Choctaw County 13-year-olds win Dizzy Dean state
Independence Day was indeed a day of celebration for Choctaw County’s 13-year-old baseball team.
This past Tuesday, the young Chargers captured the state championship at the Dizzy Dean State Tournament in Horn Lake.
“We stayed in the winner’s bracket and that’s what you’ve got to do to win these tournaments,” Choctaw County head coach Jason McCuller said. “We kept winning and that gave our pitching a big break.”
Choctaw County’s bats powered the way for the club. The Chargers scored a total of 30 runs in their first two games to stay in the winner’s bracket. The offense then sparked a dra-
matic come-from-behind win in the semifinals on Sunday.
After rain pushed the championship game back to Tuesday, Choctaw County jumped out to a big early lead and had just enough pitching to hold on and capture the title.
“We tore the cover off the baseball,” McCuller said. “My son Kameron led the team in batting and hit over .700. We had a few other kids hit over .500. We just really hit the ball well.”
As exciting as the tournament was for everyone involved, McCuller wasn’t shocked at all by the outcome. He has been around this group long enough to know how talented and competitive they all are.
“I’ve been coaching these kids since they were 8-yearsold,” McCuller said. “Nothing these kids ever do is surprising. A couple of years ago we won the USSSA state title. It’s just a very good group of kids.”
McCuller also feels pretty comfortable making a prediction – this likely won’t be the last championship this group of Chargers win.
“They have such a bright future,” McCuller said. “They probably could win several state titles at the high school level. There’s that much talent between them.
“I’m pretty sure when you piece them together with a couple of kids in the grade above them and a couple of kids in the grade below them, there’s no doubt this group can win another title.”
McCuller was assisted in coaching Choctaw County by Chris Coleman and Glen Beard.
Team members included Kole Vowell, Logan Perkins, Trace Beard, Chase Turner, Tyson Coleman, Tanner Courtney, Zach Hoskin, Micah Gammill, Landon Toombs, Kameron McCuller, Paxton Hammons and Peyton Hammons.
James Turner serves as summer youth director in Choctaw County and his leadership also played a key role in the Chargers’ success.