Holiday, Hudson take field as youngest groups open play
The District 12 tournament begins with two games Friday in Dunedin.
By STEVE LEE
Published June 19, 2003
HOLIDAY - The youngest of Little League's four age groups begin all-star play Friday with Holiday and Hudson 9-10 baseball teams scheduled to open the District 12 tournament.
Both teams play at Dunedin's Fisher Field off Michigan Avenue. Holiday faces Tarpon Springs and Hudson takes on Palm Harbor National with both games beginning at 7 p.m.
Though coaches from the district's 12 leagues traditionally know little about their opponents since interleague games are not played during the regular season, Holiday coach Tim McCormick feels his team is a frontrunner for the division title.
"We think we are," McCormick said. "We have a pretty solid team, actually."
Holiday's team consists of 12 players from eight teams. Nick Vaporis and Ryan O'Hearn played on the Devil Rays, who won a division title and posted a 27-6 record.
Like Holiday's team, Hudson's squad consists of several players from six teams in the Majors division, which in Little League includes players between 9-12. In essence, the 9-10 all-stars are the best players who performed well against older players.
"A lot of these pitchers pitched to the big kids, too," McCormick said.
Hudson manager Roger Jones, however, feels that the 11- and 12-year-olds did most of the pitching during the regular season, which leaves 9- and 10-year-olds with limited experience on the mound.
"I think they're at a disadvantage," Jones said of the younger pitchers. "Only a few of them have pitched during the year."
As of Wednesday afternoon, Jones had yet to decide on his opening-round pitcher. His top choices are the Angels' Adrian Krupka, who also catches, and Andrew Exline of the Braves.
Kevin Games of the Marlins has been tabbed as Holiday's starting pitcher for the opening game.
Holiday president Cheryle Jones is as eager as some of the players and coaches for the postseason tournament to get under way. She also is aware that all-star series almost always are extended by inclement weather this time of year.
"If the rain will stay away, it will be better," she said.
District 12 All-Star tournament
WHERE: Fisher Field, Dunedin.
WHEN: Opening games are 7 p.m. Friday: Hudson vs. Palm Harbor National, Holiday vs. Tarpon Springs. Double-elimination series concludes with championship game June 27.
