Gallery: Troy wins World Series
The Troy Dixie Youth All-Stars won the Dixie Youth 2012 Region II AA Baseball World Series in Hartselle. Dwight and Jenny Tankersley were the host family for Troy. | Clif Knight
Troy claimed championship honors in the 2012 Region II Dixie Baseball World Series Tournament in Hartselle July 24 by defeating Hilton Head, S.C. 7-3.
The Alabama champions overcame a one-run deficit in the fourth inning by scoring three runs to take a 4-1 lead. They added three more runs in the fifth inning. Hilton Head added a run in the fourth and another run in the sixth.
Players on both team received individuals and team trophies to commemorate their achievement.
[nggallery id=603]
Troy advanced to the final by defeating West Seminole, Fla., 13-3 in a morning game. Hilton Head drew a bye.
Hartselle American finished in fourth place, losing to West Seminole in a semifinal game Monday night.
“I’m just proud of the team for the way in which it responded after we lost earlier in the tournament,” said head coach David Nelson. “They experienced the same thing in the state tournament and were able to come back and win.
“We told them to expect strong competition in this tournament and not to give up. They gave this game their best shot even though they had played six innings earlier in the day. It was really hot out there but they took it like real champions.”
While Hartselle’s two all-star teams failed to make it to the tournament finals, the players, tournament officials, Parks & Recreation staff, elected officials and the community as a whole all came away as winners.
Here are some of the comments visitors made on the final day of the five -day tourney”
[nggallery id=603]
“Our stay here has been great,” said Albert and Jennifer Stobbe of West Seminole, Fla. “The people are very hospitable; they made us feel at home.”
“This is a wonderful experience for us,” said Steve Wasula, another Floridian. “It was a really nice tournament.”
“It’s been great, second to none,” said Greg Lee of Dothan, “and we were very fortunate to have Mayor Tankersley and his wife Jenny as our team host and hostess.”
Wanda Sparrow of Troy stated, “It’s been a wonderful visit. Everyone we’ve met has been very friendly and we really enjoyed Whitt’s barbecue.”
“They’ve done a good job with the tournament. There have been no glitches,” said Troy head coach Nelson. “We have certainly enjoyed the hospitality.”
[nggallery id=603]
Hartselle hosted the Dixie Youth Region II AA Baseball World Series July 20-24.
