2023-2024 Sports Schedules (Links below updated)
Shelby County Texas High School Football Facilities on August 3, 2023 –
This week local high school football teams began spring training for the coming 2023 varsity and sub-varsity Texas UIL Football season. Center, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Tenaha, and Timpson were each spotted participating in non-contact practices which began on July 31st. Contact practices begin on August 5th.
Teams will begin scrimmaging other opponents no sooner than August 10th. All five local teams will kick off their regular season varsity games on August 25th, with the exception of the #2 ranked Timpson Bears, who will begin on Thursday, August 24th.
July 28, 2023 - The Shelby County C.A.V.E. AAU (Athletic Amateur Union) program is an upstart based out of Center, TX. Housed out of the newly developed Shelby County Family Life Center, we are Caring About the Vision and Expansion (C.A.V.E.) of our local youth. We currently operate with five teams (three boys and two girls) ranging from ages 12-16. Our reach is wide as we have players representing the following towns: Center, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Tenaha, Timpson, San Augustine, Broaddus, Logansport, and Stanley. These student-athletes and their families have been working hard and we are excited about our first season thus far and the future of our program.
Shelby County C.A.V.E. is on the map thanks to these teams!! What a first year it has been. From our first tournament in Longview to July 8-11,2023 conclusion in Orlando, Florida, our East Texas/West Louisiana towns have been recognized through our youth. We have received many compliments about our play, competitiveness, and most importantly our demeanor/character. Thank you to our players, parents/guardians, grandparents, great grandparents, sponsors, and community for giving us a chance and making this first year a hit. These young people will leave a positive mark on their schools and teams in academics, extracurriculars, and athletics.
A small recap of our program this year. Our teams participated in approximately eight tournaments. We were so blessed to travel with such great kids, with so much talent!! We traveled to Longview, Tyler, Sulphur Springs, Arlington, Ruston, LA, Orlando, FL and Keller/Ft Worth. We were expecting to field two teams, but the interest from the community led us to having five teams (16U Boys (2), 16U Girls, 14U Boys, and 14U Girls) when it was all said and done. Each team finished in the top 3 of at least one tournament this season. Teams finished 1st in four tournaments, 2nd in seven tournaments, and 3rd in four tournaments.
What these young men and women did on the court is secondary to the conversations and lessons we get to have with them about constantly trying to be better people.
14U Boys
14U Girls
16U Girls
16U Boys
16U Boys
16U Boys teams had a season record of 21-3, winning the GASO in Keller, Primetime Sports in Ruston, LA, and Game Changer in Tyler tournaments. Just some young kids from a small town in East Texas doing what they love. Had faith to focus on the WIN and not the WIND! Down 6 with 1:30 to go, they kept fighting. Beat an elite 15U program out of DFW, a 5A team from Montgomery, a 5A playoff team from Granbury, and a sharpshooting team from Oklahoma. They are GASO CHAMPIONS.
During our last tournament in Keller, Texas we were invited to bring one team. On the day of the championship instead of sleeping in, they all agreed to go to church before the game. What a word Bro. McCoy spoke to us all. When we walked in, he said, “This is a God thing”. Having faith in God will get us through our bad times. The Word manifested itself a couple of hours later. Like he said, “you young men will never forget this day.” Neither will I #Family Shelby County CAVE.
We thank GOD for our awesome season! We are also very thankful for the support system and group of chaperones and parents that supported us! A very special thank you to our parents for entrusting your children with us and thank you for all of the hard work and dedication.
We would like to thank everyone that donated during our fundraisers. Thank you to our sponsors who took a chance on a new organization: Shelby Savings Bank, State Farm - Sandy Wheeler Cox, Farmers Insurance - John Burns, Blake Furniture, Stan Cloudy, and Pastor Daryl McCoy. Thank you to our sponsors that wanted to remain anonymous.
Thank you, Abundant Love Ministries, for your support. Thank you Pastor Marlin Cloudy and First Lady Felicia Cloudy for your support and everything that you do.
Thank you to our Administration Team Marlin Cloudy, Jr., Feleshia Thompson, Alex Cloudy, April Calhoun and Michael Cloudy, Jr.. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.
For more information on this program, how to contribute to the future of our youth, or volunteer to be a coach or sponsor, contact Marlin Cloudy, Jr. at 936-332-3378 or Feleshia Thompson at 936-590-1834 shelbycountycave@gmail.com.
Center Lions Baseball and Softball Fields on Sunday, July 23, 2023 –
The 2023 Dixie Youth Regional World Series baseball kicked off tournament action with opening ceremonies on Wednesday and tournament games have continued throughout This week. Fifty teams have been competing in tournaments in Center from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia. There have been over 800 players and coaches along with their families in the city for the activities.
The divisions have narrowed down to the final championship teams in T-ball, 6U Coach Pitch, 7U Coach Pitch, 9U and 11U. Center had a team begin tournament action in each division. One local team, the 11U local Shelby County team, still remains at the start of today, Sunday. Teams began being eliminated yesterday and more will fall today.
Each team has been guaranteed to play 5 games during the 5-day event which will soon wrap up tournament play.
Center Lions Baseball and Softball Fields on Thursday, July 20, 2023 –
The 2023 Dixie Youth Regional World Series baseball kicked off tournament action on Thursday with tournament games beginning in the early morning throughout the late evening. Friday saw the teams brave high temperatures and humidity as well throughout the day. Competition is continueing on Saturday.There are 50 teams now competing in tournaments in Center from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia. There are over 800 players and coaches along with their families in the city for the activities. The divisions being hosted in Center are T-ball, 6U Coach Pitch, 7U Coach Pitch, 9U and 11U. Center has a team in each division. Games are underway once again today. Each team is guaranteed to play 5 games during the 5-day event which will wrap up tournament play on Sunday.
Center Lions Baseball and Softball Fields on Friday, July 21, 2023 –
The 2023 Dixie Youth Regional World Series baseball kicked off tournament action yesterday with tournament games beginning in the early morning throughout the late evening. There are 50 teams now competing in tournaments in Center from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia. There are over 800 players and coaches along with their families in the city for the activities. The divisions being hosted in Center are T-ball, 6U Coach Pitch, 7U Coach Pitch, 9U and 11U. Center has a team in each division. Games are underway once again this morning. Each team is guaranteed to play 5 games during the 5-day event which will wrap up tournament play on Sunday.
Center Lions Baseball and Softball Fields on Thursday, July 20, 2023 –
The 2023 Dixie Youth Regional World Series kicked off yesterday with festivities and a massive opening ceremony in Center High School’s Roughriders Stadium. An estimated crowd of over 5000 attendants filled the seats. There are 50 teams now beginning tournaments in Center from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia. There are over 800 players and coaches along with their families in the city for the activities. The divisions being hosted in Center are T-ball, 6U Coach Pitch, 7U Coach Pitch, 9U and 11U. Center has a host team in each division. Games began this morning. Each team is guaranteed to play 5 games during the 5-day event which will end tournament play on Sunday.
(Photo Album 1) (Photo Album 2) (Photo Album 3) (Photo Album 4)
The 2023 Dixie Youth Regional World Series kicked off festivities with a massive opening ceremony in Center High School’s Roughriders Stadium. An estimated crowd of over 5000 attendants filled the seats. There are 50 teams in Center from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia. There will be over 800 players and coaches along with their families coming into the city. The divisions being hosted in Center are T-ball, 6U Coach Pitch, 7U Coach Pitch, 9U and 11U. Center has a host team in each division. And games will begin Thursday morning, July 20, 2023. Each team is guaranteed to play 5 games during the 5-day event which will end tournament play on Sunday.
Amateur Athlete Union International Basketball Tournament on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at Keller, Texas -
Coach Marlin Cloudy Jr. has updated Shelby County Today that Shelby County’s AAU Boys High School Basketball team boasted a perfect 5-0 win/loss record at the Amateur Athlete Union International Basketball Tournament at Keller, Texas. Sunday saw them take the championship game with a late bucket by DJ Barnes which gave them the 51-50 win after they had been down by 6 points late.
The local AAU basketball group has been busy this summer. They have teams for boy’s high school, and middle school. Girl’s high school, junior girls. The girl’s high school team included some 8th graders.
The teams had just returned from Orlando Florida last week before heading to the Keller, Texas tournament. The high school boys team was 4-0 at Orlando before falling by just 7 points to Florida. They finished as the tournament's runner-up.
Cloudy stated, “The AAU International Organization is a mentoring group for afterschool activities and we provide scholarship opportunities for our youth. We take pride that our youth represented us well.”
July 12, 2023 - (Photos courtesy Tasha Jones) - The Shelbyville 12-and-under Dixie Baseball team has made it to the World Series! Not only will the team now have the opportunity to compete in Ruston, Louisiana on July 27 - August 1 for the Dixie World Series, they did it by defeating every team they ran into through District, Regional and on the State level.
“They have played some good baseball this summer,” said Tasha Jones, assistant coach. “They have not lost a game.”
The team is one of only three teams to advance to the World Series out of Shelbyville Youth Sports, and they’re one of two teams to go undefeated through District, Regionals and State, also out of Shelbyville Youth Sports.
Jones commented there have been games where it almost looked like they weren’t going to make it, but the team would instead battle back through and come out back on top.
The team has been regularly conditioned and is well acclimated to the heat as they practice at least three times a week on top of their regular game schedule, preparing them for the continued onslaught of slummer heat they will likely face in Ruston.
Up until recently the team’s head coach was John Harbison; however, before the first game of regionals Harbison had a health complication that forced him to step down as manager of the team.
The coaching staff includes Matt Williams, Head Coach; Shea Williams, Assistant Coach; Tasha Jones, Assistant Coach; and John Harbison, Honorary Coach.
A fundraiser was planned to help get this team on the road, but it doesn’t appear that’s going to be as necessary as originally expected.
Jones commented on the generous support the team has received, “The community has really stepped up and most of our businesses have all reached out and said, ‘we want to help sponsor y’all, what can we do to help y’all get there?’”
All of the contributed funds help the players families pay the exceptional financial cost to make it to Ruston, pay for uniforms, hotel accommodations, and meals, amongst other things.
The Dragons competed in seven games at state competition and the lineup of games resulted in Shelbyville vs. Troup, 6-4; Shelbyville vs. Frankston, 10-6; Shelbyville vs. Tri-Cities, 6-0; Shelbyville vs. Troup, 11-1; Shelbyville vs. Tri-Cities, 8-0; Shelbyville vs. Dekalb, 6-5; and Shelbyville vs. Dekalb, 16-8.
See the 2023 DVB Division II “O”Zone World Series Bracket below:
Click above to view bracket
The team roster is as follows:
Positions played
#00 Tate Obregon - pitcher, 3rd base
#9 Easton Jones - pitcher, 2nd, short stop, 3rd, 1st, center field
#16 Braylon Williams - pitcher, 2nd, short stop
#27 Daylon Smith - pitcher, 1st, catcher
#23 Gavin McDonald - pitcher, short stop, catcher
#7 Cole Riggs - center field, right field
#6 Brennan Kilpatrick - pitcher, right field, center field
#4 Dallas Parker - left field, right field
#3 Levi Greer - left field, right field
#24 Bradlee Ivey - right field, left field
#99 Chase Harbison - catcher (primary)
Coaches: Manager Matt Williams
Assistant Coach: Shea Williams
Assistant Coach: Tasha Jones
Honorary Coach: John Harbison
July 11, 2023 - Ranger Youth Softball held their annual State tournament in Mt. Pleasant, TX this past weekend. Shelby County’s 15U All-Star team battled hard and came up with a 4th place finish against some fierce Texas state-level competition including teams from Anahuac, Huffman, Franklin County, Jefferson, Daingerfield, Coldspring, Bonham, and Palestine.
With excellent pitching, hitting and some ESPN Highlight-worthy plays, the 100+ degree temps and multiple rain delays didn’t stop these young ladies in a tournament that began Friday evening and concluded in the wee hours Sunday night.
Shelby County was well represented by players:
The team is coached by head coach Christie Stringer and assistant coaches Brandon Bennett and Dustin Bennett.
Their coaches and parents are extremely proud of their sportsmanship and grit. The future is definitely bright for these young ladies!
