Bo Burton and his 10U title ring

All-star teams take on state's best, 10U boys bring home title

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee 10U all-stars are state champions. The team went 5-0 in tournament play in the USSSA Silver Division and are headed to the World Series in Gulfport, Miss.

The champs got their first win in Oxford over Morris 18-4 on Thursday, June 23. On Friday in Pell City, they whipped Scottsboro 24-0. In bracket play Friday, Tallassee opened with a a 13-0 win over Lincoln. They faced rival Eclectic on Saturday in Lincoln winning 6-5. In the title game they defeated Chelsea 13-5.

Head coach Brent Tennyson is no stranger to championships with connections to wrestling and softball. This was his first state title in baseball.

"It was hot. No relief no shade. We had about an hour and a half delay," Tennyson said. "It was close, but we opened up in the last inning.

"They've fought. They've got down. They don't give up. They're gritty. They love the competition."

The competition included working through a 23-team state bracket. That level is certainly expected to increase at the World Series.

Brady Barron gave the odds of bringing home another championship.

"About half and half," he said. You either win it or you don't.

The USSSA Southeast Region World Series will be from July 14-17.

Trophy presentation for 10U champs

The 8U all-stars reached the quarterfinals of the gold division in their age group at state.

On Thursday in Lincoln, the boys topped Madison in the opener 13-0. They followed that with a 16-8 win over Corner on Friday in Leeds. In bracket play on Saturday in Oxford, Tallassee beat Guntersville 16-1 and were then knocked out by Wetumpka Black 8-5.

The 15U Babe Ruth all-stars were in Sylacauga for the state tournament. The team was 4-0 in the round-robin format to punch its ticket to the finals on Sunday, but a 5-2 setback to host Sylacauga made it a runner-up finish.

Tallassee had beaten the same Sylacauga team 18-6 in six innings the day before. They also racked up wins over NW Escambia 12-1 in five innings and Monroeville 11-1 in six. The most exciting victory came against Phenix City. Trailing 10-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Tallasse scored seven in its final at-bat for the win.

The Babe Ruth squad as a state runner-up qualifies for the Southwest Regional in Camden, Ark. beginning on July 15.

15U all-stars (kneeling, left to right): Bry Hathcock, Konner Taunton, Aiden Butler, Bryson Rigsby, Brody Wisener, Avery Brantley, Jack Butler. (Standing, left to right): Cash Gough, Carter Sayers, Cooper Hardin, Baylor Clayton, Chase Webster, Mason Henderson, Brody Smith. (Not pictured: Kaden Peters)

On the softball side, Tallassee's 6U-10U teams played in the state tournament in Prattville.

The 6U girls went 1-2 losing to Pell City 16-14 and beating McCalla 20-7 before being eliminated by the North All-Stars 24-3. The 8U girls lost both of their games to East Tuscaloosa 15-12 and Wetumpka 11-5. Tallassee's 10U team lost to North Chilton 3-2 and Coosa Valley 9-6.

The 8U stars are off this week to Foley for the USA World Series and play two games on Thursday, June 30. The girls open up at 11:30 a.m. vs. Coosa Valley and play again at 2 vs. Sardis.