Brewton 12U All-Stars will play in state tournament

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, June 20, 2018

The Brewton 12U All-Stars were the champions of the District 8 tournament at the R.T. Johnson Park in East Brewton. They look to take it all as they prepare for the state tournament June 28.

Team members for the Brewton all-stars are John Moore, Jim Daugherty, Jax Fillmore, Jackson Sullivan, Nathan Commander, John Wesley Sessions, Gavyn Tieppo, Micah Trippe, Thomas Loweryles, Brodie Athony, Sam Kelley and Tyler Hoomes. The head coach is Jason Tieppo and the assistant coaches are Wes Sessions and Thad Moore Jr.

For this team being named the champions is huge. This group of guys has been together in 8U, 10U and now 12U except for the addition of two players, Tieppo said.

The Brewton all-stars ended a year after year drought of losing to Opp all-stars. Tieppo was just a parent the first year this group of guys played Opp and they lost to Opp 16-15. Brewton all-stars came back that next year and once again took on Opp with Tieppo as the assistant coach but fell to Opp again that year.

“I was tired of losing to Opp, I wanted to beat them so we formed a travel ball team called the Lower Alabama Vipers. Travel ball is a way to us prepared and ready for tough teams,” Tieppo said. They started two days a week in November, took breaks during the holidays. We planned to get better working to being district champs and as everyone can see it worked to our benefit.”

Tieppo coached his first team around the 10-year level and has been head coach for two years with six years as an assistant coach. He also assisted with the all-star team twice.

“I’m proud of our team because they came together as a team, brought great team effort and that’s what win championships,” Tieppo said.