2009 Season
2010 STATE MEETINGS
Below are the tentative dates and sites of the 2010 Dixie Softball state meetings.
January 9 VA Holiday Inn-Select @ Lynchburg
January 16 GA Turner Lakes Complex @ Covington
January 30 FL Best Western-Lakeside @ Kissimmee
January 30 NC Little River @ Moore County
February 6 TX LeTourneau College @ Longview
February 13 AL Troy University @ Troy
February 13 SC TBA @ TBA
February 20 AR Henderson State(Reddie Ctr.) @ Arkadelphia
February 20 LA Kees Park Center @ Pineville
March 6 MS TBA @ TBA
March 6 TN Dickson County High School @ Dickson
ABOUT TIME!!!
by Obie Evans
For many years I have taken grief from travel ball people and parents and lately school ball people because I have been an outspoken advocate for youth sports health and safety. I have written many blogs about these two programs having little or no regard for the health and safety of players of the game of softball and it can relate to other sports as well.
I believe that there is a need for limiting the number of innings/pitches a pitcher can throw. There is also a need to limit the number of games played by all the players. Dixie Softball, since its beginning in 1975, has limited the number of innings a pitcher can throw in a week and in tournament play. Dixie Softball recommends that no more than 25 games be played in a season and tournaments are extended over a period of days and no more than two games can be played in one day. This limits the chances a player can be injured and keeps the game of softball fresh and fun to play. It does not allow players to become burned out as travel and school ball does.
Sadly, school ball is becoming as much of a nemesis to the health and welfare of the players as travel ball has always been. Schools are scheduling 50 to 100 games a year and in a lot of cases using only one or two pitchers to pitch the games. In Alabama, my home state a pitcher was allowed by her coach to pitch in every game of the 2009 state tournament even after the pitcher developed a sore arn. Where is the good sense of coaches and parents?
Below is an article that appeared in The Birmingham News on August 20, 2009 and was written by Dave Parks, a staff writer for the newspaper. I took the liberty to add some personal comments to the article. The Dr. Andrews mentioned is a world renowned orthopedic surgeon and has operated on the top sports stars in the professional and amateur ranks of all sports. The names would make up a Hall of Fame of super athletes. In fact, I have been one of his patients.
The article:
More than 7 million high school students now play everything from football for boys to softball for girls.
And that number excludes younger kids playing soccer and baseball leagues, which are now offered year-round.
Given those numbers, Dr. James Andrews says many young athletes are taking an unnecessary beating, playing too much and stressing young bodies to the breaking point.
"It's to an epidemic proportion," said Andrews, one of the nation's top orthopedic surgeons and a leading authority on knee, shoulder and elbow sports injuries.
And he plans to do something about it.
Working in conjunction with the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Andrews is creating a nationwide initiative to prevent injuries in young athletes.
"These kids are just getting injured unnecessarily," Andrews said.
Andrews is forming a Council of Champions - many of them professional athletes that Andrews has treated in his practices in Birmingham and Gulf Breeze, Florida.
The council will help raise money for research and to run a national media campaign to raise awareness about injuries to young athletes.
Andrews said the main problem is that youngsters are playing sports too much, too often (My side note is "Boy, is Dr. Andrews right on here"), the problem has been worsened by a proliferation of year-round youth sports, such as baseball and soccer. (My side note here is that softball can be inserted here as well.)
"We're seeing it all over the place," he said.
Early specialization in a sport (My side note here is that this means playing one sport all the time), immature bones, insufficient rest after injury and poor training or conditioning are the ingredients for permanent incapacitation, he said.
Youngsters need at least three to four months or rest each year before resuming sports, he said. Unfortunately, that's not happening, and Andrews said he can see the painful results in the waiting room of his practice.
"I have five or six examining rooms where I go from one to another," he said.
The Center for Disease Control reports that high school athletes make about 500,000 doctor visits a year seeking care for about 2 million injuries.
Andrews said there are more safety regulations governing professional and intercollegiate athletes than there are for youth sports.
"And our young athletes are more vulnerable," he said.
In addition to raising awareness, Andrews said more, professionally trained athletic trainers are needed for youth sports, and better research is needed into the risks for young bodies playing different sports.
"We've got to develop a lot of programs in public schools," he said.
My comment: Before anything can be done on the school level I believe Dr. Andrews must first educate the leaders of state school athletic associations. That will be a chore. I wish Dr. Andrews well in this venture and I am going to offer the support of Dixie Softball to his cause. After all, he is one of my doctors.
2009 Online Franchise Renewal Form & Payment Option (click this link)
2009 Franchise Renewal Form - Print version (PDF file)
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2009 WORLD SERIES RESULTS!!
DIXIE DARLINGS
MADISON CENTRAL, TENNESSEE - CHAMPIONS
HARTSELLE, ALABAMA - RUNNER-UP
WEST PASCO, FLORIDA - SPORTSMANSHIP
All games played at Bobby Richardson Complex
Saturday, August 1 (ROUND 1)
GAME 1:TEXAS 10, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 0
GAME 2: TENNESSEE 14, NORTH CAROLINA 4
GAME 3: ALABAMA 15, ARKANSAS 9
GAME 4:MISSISSIPPI 13, GEORGIA 7
GAME 5:SOUTH CAROLINA 8, FLORIDA 5
GAME 6: LOUISIANA 8, VIRGINIA 5
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 2)
GAME 7: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 14, NORTH CAROLINA 5
GAME 8: ARKANSAS 15, GEORGIA 4
GAME 9: VIRGINIA 5, FLORIDA 4
GAME 10: LOUISIANA 10, SOUTH CAROLINA 8
GAME 11: ALABAMA 18, MISSISSIPPI 7
GAME 12: TENNESSEE 15, TEXAS 9
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 3)
GAME 13: VIRGINIA 19, ARKANSAS 6
GAME 14: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 9, MISSISSIPPI 3
GAME 15: TEXAS 10, SOUTH CAROLINA 9
GAME 16: TENNESSEE 7, ALABAMA 4
Monday, August 3 (ROUND 4)
GAME 17: VIRGINIA 9, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 8
GAME 18: ALABAMA 18, TEXAS 10
GAME 19: TENNESSEE 13, LOUISIANA 9
Tuesday, August 4 (ROUND 5)
GAME 20: ALABAMA 8, LOUISIANA 4
GAME 21: TENNESSEE 20, VIRGINIA 4
Wednesday, August 5 (ROUND 6)
GAME 22: TENNESSEE 15, ALABAMA 14
DIXIE ANGELS
MADISON CENTRAL, TENNESSEE - CHAMPIONS
WEST JASPER, MISSISSIPPI - RUNNER-UP
WEST JASPER, MISSISSIPPI - SPORTSMANSHIP
All games played at Patriot Park Sportsflex
Saturday, August 1 (ROUND 1)
GAME 1: TENNESSEE 7 - GEORGIA 0
GAME 2: ALABAMA 3 - NORTH CAROLINA 0 (7 innings)
GAME 3: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 6, SOUTH CAROLINA 0
GAME 4: FLORIDA 2 - LOUISIANA 0
GAME 5: MISSISSIPPI 12, VIRGINIA 0
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 2)
GAME 6: TENNESSEE 8, TEXAS 1
GAME 7: LOUISIANA 15, VIRGINIA 4
GAME 8: NORTH CAROLINA 3, GEORGIA 1
GAME 9: MISSISSIPPI 2, FLORIDA 0
GAME 10: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 7, ALABAMA 2
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 3)
GAME 11: FLORIDA 5, SOUTH CAROLINA 3
GAME 12: ALABAMA 6, TEXAS 5 (6 INNINGS)
GAME 13: NORTH CAROLINA 9, LOUISIANA 2 (7 INNINGS)
GAME 14: TENNESSEE 1, - SUMTER, SC (HOST) 0
Monday, August 3 (ROUND 4)
GAME 15: NORTH CAROLINA 3, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 1
GAME 16: ALABAMA 14, FLORIDA 2
GAME 17: TENNESSEE 3, MISSISSIPPI 2
Tuesday, August 4 (ROUND 5)
GAME 18: MISSISSIPPI 5, ALABAMA 2
GAME 19: TENNESSEE 5, NORTH CAROLINA 3
Wednesday, August 5 (ROUND 6)
GAME 20: TENNESSEE 3, MISSISSIPPI 0
DIXIE PONYTAILS
JEFFERSON PARISH WESTBANK EAST, LOUISIANA - CHAMPIONS
BELLEVIEW, FLORIDA - RUNNER-UP
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA - SPORTSMANSHIP
All games played at Patriot Park Sportsflex
Saturday, August 1 (ROUND 1)
GAME 1: LOUISIANA 4, TEXAS 3
GAME 2: VIRGINIA 1, ALABAMA 0
GAME 3: NORTH CAROLINA 2, TENNESSE 0
GAME 4: GEORGIA 5, FLORIDA 2
GAME 5: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 6 & MISSISSIPPI 0
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 2)
GAME 6: LOUISIANA 3, SOUTH CAROLINA 2 (7 INNINGS)
GAME 7: GEORGIA 1, MISSISSIPPI 0
GAME 8: ALABAMA 6, TEXAS 2
GAME 9: FLORIDA 1, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 0 (7 INNINGS)
GAME 10: NORTH CAROLINA 9, VIRGINIA 4
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 3)
GAME 11: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 3, TENNESSEE 0
GAME 12: VIRGINIA 2, SOUTH CAROLINA 1
GAME 13: ALABAMA 3, GEORGIA 2
GAME 14: LOUISIANA 9, NORTH CAROLINA 6
Monday, August 3 (ROUND 4)
GAME 15: NORTH CAROLINA 4, ALABAMA 3
GAME 16: VIRGINIA 3, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 1
GAME 17: FLORIDA 4, LOUISIANA 2
Tuesday, August 4 (ROUND 5)
GAME 18: LOUISIANA 6, VIRGINIA 4
GAME 19: FLORIDA 1, NORTH CAROLINA O
Wednesday, August 5 (ROUND 6)
GAME 20: LOUISIANA 3, FLORIDA 2
GAME 21: LOUISIANA 7, FLORIDA 3
DIXIE BELLES
HALIFAX AMERICAN, VIRGINIA - CHAMPIONS
SOUTH STANLY, NORTH CAROLINA - CO-RUNNER-UP
SUMTER, SC (HOST) - CO-RUNNER-UP
DYERSBURG/DYER COUNTY, TENNESSEE - SPORTSMANSHIP
Games on Saturday, Sunday & Monday played at Bobby Richardson Complex
Games on Tuesday & Wednesday played at Patriot Park Sportsplex
Saturday, August 1 (Round 1)
GAME 1: MISSISSIPPI 8 - GEORGIA 1
GAME 2: TENNESSEE 2, ALABAMA 1
GAME 3: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 8, ARKANSAS 0
GAME 4: VIRGINIA 5, SOUTH CAROLINA 0
GAME 5: FLORIDA 8, LOUISIANA 5
GAME 6: NORTH CAROLINA 8, TEXAS 0
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 2)
GAME 7: ALABAMA 14, GEORGIA 3
GAME 8: SOUTH CAROLINA 4, ARKANSAS 0
GAME 9: LOUISIANA 10, TEXAS 1
GAME 10: NORTH CAROLINA 2, FLORIDA 1 (10 INNINGS)
GAME 11: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 7, VIRGINIA 4
GAME 12: TENNESSEE 2, MISSISSIPPI 0
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 3)
GAME 13: SOUTH CAROLINA 7, LOUISIANA 5
GAME 14: @ 6 PM - VIRGINIA 8, ALABAMA 6 (8 INNINGS)
GAME 15: FLORIDA 16, MISSISSIPPI 6
GAME 16: TENNESSEE 7, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 3
Monday, August 3 (ROUND 4)
GAME 17: VIRGINIA 8, SOUTH CAROLINA 7
GAME 18: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 11, FLORIDA 1
GAME 19: NORTH CAROLINA 3, TENNESSEE 2
Tuesday, August 4 (ROUND 5)
GAME 20: SUMTER SC (HOST) 9, TENNESSEE 2
GAME 21 @ 8 PM - VIRGINIA 8, NORTH CAROLINA 7
Wednesday, August 5 (ROUND 6)
GAME 22: NORTH CAROLINA 6, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 1
GAME 23: VIRGINIA 10, NORTH CAROLINA 2
DIXIE DEBS
SUMTER, SC (HOST) - CHAMPIONS
CALDWELL PARRISH, LOUISIANA - RUNNER-UP
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA - SPORTSMANSHIP
Games on Saturday, Sunday & Monday played at Bobby Ricardson Complex
Games on Tuesday & Wednesday played at Patriot Park Sportsplex
Saturday, August 1 (ROUND 1)
GAME 1: VIRGINIA 11 - SOUTH CAROLINA 0
GAME 2: SUMTER, SC 10 - TEXAS 0
GAME 3: ALABAMA 9, ARKANSAS 6
GAME 4: NORTH CAROLINA 4, TENNESSEE 2
GAME 5: LOUISIANA 5, MISSISSIPPI 3
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 2)
GAME 6: FLORIDA 4, VIRGINIA 1
GAME 7: TENNESSEE 2, MISSISSIPPI 1
GAME 8: SOUTH CAROLINA 5, TEXAS 2
GAME 9: LOUISIANA 1, NORTH CAROLINA 0
GAME 10: ALABAMA 2, SUMTER, SC (HOST) 0
Sunday, August 2 (ROUND 3)
GAME 11: NORTH CAROLINA 10, AKANSAS 9
GAME 12: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 10, VIRGINIA 4
GAME 13: SOUTH CAROLINA 10, TENNESSEE 0
GAME 14: ALABAMA 6, FLORIDA 3
Monday, August 3 (ROUND 4)
GAME 15: SOUTH CAROLINA 7, FLORIDA 4
GAME 16: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 11, NORTH CAROLINA 1
GAME 17: LOUISIANA 5, ALABAMA 4
Tuesday, August 4 (ROUND 5)
GAME 18: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 5, ALABAMA 2
GAME 19 @ 8 PM: LOUISIANA 11, SOUTH CAROLINA 1
Wednesday, August 5 (ROUND 6)
GAME 20: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 3 - LOUISIANA 2
GAME 21: SUMTER, SC (HOST) 13, LOUISIANA 2
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2009 STATE WINNERS
ALABAMA
DARLINGS - HARTSELLE
ANGELS - HARTSELLE
PONYTAILS - HARTSELLE
BELLES - WILCOX
DEBS - DECATUR NATIONAL
ARKANSAS
DARLINGS - LAFAYETTE COUNTY
ANGELS - MENA
PONYTAILS - MENA
BELLES - LAFAYETTE COUNTY
DEBS - HORATIO
FLORIDA
DARLINGS - WEST PASCO
ANGELS - SPRING HILL
PONYTAILS - BELLVIEW
BELLES - MULBERRY
DEBS - WEST PASCO
GEORGIA
DARLINGS - JASPER COUNTY
ANGELS - WHITFIELD COUNTY AMERICAN
PONYTAILS - COLUMBIA COUNTY
BELLES - PERRY JR. LEAGUE
DEBS - PERRY JR. LEAGUE
LOUISIANA
DARLINGS - OBERLIN
ANGELS - ALEXANDRIA NATIONAL
PONYTAILS - JEFFERSON PARISH WESTBANK EAST
BELLES - FERRIDAY
DEBS - CALDWELL PARISH
MISSISSIPPI
DARLINGS - EAST CENTRAL
ANGELS - WEST JASPER
PONYTAILS - EAST CENTRAL
BELLES - TISHOMINGO
DEBS - ST. MARTIN
NORTH CAROLINA
DARLINGS - WEST LINCOLN OPTIMIST
ANGELS - BURGAW
PONYTAILS - MONTGOMERY COUNTY
BELLES - SOUTH STANLY
DEBS - BRUNSWICK COUNTY WEST
SOUTH CAROLINA
DARLINGS - LANCASTER AMERICAN
ANGELS - DISTRICT ONE
PONYTAILS - MAULDIN
BELLES - LANCASTER SOUTHERN
DEBS - GEORGETOWN COUNTY
TENNESSEE
DARLINGS - MADISON CENTRAL
ANGELS - MADISON CENTRAL
PONYTAILS - DECATUR COUNTY
BELLES - DYERSBURG/DYER COUNTY
DEBS - HUMPHREYS COUNTY
TEXAS
DARLINGS - HOPKINS COUNTY AMERICAN
ANGELS - HOPKINS COUNTY NATIONAL
PONYTAILS - DENISON
BELLES - LIBERTY
DEBS - COLDSPRINGS
VIRGINIA
DARLINGS - HALIFAX AMERICAN
ANGELS - POWHATAN AMERICAN
PONYTAILS - SOUTH HILL
BELLES - HALIFAX AMERICAN
DEBS - HALIFAX AMERICAN
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2009 APPROVED SUPPLIERS
EQUIPMENT
BASEBALL WAREHOUSE
JUGS, INC.
NATIONS BEST SPORTS
ROGERS BREAK AWAY BASE SYSTEM
SOFTBALLS
A. D. STARR SPORTS
DIAMOND SPORTS
J. P. SPORTS (Approved for tournament play)
BATS
ANDERSON BAT COMPAY
COMBAT SPORTS
DEMARINI
EASTON SPORTS
HILLERICH & BRADSBY (LOUISVILLE SUGGER)
MIKEN
MIZUNO USA
RAWLINGS
WORTH
NOTE: Not every bat manufactured by an "Approved Supplier' is approved for Dixie Softball play. Dixie Softball uses the approved bat list that the governing body of USA Softball publishes for the purpose of deciding which bats are approved for Dixie Softball play. If any bat on the approved USA Softball list is not approved for Dixie Softball play we will list such bat on this website. For the list of approved bats please go to www.asasoftball.com and look for the certified equipment button and click on it then click on the bats button and then click on the display all button. When the drop down list appears click on the manufacturer you are looking for.
FUND RAISER
BRAX, LTD
QSP/WORLDS FINEST CHOCOLATE
TK FUND RAISER
TROPHIES & AWARDS
BIRMINGHAM TROPHY SHOP
CROWN AWARDS
DINN BROTHERS
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A PARENT GETS IT RIGHT!!
by Obie Evans
It always amazes me that parents can get it right. As most of you reading this know, I have for years made my opinion known about the effects of travel ball on local community programs. I will say it again. Travel ball, overall hurts local community programs and where it can be avoided it should be. Not only has travel ball hurt local community programs but when local community programs put the local school team ahead of what their local community program goal should be that too can cause problems for a local community program.
Recently Preston Leonard, Dixie Softball National Vice President, received an e-mail from a parent in North Carolina. The e-mail says it all. I have chosen this as my one of my best annual e-mail of the year . I have made editorial changes to make the e-mail readable for my column and not just an e-mail type of wording. I have chosen not to name the softball programs involved for it would not serve the common good to do so. The email is paraphrased below:
Hello!
I am not sure where I need to begin. My daughter played this year in the all-star games for her local league Angels tournament team. She had a really great time and she enjoyed herself greatly up until the point and time she had to play against another league which I believe this other league's team is made up of 3 traveling teams. A true unfair advantage against our girls. Why take away perhaps a once a year moment for some girls that the girls on the other team have the opportunity to do almost every weekend.
There is no doubt that the girls on the other team are really good ball players. But AWFUL defines them better. They have no respect, talked ugly to our little girls and to us as parents. When my child cries as she pitches a ball because they are being too rude, there is a problem. Again, there is no doubt that the other team's Angels players are good but isn't there a rule or regulation that is in place or can be put in place about travel ball teams and restricting their participation in the "recreational" style of softball that Dixie Softball presents. My daughter gets one chance a year to play tournament ball and try to make it to the state tournament. The girls on the other team have a lot of opportunities to play and reach higher level so they should not be allowed to stand in the way of Dixie Softball oriented teams.
There was a problem that I will contact my district director about. No one is perfect but I feel he mishandled a situation at the tournament. We should be playing ball for the CHILDREN. I pray all will realize the true meaning of why the girls are playing softball. Thank you for your time.
The above parent realizes that girls softball should be fun to play and that travel ball players should go play travel ball and leave community ball to those who want to play it. She also realizes that travel ball players/teams really mess up tournament play for their attitude is different because they play so many tournaments and instead of the Dixie Softball tournament being an event it becomes just another softball tournament along the way. If the opposing team was rude and disrupting the game with rude comments the umpires should have stepped in. Dixie Softball does have rules against harassment of players from the other team. Sportsmanship is the utmost goal of Dixie Softball for any softball game.
Dixie Softball has rules and policies that regulate travel ball players/teams as much as possible. Over 10 years ago Dixie Softball was sued by a league which was backed by the governing body of United States Softball, namely ASA. Because of circumstances of the lawsuit, Dixie Softball cannot restrict players from participating with travel teams while playing Dixie Softball as well. It was a terrible decision but one Dixie Softball was forced to accept. Oh, how I wish Dixie Softball could restrict players from playing with other softball organizations while playing Dixie Softball. I told the court at the time that allowing players to dual participate would hurt the "recreational" style of softball that Dixie Softball was offering and sadly, I was correct.
I wish the e-mailer, her daughter and her local program well in the future and perhaps one day they will have the opportunity to make it to the state tournament and even to the World Series. If enough parents would stand up for fun softball for their local program the world of girls softball will be better.
Thank you ma'am for realizing that softball is for the kids!
By Obie Evans
Every now and then something comes along that makes my season or even my 41 years of Dixie Girls Softball feel worthwhile. A note I received from Lynette Edmondson of Dickson County, Tennessee stating that the Dickson County Dixie Softball program would be adding an additional Darlings team to their program and this would make a total of 8 Darlings teams for their program thus making the Dickson County program having to have 2 leagues in the Darlings age division. A number of programs try to keep their number of teams to no more than 7 teams in an age division because it would force the program to have 2 tournament teams in that particular age division. They feel this would weaken their "all-star" team. I ask, "Which is more important, a super "all-star" team made up of 12 girls or 24 girls being "all-stars" on 2 good teams?" Thank you Lynette for confirming what I feel, that Dixie Softball is a good thing. Below is that note:
We need to apply for an additional franchise number because we have eight teams in our Darlings!
This is very exciting!!
Our draft and scheduling were done with the teams divided into National and American. However, it was only recently I learned we had to apply for another franchise number.
Just three years ago, there were only three Darlings teams. Last year (2008) it grew to five, and now we are thrilled to have eight teams! I think it is because we started SweeTees three years ago. The girls and families are really enjoying the SweeTees!! Kudos to Dixie Softball for starting the SweeTees!
Thank you,
Lynette Edmondson
VP Softball, Dickson County Youth Altletic Association
2009 RULE BOOK ERROR
1. Please note that the information on page 12 under the July 1 date is incorrect. The first paragraph should have been deleted in its entirety. No longer does Dixie Softball allow a team to participate in its tournament play without that team being willing to participate in all aspects of Dixie Softball tournament play, including any and all tournaments at a higher level than the tournament they just competed in.
2. The e-mail address listed on page 9 for South Carolina's District 4 Director, Clay Burkett, is wrong. It should be: dist4dir@yahoo.com.
3. The cell phone number listed on page 10 for Tennessee's District 3 Director, McNabney is incorrect. It should be (615) 513-0052.
4. The cell phone number listed on page 10 for Virginia's District 6 Director, Virgel Allen is NOT a valid number.
5. On page 12 it list June 1 as the deadline to mail nominations for the Dixie Softball, Inc. Hall of Fame. The date of May 1 that is listed on page 11 is the proper date.
5. Page 99, Section VII, Article (D) - The rule should also read: A pitcher shall not pitch in consecutive games played by her team in the same tournament if she has pitched: DIXIE BELLES and DEBS - in four (4) or more innings of the previous game.
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2009 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Doug Garrett, DSI Scholarship Committee chairman has announced the winners of the 2009 Dixie Softball scholarships. The winners are:
BILLY ADKINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - BRITTNEY LYNN CLARK of Erin (Houston County league), Tennessee;
FRANK L. BAXTER HONORARY SCHOLARSHIP - ASHLEY NICOLE SHELL of DeRidder, Louisiana;
R. T. ADAMS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - ALYSSA JUNE DANIELS of Carthage, Mississippi;
TIM NEELY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - SKEETER ALICE BRANNAN of Paris (Lamar County YWCA league), Texas;
AUBREY TAPLEY HONORARY SCHOLARSHIP - CRYSTAL LORANE YOUNG of Pineland, Texas; and
the first GEORGE D. MATTHEWS, SR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - MARY ELIZABETH DRIVER of Abbeville, SC.
Congratulations to each of these young ladies. The Dixie Softball family wishes them well in their future educational endeavors and thank them for playing Dixie Softball.
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NEW & RETURNED LEAGUES 2009
It is great when new leagues join Dixie Softball but it is also a feeling of pride when a league, after having dropped out of Dixie Softball for one reason or another, decides to return to play Dixie Softball. Listed below are the new and returned leagues for 2009.
NEW
Wren Youth, South Carolina
Haleyville, Alabama
Florence, Alabama
Collins, Mississippi
South Cumberland, North Carolina
Dentsville, South Carolina
Leroy Springs, South Carolina
Shreveport, Louisiana
Lexington American, Tennessee
Chapel Hill, Texas
Sumter American, South Carolina
Whitfield County, Georgia
Dalton, Georgia
Holmes County, Florida
Brundidge National, Alabama
Chambers County, Texas
Pisgah Youth, Mississippi
Piedmont, Virginia
West Rusk, Texas
Madisonville National, Louisiana
Anderson Area YMCA, South Carolina
Osterland, Louisiana
Whitfield County American, Georgia
Whitfield County National East, Georgia
Whitfield County National West, Georgia
Indianola, Mississppi
Dalton Parks, Georgia
Bluffton, South Carolina
RETURNED
DeSoto County, Florida
Roanoke, Alabama
Boiling Springs Youth, South Carolina
Hull-Daisetta, Texas
Loretto, Tennessee
Purvis, Mississippi
Townville, South Carolina
Wedowee, Alabama
Johnston/Edgefield, South Carolina
Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
Calhoun Falls, South Carolina
Fayette American, Alabama
Montgomery Gray Blue, Alabama
Lamar, South Carolina
Cumby, Texas
Guntersville, Alabama
Webb, Alabama
Albemarle, North Carolina
Diboll, Texas
McBee, South Carolina
Alford, Florida
Wagener, South Carolina
Trinity, Texas
Jefferson Parish North Eastbank, Louisiana
Louisburg/Youngsville, North Carolina
Puckett, Mississippi
Bayou George, Florida
Monroe County, Georgia
Marion County, Georgia
Dickson County National, Tennessee
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
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STATE AND NATIONAL DIRECTORS ELECTED
David Mizell has been re-elected as Louisiana State Director. He will stand for re-election in 2012. He was the only person nominated.
David Mizell of Louisiana, Leland Gaston of Mississippi, Ron Hudson of North Carolina and Frank Perkins of Virginia were re-elected to serve three-year terms for their respective state as a Dixie Softball state director. Jim Williams of Tennessee was elected to serve a three-year term.
Mizell, Hudson, Williams and Perkins were the only nominee from their state. There was a second nomination in Mississippi but that person turned down the nomination stating his support for Gaston. All four will stand for re-election in 2012.
Wayne Bishop has been re-elected to a one-year term as a National Director from the state of Alabama. He will stand for re-election in 2010.
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COACHES IN ALABAMA COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND HIGH SCHOOLS HONORED BY DIXIE SOFTBALL
A number of college, university and high school coaches who played Dixie Softball were recently honored. An article pertaining to these Dixie Softball Hall of Famers can be found below in an article entitled "Proud to be Dixie".
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2009 AGE DIVISION CHART
WHATEVER AGE A GIRL IS ON DECEMBER 31 IS HER LEAGUE AGE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. EXAMPLE: A GIRL IS 10 YEARS OF AGE ON DECEMBER 31, 2008, HER LEAGUE AGE IS 10 for 2009. IF A GIRL TURNS 10 YEARS OF AGE ON JANUARY 1, 2009, HER LEAGUE AGE IS 9 for 2009.
Dixie Softball wishes to thank Dianne Oliver of the Dothan, AL Leisure Services for designing the below age chart. Remember, the age control date is December 31st which determines which age division a player will play in.
2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
JAN 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
FEB 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
MAR 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
APR 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
MAY 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
JUN 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
JUL 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
AUG 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
SEP 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
OCT 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
NOV 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
DEC 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
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2011 WORLD SERIES BIDS
The following leagues have placed intents to bid for the 2011 Dixie Softball World Series:
DARLINGS - Pineville, Louisiana
ANGELS - Alexandria, Louisiana & South Hill, Virginia
PONYTAILS - Pineville, Louisiana
BELLES - Alexandria, Louisiana & South Hill, Virginia
DEBS - Alexandria, Louisiana
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CURING KIDS' CANCER
For the past couple of years the logo for "Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer" has appeared on the cover of the Dixie Softball Rule Guide. Below is an article send to Dixie Softball by e-mail. It tells the story of "Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer". Over the years too many stories of Dixie Softball players being stricken with cancer have become known. If you or your program can, it would be very benefical to all if the "Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer" program be supported and hopefully one day there will no more stories of kids with cancer.
This article appeared on the website EAST COBBER.
CURING KIDS' CANCER
Being a mother has been the biggest blessing of my life. My husband, Clay, and I have four amazing and wonderful sons - Pierce who is 17, Garrett and Killian - the twins - were born 15 years ago, and Finnian who is 11 but he thinks he's 18! But even the most blessed life is tempered by hard times. And in our case, we faced the unthinkable - losing Killian to cancer on July 27, 2003, when he was only nine years old. The story begins in 1999. I was having a miserable year. I snapped my ACL playing tennis, and had to have surgery. Three weeks later, I was told that my mum, who was in England, had suddenly become very ill. I immediately traveled to England to be with her. After two agonizing weeks she passed away. I thought my world had fallen apart - but there was more to come. Six weeks after Mum died, Killian got sick with a fever and stomach ache that would not go away. The doctors finally ran a blood test, which came back with a devastating diagnosis: Killian had leukemia. He was just five years old and to all appearances was a normal happy and very healthy looking little boy with big green eyes and a head full of curly blonde hair. How could he have cancer? That happened in movies and on TV, not to our little boy! It was December 10, 1999 - Diagnosis Day. So we all embarked on a long journey of chemotherapy and its horrible side effects - the mouth sores, the hair loss, the nausea, the pain and weakness and the forced isolation in hospital rooms. But Killian never wanted to be treated like he was sick. His dream was to be a "normal healthy child." He insisted on playing sports throughout his treatment: baseball, basketball, swimming. In fact, he once participated in a swim meet after having a spinal tap - and got upset when he came in third! His spirit was unbreakable. After nearly three years of chemotherapy - with the end of treatment in sight - our world crashed in on us again. Killian relapsed. The leukemia was back. Now he was really fighting for his life, with his chance of survival dropping from 75 percent to 20 percent. His best chance was a bone marrow transplant. We were all tested for compatibility, but it was Killian's twin, Garrett, who was a perfect match! Bone marrow transplants are not the magic treatment shown on popular hospital TV series. They are simply brutal. After high-dose chemo, Killian had to undergo radiation to destroy his existing bone marrow - along with the leukemia cells in his body. The transplant itself is relatively simple - much like getting a blood transfusion. Then Killian's body had to go through the process of trying to accept the new marrow. He was placed in isolation again - this time for nine weeks while he struggled with nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and horrible pain. Killian's bravery and spirit hit me anew as I watched him fight to beat the disease. He exercised constantly - walking around and around the nurses' station, with medicine pole and monitors in tow. He was given the "Strong Legs Award' by his nurses for his efforts. It worked. We received the joyful news that Killian's bone marrow was now 100 percent engrafted with Garrett's cells - this was as good as it gets. But sometimes leukemia is tougher than even a nine-year-old boy. Ninety days post-transplant - just 10 days short of the point where the transplant is considered successful - a routine blood test showed the leukemia had returned. The following week, Killian's doctor told us we were out of options and that Killian had about two months to live. He said we should go make some memories while Killian was still well enough to enjoy himself. So we went to Disney World, telling Killian and his brothers that we were celebrating a successful bone marrow transplant. That was one of the hardest weeks of my life - pretending to be happy when my heart broke every time I looked at Killian. It felt as if my heart was tearing apart. But we weren't ready to give up. The day we got back from Disney World, I read an article about a new drug which was first developed here in Atlanta for chemo-resistant childhood leukemia. The drug, BL22, is a targeted treatment which attaches itself only to the cancer cells and destroys them. It does not destroy healthy cells - only cancer cells. I called our doctors immediately and asked if Killian could try the drug. They said he couldn't because it was not open to clinical trials for children. That didn't stop me. Miraculously, I managed to contact the doctor at the National Cancer Institute and we got special permission from the FDA to use the new drug just for Killian. Within a week, we were at the NCI in Bethesda, Md., where Killian became the first child in the world to try this new drug. The drug worked well enough to stop the leukemia cells from multiplying for a short time but because the drug was experimental the doctors were not allowed to give Killian a big enough dose to cure him. If the doctors had had the money to fund the development of this drug earlier, it could very well have saved his life. But this miracle was not meant for Killian so we took him home. Over the next few weeks Killian deteriorated rapidly, needing blood and platelet transfusions every other day. He developed a fungal infection in his lungs which the doctors said would kill him in about three days. Killian's spirit kept him alive for his little brother's 6th birthday three weeks later. The day after Finn's birthday Killian told us three times that he was ready to go now. When I told him that was okay but asked where he was going, he smiled and said, "I'm going home.' He was very peaceful and at 10pm on Sunday July 27, 2003, Killian left us. Killian's death hit us all hard, but I struggled most with depression and anger. About a year later, I was ta |
