By By Chandler Myers
Children of the Atmore T-ball League are dusting off their gloves, wiping down their bats and polishing their cleats as they prepare for the T-ball World Series this month.
The All-Star teams have been announced and the 7-year-old team began its quest for a championship June 12 in Milton, Fla. while the 5- and 6-year-old All-Star team begins play June 20 in Pensacola.
James Lewis Jr., president of the Atmore T-ball League, said the 7-year-old tournament begins this Thursday and will run to the following Thursday and the 5- and 6-year-old team will start on a Friday and will end with the championship the following Thursday.
The team selections were made on May 27 and the birth certificates of the players were checked on June 6.
Lewis said that the process for selecting players is not only the president’s job, but the managerial staffs as well.
When asked about how he thinks the teams will compete in their respective tournaments Lewis said he believes both teams will play well.
He continued that there is a disadvantage when playing some teams because certain leagues also play fall ball and this permits them to play year round.
Players selected to the 7-year- old All-Star team include James Lewis III, Louie Tuner IV, Jackson Bonner, Christian Cox, Brandon Gulsby, Caleb Gregson, Austin Walker, Mitchell Faulk, Ja’Bryce Hooks, Khalil Askew and Tucker Spence.
Coaches of the 7-year-old team are Gil Bonner, Sharon Taylor, Mitch McKinley and Donnie Faulk.
The 5- and 6-year- old All-Star team consists of Jaylen Black, LaDainian Dailey, Craig Brown, Chase Bell, Kameron Bowen, Dachary McGowan, Calvin Stots, Sam Smith, Tucker Smith and Drew Shelly.
The 5- and 6-year-old team will be coached by MacArthur Black, Erwin Dailey, C.J. Bell, Brian Spence and Carl Bowen.
Brent 26
Atmore 18
In All-star T-ball action Atmore’s 7-year-old team lost 26-18 to Brent.
This was the first game for Atmore in the tournament.
Atmore started strong in the first inning scoring nine runs to Brent’s four.
In the game James Lewis hit a double and a home run for Atmore while Austin Walker hit a home run early in the game.
Louie Turner added two home runs in the third and fourth inning.
Ja’Bryce Hooks, Khalil Askew, Brandon Gulsby, Jackson Bonner, Mitchell Faulk, Caleb Gregson and Christian Cox also scored runs for Atmore in the high scoring game.
Brent was down early, but took control in the third, fourth and fifth innings to pull away from the Atmore All-Stars.