By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
The goal for Dixie Youth all-star baseball and softball teams is the same each summer - win sub-district, district, state and World Series championships.
But they’re doing so much more when the take the field for each game.
Whether the teams are wearing the colors of Hartselle or one of the Morgan County teams, players and their fans are representing their communities both at home and on the road.
People make judgements - right or wrong - based on their impressions they get from opposing teams. They see how they act, perform and respond, and they take from that a feeling about a community or a county.
So when players and parents travel to other communities for games, they are scrutinized for each and every action and reaction.
In a Dixie Belles softball game last weekend, Muscle Shoals was well on its way to beating Hartselle to stay unbeaten in the tournament.
And in an act of true sportsmanship, one of the Hartselle parents yelled out to the Muscle Shoals right fielder just before the start of the next inning.
The Muscle Shoals player looked over at the Hartselle fans and sheepishly thanked them.
It was just a simple compliment tossed out during an emotional game. But I bet that player mentioned it to her teammates or parents after the game.
It’s probably something that will stick with that player for a long time and that reflects on our community.
These children, and their parents, are representing our area well.
Deadline approaches: The deadline for the Hartselle Enquirer’s special youth baseball and softball section is July 13.
Team pictures from teams around Morgan County must be submitted by that date to be published in the commemorative section featuring all of the areas top youth players.
Team photos can be brought to the Hartselle Enquirer during business hours or emailed to sports@hartselleenquirer.com.
The section will run in the July 24 issue of the paper.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or by email at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com