Local teams open play in state Little League tournaments

State Little League baseball and softball tournaments get underway Saturday in a number of age groups, including one in Columbus.

The 10-11 baseball tournament begins at 11 a.m. at Sally Little League, which is at Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center on Steam Mill Road.

The Northern All-Stars, which will represent District 8, play Cartersville in the opening round.

“It is great playing in our city — no travel expenses, sleeping in our own beds,” Northern manager Skip Thompson said. “and I think it will give more people the opportunity to come out and see us — friends, family, etc.”

This is Thompson’s fourth year coaching an all-star team.

“We have progressed every year we have played, winning the district last year and again this year,” Thompson said. “We are hoping to go further in the state tournament this year.”

Thomspon has six players on this year’s team that have been with him each year. They are Cole Thompson, Dylan Presley, Ryan Grantham, Keaton Ernest , Ryan Van Dinter and Joey Walter.

The other state tournaments starting Saturday include the 9-10 softball (Pioneer is the local representative) and the senior softball (Northern) at Bartow County Little League, the senior baseball (Harris County) at Oconee County and 9-10 baseball (Northern) at East Marietta.

The 11-12 softball (Pioneer) will start July 16 at Bartow County. Starting on July 23 will be the 11-12 baseball (Northern) at Peachtree City and the junior baseball (Northern) at Warner Robins American.

The Northern 10-11 players are Joey Walter, Jacob Starling, Clayton Faggard , Ryan Van Dinter , Colton Masse, Bradford Bush, Dylan Presley, Ryan Grantham, Keaton Ernest, Cole Hammock, Mason Schoonover, Andrew Wells and Cole Thompson.

The manager is Skip Thompson, and the coaches are Donnie Coulter and Wayne Presley.

The Northern 11-12 players are Tripp Duncan, Trey Sanders, Connor Trepanier, Justin Veloz, Tucker Kite, Josh Davis, Dell Davis, Avery Robinson, William Nobles, William Bryant, Charlie Forbes, Ashton Shackelford, Jackson Hilton.

The manager is Randy Morris, and the coaches are Jason Hilton and Tim Davis.

The Northern senior softball players are Cameryn Lovett, Maggie Mock, Kalie Swainer, Alexus McKay, Alexis Sibold, Zoe Paul, Alexis Day, Haley Johnson, Emily Davis, Olivia Hinton and Savannah Sibold.

The manager is Gil Slouchick, and the coaches are Bon Hinton and Roy Sibold.

The Northern 9-10 players are Walker Hilton, Davis Whitaker, Carson Ward, Jackson Boatner, Cole McLemore, Brett Cassan, Austin Blackwell, Ethan Moss, Akhil Gutta, Brantley French, Walker Elrod, Deuce Malone and Brooks Lawson.

The manager is Jason Moss, and the coaches are Matt McLemore and Jason Elrod.

The Norther junior baseball players are Aiken Taylor, Bradley Jackson, Judson Parker, Hayden Ernest, Will Clickner, Frank Davis, Ben Garcia, Joey Bialoncik, Will Boatner, Ashwin Mahadevan and Hunt Haralson.

The manager is Brad Taylor, and the coaches are Jeff Boatner and Earnie Davis.

The Pioneer 11-12 softball players are Aliya Wallace, Emma Austin, Laney Whiteaker, Channing Perry, Bella Padilla, Macayla Stubbs, Payton White, Jolee Tyson, Michelle Stanford, Madison Cosgrove, Britney Page, Ashley Archibald and Aisha Berntsson.

The manager is Johnny Valero, and the coaches are Thomas Stubbs, Bart Childers and Matt Wallace.

The Pioneer 9-10 softball players are Savanna Bedell, Autumn Bedsole, Vivian Brady, Trinity Certain, Aaliyah Chambers, Kelsie Cross, Morgan Curenton, McKenzie Hale, Kaci Horton, Madisyn McCool, Addisyn Washam and Gracie Watson.

The manager is Sydney Bedell, and the coaches are David Shaul and Clint Bedsole.

The Harris County senior baseball players are Jordan Griffin, John Moxley, Matt Moore, Jason Whearley, Zach Hill, Brandon Willoughby, James Moore, Brandon King, Peyton Irions, Andrew Fryerson, Chad Cain, Bryson Scarbrough, Timmy Brooks, JT Hill and Peyton Richardson.

The manager is Brad Hill, and the coaches are Henry Moore and Sean Guerrero.

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Local teams open play in state Little League tournaments."