Talent on show at Riddle-Pace
Published 10:03 pm Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Nathan Barron, Chase Connell, Justin McLaughlin, Mitch McLeod and Will Starling have at least one more weekend of baseball to play this summer.
The five Troy area players have been spread across the Wiregrass this summer, but they will all come together at Riddle-Pace Field on the campus of Troy University for the 2009 Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Underclassmen All-Star Weekend July 3-5.
Charles Henderson baseball head coach Derek Irons said it is good to be well represented at the event.
“This is one of the best things going in the state as far as underclassmen playing in front of a bunch of college coaches,” Irons said. “I am sure our three athletes will represent Charles Henderson well.”
Barron, Connell and McLeod will be seniors next year for the Trojans.
McLaughlin and Starling will be seniors across the way for the Pike Liberal Patriots. PLAS Butch Austin said it is great to have players in the all-star games.
“Both of those guys are great players,” Austin said. “This will be good for them and it will be good for our program. I hope they do well and I am glad they are there.”
Barron, Connell and McLaughlin will play on the Kelly Green (Team 3) team for the weekend, McLeod is a part of the Gold team (Team 1) and Starling is on the Cardinal team (Team 2).
There will be four south teams and four north teams that will face each other Friday through Sunday.
The all-stars will check into the dorms at Shackelford Hall today and there will be a banquet for the players, coaches and parents tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m.
All the players will go through seminars following the banquet and the first game begins at 10:15 a.m. Friday after all teams take batting practice.
Team 1 will square off with Team 5 at 10:15 a.m. Friday, Team 2 takes on Team 6 at 1 p.m., Team 3 plays Team 7 at 6:15 p.m. and Team 4 faces Team 8 at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, Team 2 will play Team 7 at 9:15 a.m., Team 1 will play Team 8 at 12:15 p.m., Team 3 will face off with Team 6 at 3:15 p.m. and Team 4 will face Team 5 at 6:15 p.m.
On the final day of the weekend Team 3 squares off with Team 8 at 8:30 a.m., Team 4 plays Team 7 at 11 a.m., Team 1 plays Team 6 at 2 p.m. and Team 2 ends the day against Team 5 at 4:30 p.m.
Irons said the location of the festivities is only possible because of what Troy can offer the association.
“We are fortunate to have great facilities at the university and with that great events can be hosted here in Troy,” Irons said. “This should be a great weekend of baseball.”