“Life is a journey, not a destination” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The quote by the famous American author and poet is a perfect description of what the twelve young ladies and coaches who represented Jackson Parish in the Little League District 5 10U All Star tournament, along with their families, will remember about their experience for the rest of their lives.
The record will show that the locals split four games in the tourney held at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex this past weekend. While their final “destination”, which was a fourth place finish, wasn’t what they had hoped for, as time goes by it will be the “journey” of practicing and playing together over the few weeks leading up to the tourney and three days of competition that they will carry fondly in their memory. Which is the way it should be.
“We are sad it’s over, but we had so much fun,” quoted Gabbie Gray’s mother, Kristen, in a Facebook post.
Emily Toms, who was an assistant coach on the team, echoed the sentiments.
“I am going to miss seeing the girls. It was a fun few weeks.”
Jackson Parish 14 Bossier 10: The journey through the elimination bracket after winning the first game of the tourney and dropping the second began successfully with the victory over Bossier. Four runs in the fourth inning and five more in the fifth by Jackson Parish proved to be the difference in the slugfest that saw Bossier hold a 7-5 lead after three innings of play.
It was the ultimate team effort that paved the way as all nine batters reached base and eight scored runs. Rachel Bandy, the daughter of head coach William, led the offensive onslaught by reaching base in all four at bats and scoring four runs while also limiting Bossier to just three runs over the final three innings on the mound. Tessa Reeves also came up big by scoring three runs and getting on base three times as did Gabby Gray, who also scored twice. Teegan Hall (2RS), Landry Horsfall (RS), Emma Kate Toms (RS) and Kyleigh Ann Barnes all reached twice assisted by Jennalee Hall (RS) and Hallay Taylor who reached once.
Shreveport 13 Jackson Parish 1: It was de-ja-vu all over again as the locals struggled to score in game two after a first game explosions that led to the second day of competition ending like the first. Hallay Taylor was one of only three batters to reach base and scored the only run for Jackson Parish. Tessa Reeves and Gabby Gray, who reached base twice, were other two as both reached base in the first inning but was left stranded. With the loss the 10u All-Stars bowed out of the tournament with a 2-2 record and a fourth place finish.
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