Clinton 12U Little League All Stars plays in Southwest Regionals
Clinton 12U Little League All Stars plays in Southwest Regionals
By Danny C. Davis
The Clinton Baseball Association Little League All Star team beat Starkville to win the Mississippi State Championship, and then advanced to the Little League Southwest Regional tournament in Waco, Texas. Pictured (l to r) are Coach Daniel Tackett, Thomas Cole, Noah Davis, Brody Cox, Ayden Johnson, Kellan Langdon, Case Peterson, Harrison Cooley, Coach Anthony Stanford, Vaughan Stanford, Luke Rives, Luke Walker, Brayden Tackett, Coach Dan Rives and Jax Boswell.
Clinton Baseball Association’s 12U, or under twelve, competed against some of the top all star teams nationally at the Little League Southwest Regional Tournament held August 14 in Waco, Texas. The Clinton team defeated Starkville to earn the Mississippi state championship.
West Texas defeated Louisiana 6-3 to win the Southwest Regionals and advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Although the young Clinton team fell to East Texas 4-0 and Oklahoma 10-0, they said it was a great experience for the local players to play against competition at the highest level.
“Game one against East Texas was really close, but did not go our way,” said team manager Anthony Stanford. “That opening game could have very easily gone either way. It was a 1-0 game into the fifth inning, and we just couldn’t get the bats going.”
“In the second game, we faced a really good lefty on the mound and never could get anything going against Oklahoma.”
“The boys played really hard and gave it their all. Even though the games did not go our way, this was an experience that the boys will never forget.”
“It was an awesome experience to represent our community and our state on the national stage. I want to thank everyone in the community for all the support that they gave this team. I have received so many phone calls and texts from people that were rooting for us,” said Stanford.
It is believed that this is the first time a Clinton team has ever advanced this far in a youth baseball tournament.
“We have twelve kids on the team, and we are so proud of how hard they have practiced and played,” said Stanford.
The team is also coached by Dan Reeves and Daniel Tackett.
All of the 12 U players live in the Clinton area and are either eleven or twelve years old. Ten players attend Clinton Public schools, with one player from Central Hinds Academy and the other from Tri-County Academy.
Players include Thomas Cole, Noah Davis, Brody Cox, Ayden Johnson, Kellan Langdon, Case Peterson, Harrison Cooley, Vaughan Stanford, Luke Rives, Luke Walker, Brayden Tackett and Jax Boswell.
