Alabama Patriots win in Music City national tourney
Players with the Alabama Patriots proudly proclaim “Number One” at the Music City Super National Invitational Tournament in Nashville. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – A local baseball team played in sweet harmony at a tournament in the Music City.
The 11U (11 years and under) Alabama Patriots baseball club won the Music City Super National Invitational Tournament in Nashville, which is in the ‘majors’ with the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). Twelve teams from Alabama and Tennessee competed on June 8-9.
The Patriots team is comprised of players from Madison and Morgan counties. “The Patriots went 5-0, scoring 35 runs while allowing 22 through 5 games,” coach and team parent Jamie Hill said.
The Nashville tourney was a qualifier for the “Disney World Elite” World Series scheduled on Aug. 3-10 in Orlando. “The current record is 40-13 overall in the ‘major’ division, the highest competitive classification in each age group,” Hill said. Completing homeruns were Slate Alford, 1; Caden Rose, 2; Colin Baeder, 1; Wade Passler, 1; and Dylan Ray, 2.
The Patriots team batting average is .337. The top 5 batting averages are held by Dylan Ray at .498; Caden Rose, .400; Braidden Broussard, .397; Camden Hill, .385; and Slate Alford, .371.
“All players for the Patriots have at least one homerun this year with Slate Alford leading the team with six bombs,” Hill said.
The team roster includes Slate Alford, Camden Hill and Caden Rose from Madison; Logan Morris and Avery Seaton, Harvest; Andy Hufford and Wade Passler, Huntsville; Colin Baeder and Harrison Steward, Hazel Green; Dylan Ray, New Market; and Braidden Broussard, Russellville.
USSSA Baseball officials work to develop programs that allow teams of all skill levels to compete against one another. The association’s program have four divisions of play: major and AAA, national programs that culminate in a World Series; AA, a regional program managed at the state level and ending with a national tournament; and A, for recreation at the state level.
For more information, visit usssa.com/sports/Tournament3.asp?TournamentID=932208.
