Christiansburg welcomes Dixie Jr. World Series
The New River All-Stars. Front row from left: Hunter Perkins, Luke Durham, Logan Shepherd, Alex Hylton, Nick Meadows, Nick Carroll, Zach Comer, Aaric Huff. Back row from left: Manager Tom Meadows, John Tuck, Trenton Harding, Coach David Harding, Ryan Matney, Alex Perkins, Coach Mike Tuck. Photo courtesy of Christiansburg Recreation Center
While many of their classmates have spent the last weeks of summer vacation enjoying sand between their toes, the 12 members of the New River All-Star baseball team have been hard at work and enjoying dirt in their cleats.
Team manager Tom Meadows said the group of 13-year-old players from Christiansburg and Riner had been allowed only two days off as they prepared to be the host team at this weekend’s Dixie Junior Boys Baseball World Series in Christiansburg.
Meadows said that while the team had been hard at work, the group’s close-knit nature had produced a very enjoyable work environment.
“They genuinely like each other. They genuinely like being around each other,” Meadows said.
As the 11 other all-star teams and fans from across the South fill Harkrader Sports Complex for the five-day tournament, the manager said he believes it will cap off a summer he hopes his players never forget.
“I hope they remember all the hard work [they put in] and the summer they spent together,” Meadows said.
Hosted by the Christiansburg Department of Parks and Recreation, the series kicks off Friday at the Christiansburg sports complex and will run through Wednesday.
Twelve teams will compete to be crowned Dixie Junior Boys Baseball World Series Champions. Some of the best 13-year-olds in the country have traveled from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, including the tournament host team from the New River Valley.
Festivities begin Friday at 1 p.m. and will include a Home Run Derby, Base Running Challenge and a timed Around the Horn Relay.
All of Friday’s events are free.
Virginia Tech head baseball coach Pete Hughes is the featured guest speaker for the opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. on Field No. 3 of Harkrader Sports Complex.
For more information, contact Host Tournament Director Chuck Muncy at 382-2349, ext. 2002, or at cmuncy@christiansburg.org, or visit christiansburg.org/parksandrec.
Meet the home team below:
Hunter Perkins
No. 8, Riner, P/1B
Favorite thing about baseball: It’s fun. I like being in the dugout.
Favorite professional baseball player: Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox). He’s a hustle player, goes 100 percent on every play.
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Favorite subject: P.E.
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Fireman,” Lil Wayne-
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Zach Comer
No. 10, Christiansburg, OF/P
Favorite thing about baseball: Just getting out and playing. I just love it.
Favorite professional baseball player: Pete Rose (retired). He was amazing. Hitting, fielding, everything about him.
Favorite subject: Girls. Teammate Nick Carroll requested Comer’s grades be checked in this subject.
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Remember the Name,” Fort Minor
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Luke Durham
No. 23, Christiansburg, CF/P
Favorite thing about baseball: Just being out there with my friends.
Favorite professional baseball player: Curtis Granderson (New York Yankees). He hustles, he plays center field, and I do, too.
Favorite food: Steak, medium well
Favorite school subject: P.E.
Song he would walk to the plate to: ”Dirt Road Anthem,” Jason Aldean-
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Logan Shepherd
No. 99, Riner, C/P/2B
Favorite thing about baseball: The intensity of it. How the game could be won with one hit.
Favorite professional baseball player: Yadier Molina (St. Louis Cardinals). I’ve been watching him since I was young. He is a cool dude.
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Favorite subject: Math
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Let’s Get It Started,” The Black Eyed Peas-
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Alex Hylton
No. 7, Christiansburg, OF/P/C
Favorite thing about baseball: The competition. It gives me a reason to play.
Favorite professional baseball player: Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals). He was the youngest player to play in the All-Star game.
Favorite food: Cheesecake
Favorite subject: Science
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Enter Sandman,” Metallica
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Nick “Twinkie” Carroll
No. 22, Christiansburg, 3B/C/P
Favorite thing about baseball: The fame. Everyone is watching while I play.
Favorite professional baseball player: Prince Fielder (Detroit Tigers). He hits a lot of home runs.
Favorite food: I have so many! Ribs.
Favorite subject: Math
Song he would walk to the plate to: “This Ole Boy,” Craig Morgan
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Nick Meadows
No. 14, Christiansburg, C/2B/P/RF
Favorite thing about baseball: It gives me something to do. Hanging out with my friends.
Favorite professional baseball player: Pete Rose (retired). He always hustled.
Favorite food: Rice
Favorite subject: English
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Till I Collapse,” Eminem-
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Trent Harding
No. 9, Christiansburg, SS/P/3B
Favorite thing about baseball: It’s a lot of fun. You get to hang out with friends and talk a lot.
Favorite professional baseball player: Robinson Cano (New York Yankees). He swings as hard as he can at every pitch.
Favorite food: Chicken Alfredo
Favorite subject: Math
Song he would walk to the plate to: “All of the Lights,” Kanye West-
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Alex Perkins
No. 4, Christiansburg, UT
Favorite thing about baseball: It gives me something to do, and it’s like the only place I can be loud.
Favorite professional baseball player: Rollie Fingers (retired 1985). He could pitch pretty good. He had a nice mustache.
Favorite food: Tacos
Favorite subject: History
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Homeboy,” Eric Church-
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Aaric Huff
No. 15, Riner, OF/P
Favorite thing about baseball: I like how everyone forms together as a team.
Favorite professional baseball player: Ichiro Suzuki (New York Yankees). Because he’s fast.
Favorite food: Hot wings
Favorite subject: Math
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Loud,” Mac Miller-
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Ryan Matney
No. 16, Christiansburg, 1B/3B/P/OF
Favorite thing about baseball: Pitching. You get to do something every play and always get to be a part of the outs.
Favorite food: Burgers from Wendy’s
Favorite subject: Math
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Remember the Name,” Fort Minor
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John Tuck
No. 27, Christiansburg,
C/P/SS
Favorite thing about baseball: The fun. Getting covered in dirt.
Favorite professional baseball player: Dan Uggla (Atlanta Braves). He’s my cousin’s girlfriend’s cousin.
Favorite food: Burgers from Dude’s
Favorite subject: Math
Song he would walk to the plate to: “Enter Sandman,” Metallica-
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Will there be a web cam provided so out of town fans can listen and watch on your web site
Comment by Clay Duncan — August 2, 2012 @ 11:06 pm