Softball tourney sees heated battles

Published 5:18 pm Friday, July 6, 2012

Gabby Patterson watches a ball at the plate during Friday's tournament action.

With crowds of supporters  turning out for the first days of the State Babe Ruth Softball Tournament hosted at the Brewton Area YMCA Sports Park, action was heated and fast-paced.
Thursday action started the day off for the 21 teams participating in the event that will crown a champion in five age groups Sunday afternoon.
Dwight Mikel, Alabama Babe Ruth Softball Commissioner, said the games had been well attended by fans for participating teams.
“Thursday was a great day with great crowds for the teams,” Mikel said. “The weather held off with no rain, but it was certainly a hot day. This is a great facility and the tournament is going well.”
Mikel, who also serves as the assistant southeast region softball commissioner, said action in the 14 and under and 16 and under competition would be calculated differently than other games.
“We have slim numbers in the 14 and 16 age groups so we are playing both groups in matches,” Mikel said. “When it comes time to determine the finals, we will only compare games between 14-year-olds and games between 16-year-olds.”
Will Ruzic, assistant tournament director, said the support from fans has been wonderful so far in the tournament action.
“We have had good crowd support despite the temperatures and threat of rain,” Ruzic said Friday. “We have had wonderful participation and everyone has been cooperative when we’ve had to make changes for the betterment of the tournament.”
Tournament action will continue Saturday with games beginning at 10 a.m. and will conclude with championship games set to begin at noon on Sunday.
Thursday results:
8 and under:
Andalusia – 17, Brewton – 6
Atmore – 0, Covington County – 10
Brewton – 10, Atmore – 0
10 and under:
East Brewton/Flomaton – 14, Brewton – 24
Atmore – 1, Andalusia – 26
Covington County – 13,
East Brewton/Flomaton – 3
Brewton – 23, Atmore – 13
Andalusia – 9, Covington Cty. – 22
12 and Under:
Evergreen – 6, Flomaton – 11
Andalusia – 1, Brewton – 26
Covington County – 19, Atmore – 9
14 and Under and
16 and Under:
NW Escambia 16s – 18,
Atmore 14s – 3
Brewton 16s – 13, Atmore 16s – 3
NW Escambia 16s – 3,
Covington County 14s – 18
Atmore 14s – 4, Brewton 16s – 16
Friday results:
8 and under:
Andalusia – 12, Atmore – 0
10 and under:
East Brewton/Flomaton – 20,
Atmore – 2
Brewton – 12, Andalusia – 22
Friday games were not complete as of press time. No scores were available for the Alex City vs. Atmore; Andalusia vs. Covington County; Brewton vs. Alex City in the 8 and under division; Covington Couty vs. Atmore; Andalusia vs. East Brewton/Flomaton; and Brewton vs. Covington County in the 10 under division; no teams in the 12 and under division; and games in the 14 and under and 16 and under divisions.
For scores and details see Wednesday’s edition of The Brewton Standard.