The Junior Dixie Boys Future Stars Event featured top 13-year-old Dixie Boys Baseball participants.

The tournament was held the weekend of June 12-14 in Dothan.

After two days of round robin format play three teams ended the tournament with 2-1 records.

Because of a pre-announced tiebreaker system the East team was slated to play the North team in the tournament finals. High winds and a heavy rain caused the cancellation of the final game.

Players began arriving Friday afternoon for check-in. JP Sports, Inc. of Montgomery donated all of the uniform tops for the tournament.

Each team was given practice time and many players met teammates for the first time. Following the practice session all players were treated to a meal and social time courtesy of Dothan Leisure Services.

Prior to the actual tournament competition, a Homerun Derby was held on Friday evening.

Chandler Avant, of Troy, topped Michael Ray of Bushnell, Fla. to win the event. Sixteen contestants entered the event and the field was cut in half each round until Avant matched up against Ray in the final round.

An Opening Ceremony was held on Saturday morning, prior to the first set of tournament games.

All of the participating tournament teams lined the playing field for the ceremony. Bill Lisenby served as Master of Ceremonies and recognized the local dignitaries that were on hand from Dothan.

Local talent Calen Santos entertained the crowd with his singing of the National Anthem. Mayor Pat Thomas officially welcomed everyone to the City of Dothan. Ben Merideth, a participant in the Dothan Miracle League hit the first ball to officially start the tournament competition.

J. Sandy Jones, Commissioner/CEO Dixie Boys Baseball was pleased with the event.

“We enjoyed a great weekend of baseball in Dothan, Alabama,” he said. “The City of Dothan Department of Leisure Services was willing to add the Junior Dixie Boys division for 2009.

“The decision to add the 13-year-old age group gave an additional 50 outstanding young players an opportunity to participate. Working with the City of Dothan is always a real pleasure and I have the greatest degree of respect for the entire Dothan staff. They worked extremely hard to insure that the participants and spectators enjoyed the event.”

Dixie Boys Baseball, Inc. was founded in 1957 in Alexandria, La.

The charter members of the organization formed the program to attract the 13- and 14-year-old participants.

Dixie Boys Baseball is played on a medium sized field that allows the participant the opportunity to play on a baseball diamond that is suited for the age of the participant.

More than 35,000 players participated in a Dixie Boys Baseball program in 2009.

For more information about the program visit the Web site at www.baseball.dixie.org.