Deal, Luke Scott, Creek Durden, and Jack Palmer each had multiple hits in the victory. Luke Akers earned the victory on the mound allowing one hit and one run over two innings, striking out two and walking one batter.  The bullpen remained strong against Team Tennessee; Zach Odom, Preston Deal, and Reese Bridges all got work on the mound to seal the victory for Team Georgia.  Team Georgia defeated Team Tennessee 11-4.

Team Georgia’s fifth game of the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series took place Tuesday, August 2 against a tough Texas team.  Team Georgia’s bats were strong against Team Texas, but it was not enough as Team Georgia fell to Team Texas 13-8. Team Georgia tallied 12 hits in this game; Reese Bridges, Preston Deal, Brody Rogerson, and Luke Akers all managed to get multiple hits in the loss.  In the top of the third inning Creek Durden, from Team Georgia, socked a solo homerun deep over the left field fence.  The game ended after the top of the sixth inning and Team Georgia was eliminated from the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series taking third place out of 10 teams.   

Head coach Michael Jon Rogerson commented, “Proud is an understatement on my feelings for this team.  Going back to the World Series this year with this group of boys was something very special.  I have had the pleasure of coaching most of this team since they were five.  Participating in the World Series again this year was just the icing on the cake.  In a discussion after we were eliminated, a person told me that this was the end of an era with these boys.  As true as this may be, I am excited to see what the future holds for each and every one.  The future is bright in our little corner of the State.  I also want to thank our community here in Seminole County.  Without everyone’s support preparing for the State Tournament and then our trip to the World Series, we would have been lost without you.  Thank you for the prayers, words of encouragement, well-wishes, and financial support.  We truly could not have done this without you.”

Coached by head coach Rogerson and assistant coaches Stephen Scott and Brad Akers, the Seminole County 12U DYB Allstar Team
includes Zack Odom, Cullen Hicks, Luke Scott, Reid Phillips, Reese Bridges, Luke Akers, Creek Durden, Preston Deel, Jack Palmer, Cullen Hicks, and Hezekiah
Jurkins.