Unfinished business

Staff

Published Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Photo by Matt Nascone

The Troy Parks and Recreation Department 11U tournament team will participate in the Alabama Parks and Recreation district tournament this weekend in Eufaula. The 11U team members include, not in order, William Adler, Baylor Barnes, Ian Busby, Jason Fleming, Reilly Fox, Wright Graning, Chase Hartley, Jaron Knox, Cole LaBrant, Jack LaBrant, Meredith Motes, Benjamin Salmon, Kiegan Simmons and Andrew Wilson. Coaches include, head coach Ken LaBrant and assistants Mark Salmon and Jay Wilson.

The Troy Parks and Recreation Department 11U tournament team begins their quest to finish what they started last year this Saturday.

The 11U all-stars will head to Eufaula and the Alabama Recreation & Parks Association district tournament. The Trojans drew a bye and will begin their quest for a state title at noon Saturday.

Head coach Ken LaBrant said he would make sure the team is not focused ahead of the district tournament.

“We have a good group of kids here,” LaBrant said. “We have nine from the team last year that lost in the state title game. We motivate them all the time by telling them we have unfinished business, but we can’t look ahead. We have to go to district and win that first game then we will focus on the next game.”

The 11U squad last year breezed past the competition at districts, won two games at the state tournament and lost to host Dothan, 1-0.

“We were proud of how they played last year,” LaBrant said.

But Baylor Barnes wants to bring home the title this year.

“We are ready for districts and I know we have a good team this year,” Barnes said. “We would love to go through districts and head to state. I know all these guys and we go to school together and it is great playing on tournament team with all my friends.”

Teammate Cole LaBrant is also excited about opening tournament play this weekend.

“I am looking forward to taking one game at a time, working our way through district and getting back to state,” Cole LaBrant said.

Ken LaBrant is looking forward to having experience out on the field this year.

“We had a young team last year, but we have the opposite of that this year and 13 of our 14 players have been on a tournament team before,” LaBrant said. “We look good in practice and this team has excellent potential.”

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