As you walk towards the playing fields at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex from the east parking lot, you pass by a multitude of banners hanging on both sides of the entranceway that feature all the young boys and girls from Jackson Parish who have won state championships in Little League and Dixie Youth competition.
Beginning on Thursday, July 9th, the “Fab Five” of local All-Star teams begin the task of attempting to hang a state championship banner of their own as they all hit the road to south Louisiana.
Three Jackson Parish All-Star teams will trek to St. Julian Park in Broussard, LA, which is the host of the 8U, 10U and 12U Little League State Softball tournaments. The boys 8U and 10U All-Star teams will travel to Metairie, LA for qualifying play to earn the right to compete in the Dixie Youth State Tournament for each division.
Here’s a breakdown of what is ahead for each team.
8U State Softball Tournament
Coaches: Matt Otwell (Head), Jamie Otwell, Magen Taylor, Jacob Otwell
Players: Mercedes Taylor, Parker Kate Long, Caylee Mauthe, Matilyn Otwell, Kaylee Hammons, Gracelynn Greer, Ava Kohler, Londyn Tilley, Brenliegh Whitman, Mary-Kathryn Malone, Raegan Hall, Rey Wiggins, Natalie Futrell
Teams Competing: Jackson Parish, Avoyelles American, SPAR, Vidalia, Lake Charles, DeSoto Parish
Tournament Info: Six teams will compete in a modified double-elimination “coach pitch” tournament. As one of the district champions with the best record, Jackson Parish received a first-round bye and will play the winner of District 6 Runner-Up, Shreveport Parks and Recreation (SPAR) and District 3 Runner-Up, Vidalia in the second round on Saturday, July 12th.
10U Softball State Tournament
Coaches: Kyle Allen (head), James Conn, Dustin Siddon
Players: Aubrie Allen, Kylee-Ayn Allen, Marlee Bates, Cadie Conn, Delilah Hudson, Autumn Kohler, Charley Linton, Ryleigh Puffer, Miriam Shuler, Ella Siddon, Natalie Sullivan, Landrie Watson
Teams Competing: Jackson Parish, Vidalia, Moss Bluff, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Bossier
Tournament Info: Six teams will compete in a modified double-elimination tournament. As one of the district champions with the best record, Jackson Parish received a first-round bye and will play the winner of District 6 Runner-Up, Moss Bluff, and District 3 Runner-Up, Lafayette, in the second round on field 6 at 8:00 am on Saturday, July 12th.
12U State Softball Tournament
Coaches: Corey Aldy (Head), Patrick Staggs, Tamila Kieffer
Players: Hannah Aldy, Emma Gray, Brylee Ingles, Brooklyn Keiffer, Kate Keiffer, Charlee Mauthe, Ryleigh McCormick, Charleigh Newton, Elliott Savage, Amelia Staggs, Lizzie Sullivan, Jessie Walker
Teams Competing: Jackson Parish, Sterlington, SPAR, Eastbank, Avoyelles American, Lake Charles, Vidalia
Tournament Info: Seven teams will compete in a modified double-elimination tournament. As the runner-up team in the District 5 tournament, Jackson Parish will play District 3C champion Vidalia in a first-round game at 6:00 pm on Friday, July 11, on field 4 of St. Julien Park
8U Boys “Coach Pitch” State Tournament
Coaches: Nick Sampey (head), Darion Hudson, Jacob Norred, Raimey Hall
Players: Kaden Blewer, Matthew Buchan, Uriah Hall, Davis Hudson, Rafe Lewter, Kase Mathews, Pistol McCurdy, Levi Norred, Rowan Sampey, Anderson Smiley, Emmett Thomas
Tournament Location: Jefferson Parish Park, Metairie, LA
Teams Competing: Jackson Parish, Lakeshore, Minden, Oakdale
Tournament Info: Four teams will compete in Pool D, one of six “pools” playing on July 10-11 in a round robin competition. The six pool champions and two runner-up teams, one from Pools A, B, C, and the other from Pools D, E, F, who had the best scoring differential, earn the right to compete in the 8U State Tournament Bracket that will be played July 12-13.
Jackson Parish Pool Play Games:
Thursday, July 10: Jackson Parish vs Oakdale (Field 4 @ 5:15 pm)
Friday, July 11: Jackson Parihs vs Lakeshore (Field 3 @ 10:15 am)
Friday, July 11: Jackson Parish vs Minden (Field 3 @ 2:15 pm
10U Baseball Regional Tournament
Coaches: Dusty Nomey (Head), Railey Garrett, Lance Seymore
Players: Clay Burton, Ashton Cooper, Landry Garrett, Maddox Graham, Ryder Gray, Nash Moak, Cruz Nomey, Andrew Seymore, Sutton Vail, Grant Williams, Hunter Williams
Tournament Location: Jefferson Parish Recreation Department Park, Metairie, LA
Teams Competing: Jackson Parish, Rayville, Morgan City, Lakeshore, Winnsboro American, Franklinton, Minden, Ville Platte, Gonzales, Pontiff (New Orleans)
Tournament Info: Ten teams compete in the South Regional in a modified double elimination tournament for the right to compete in the Dixie Youth 10U State Baseball All-Star Tournament that will be played July 18-19.
Jackson Parish First Game: JP10U will play Franklinton on Thursday, July 10th at 5:00 pm on field 1 of the Jefferson Parish Parks Department Sports Complex.
