Locals lead Dadeville to runner up finish in Dixie Youth World Series

Published 8:40 pm Thursday, August 1, 2019

LUMBERTON, N.C. — The Dadeville 11 and 12-year-old baseball all-stars wrapped up their season at the Dixie Youth World Series on Wednesday with the 8-5 semifinal loss against Mississippi.

“I was proud of the way our kids played,” Dadeville 11 and 12-year-old baseball all-stars coach Marc Gooden said. “It means a lot to me. We had a team that we thought could do it all, and we came close.”

Cameron Gooden and Luke Tarver are two of Dadeville’s all-stars who are from LaFayette and attend Chambers Academy.

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“They did great,” Coach Gooden said of Tarver and Gooden. “They’ve given up their whole summer for this. They’ve taken it in stride and made the best of it.”

The support that the team received from LaFayette has been instrumental in Dadeville’s run, according to Coach Gooden.

“I’m glad everyone [in LaFayette] stood behind us,” he said. “They helped us raise money to get there, and were behind us 100 percent.”

Dadeville joined the neighbor Valley 9 and 10-year-old baseball all-stars at the national tournament as teams representing the state of Alabama.

“I think it was great,” Coach Gooden said. “I think it just showed what baseball players we have around here. I was proud of Valley, it was wonderful to watch them win it all. They played their hearts out, but we just didn’t get the results.”

Next up for Tarver and Gooden is football season at Chambers Academy. Tarver will play on the Rebels’ junior varsity team, and Gooden will play on the Rebels’ pee wee football team.