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
