Friday, July 25, 1997

Quartet has played in four state tourneys at four different levels

By AL PICKETT / Abilene Reporter-News

WACO - It's not known if it's a record. But it is certainly an amazing accomplishment.

John Lackey, Jeff Bettis, Jeff Byrd and Ryan King - all members of the Abilene High baseball team last spring - will play this weekend in the Big League (ages 16-18) state tournament at Baylor University's Ferrell Field. That will make four state tournaments at four different levels in which the quartet has played.

The four played for Dixie Little League in 1991 which advanced to the Little League (ages 11-12) state tournament. They played for Abilene Junior in the Junior League (13-year-olds) state tournament in 1992 and were members of the Southwest Senior League team which won the Senior League (ages 14-15) state championship in 1994.

Now the four are members of the Abilene Bandits, which will open play against Laredo Del Mar in the Big League state tournament at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Bandits are one of three Abilene teams playing in the state tournaments this weekend in Waco after claiming sectional titles earlier this week.

Abilene Junior will play the Junior League state tournament opener at 8 p.m. today against San Antonio McAlister Park.

Abilene Senior will face Waco Midway at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Senior League tournament.

All three state tournaments are four-team double-elimination formats, with the winner advancing to the Sectional tournament in Florida.

The other first-round game in the Junior League tournament matches Lamar versus Tyler Rose Capital West. The other first-round game in the Senior League tournament has Pearland meeting San Antonio McAlister Park. The other two teams in the Big League state tournament are from Houston and Austin.

The Abilene Junior roster includes Jeremy Baum, David Brokaw, Scott Forman, Matt Haynes, Bryan Holamon, Brad Jones, Casey Kerley, Kurtis Lay, Garret Rutledge, Zach Sasin, Taylor Smith, Jeremy Soliz, Drew Thompson and Joel Wells. The team is managed by Tommy Thompson. Coaches are Bobby Forman and Scott Malone.

Members of the Abilene Senior League all-star team are Josh Adams, Kensey Allen, Casey Clinton, Mitchell Eckert, Kevin Evans, Jared Peel, Ross Short, Casey Fields, Elliot Strader, Craig Foreman, Jacob Herman, Brandon Law, Paul Mock and Chad McClellan. Manager is Mike Peel, and Tommy Law, Gene Hudson and Robert Allen are coaches.

Besides Lackey, Bettis, Byrd and King, the Abilene Bandits' roster includes Brad Cowling, Michael Anderson, Quentin Carr, Josh Duwe, Clay Corley, Andrew Roy, John Michael Herrera, Neil Mullins, Henry Willis and Chris Churchill.

State tournaments

At Ferrell Field Complex, Waco

First-round games

Junior League

Abilene Junior vs. San Antonio McAlister Park, 8 p.m. today

Senior League

Abilene Senior vs. Waco Midway, 11:30 a.m. Saturday

Big League

Abilene Bandits vs. Laredo Del Mar, 8 p.m. Saturday