By By Adam Robinson – Sports Editor
It probably was not the most ideal way to claim the district championship, but they won it.
After losing to Monroe County in their second game of the district tournament in Evergreen, the 13-year-old Brewton Babe Ruth All-Stars had to fight their way out of the losers bracket and beat Monroeville twice to claim the championship. That win earned them the right to play at the state tournament beginning Saturday in Andalusia.
While dropping into the losers bracket, Maddox hopes that facing that elimination will help his team at the state level.
“The kids learned so much about it and they knew that those games are the kind we are going to see at state,” Maddox said. “We don't know what the teams at state are like, but its going to be scrappy and disciplined hitting and decent pitching ball teams like we saw in the Monroe County team and that should be good preparation at what we are going to see over there we think.”
After taking the district championship, Maddox gave his team a week off before coming back to the practice fields in preparation for state.
Last year as 12-year-olds in Little League, Maddox's Brewton Little League team won their district and advanced to the state tournament.
“As far as what it feels like to go to state, it sort of feels like redemption,” Maddox said. “To be playing baseball on a bigger field, I think the 13-year-olds have come along way.
While Maddox's Brewton Little League team advanced to state last year, Babe Ruth Brewton and East Brewton players combined to form the league.
Hunter Mullins is just one of a handful of East Brewton players on the 13-year-old roster who have never been to a state level tournament before.
“The East Brewton kids are a great help to us and have added a great depth to our lineup. They are just a solid ball team,” Maddox said. “We are just deep all the way down. We have speed when we need speed and have big bats when we need big bats and I have seen some of the best bunting that I have ever seen.”
Asked whether he and his team are just satisfied with making the tournament, Maddox said that they used to think it was just a privilege to make it to the state tournament, but this year is different.
Brewton will begin play Saturday at 1 p.m. against the District 12 team at the Straughn High School Field.
On Sunday, Brewton will have two games with both being played at the Straughn field.
Brewton will play District 11 at 1 p.m. and Opp at 4 p.m.
On Monday, Brewton will play District 9 at 1 p.m. at the LBW Community College field.