Seven Bradford County youth teams participated in the Veterans Stars and Strikes Fall Finale on Nov. 12-13, with four teams winning championships and one finishing as runner-up. The 6U Diamond Divas (softball) went in on Saturday, Nov. 12, and took it all in one day. They beat the Wrigley Red Firecrackers 10-6 and 17-7and them played them a third time to win the first championship of the weekend for Bradford. Coach Rebecca Hancock expresses the following to her team: “Congratulations to the 6U Diamond Divas. This journey with you ladies has been incredible, and I could not be more proud of how each of you have grown this season in becoming leaders and working together. You all have helped me grow into a better coach. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of you. Always remember going forward that talent is nothing without dedication.” Pictured are: (front, l-r) Jenevieve Crawford, Olivia Hancock, (middle, l-r) Tayleigh Brooks, Makylee Gilliam, Rayleigh Alexander, Olivia Anderson, Chaselynn Crawford, Lily Prevatt, Ryleigh McCarthy, Apryl Tompkins, (back, l-r) Scarlett Hancock and coaches Hancock and Lacey Brown.The Raptors (T-ball) played in their first tournament together, seeded number one. They beat both Wrigley teams 21-8 and 21-0 on Saturday, Nov. 12, to advance to the championship game. The Raptors faced the Wrigley Red Sox, winning 17-5 to earn the second championship of the weekend for Bradford. “All the kids were at different levels when it came to experience,” Coach Brad Poole said. “I leaned on my returning players to be leaders and set examples for my first-year players. Over the season, you began to see those first-year players start doing things they saw the older kids do. This gave us a very well-rounded team, which is how we came out of this championship with a win.” Pictured are: (front, l-r) Ethan Jerrels, Kingston Strickland, Kensley Griffis, Brantlee Hinds, (middle, l-r) Elijah Aldridge, Bentley Brunch, Benton Weeks, Mason Poole, Audrey Blankenship and (back, l-r) coaches Ashley Poole, Brad Poole and John Griffis. Not pictured: Bryson McCollum and Jordan Scott.The Reapers (Rookie Division), seeded fourth, went 1-1 on Saturday, Nov. 12. On Sunday, Nov. 13, they beat the Wrigley Marlins 3-2 to move on to play number-one seed Lake City PML Healthcare, a team they meet often. The Reapers won 4-2 to move on to the championship game to take on the Carrigan Bats. In a long, hard battle, the Reapers came from behind to win 8-5, taking home the Reapers’ first championship as a Rookie team and the third championship for Bradford. “I couldn’t be more proud of my Reapers and my friends and coaches who helped me bring this team together,” Coach Thomas Strickland said. “I love this game and these boys, and it’s been incredible to watch them learn and dominate this season. After the adversity we faced in pool play and coming into championship day middle of the road, I couldn’t be happier with the fight my team had in them to beat two of the best teams in the region and take home the championship. Pictured are: (front, l-r): Reid Wilson, Trenton Wise, Wynnlin Lansford, Rylan Noegel, Jaxson Strickland, (middle, l-r) Michael Hanson, Hayden Padelford, Easton Wiseman, Porter Hutchins, Chance Reed, Cruz Eaves, Adam Hall, Ashton Brown and (back, l-r) coaches Anthony Lansford, Braxton Britt, Strickland and Cletis Brown.The Dirt Devils (Minor) went 2-0 in seeding, coming in at number one and beating the Wrigley Cardinals and the Gainesville Braves. On Sunday, Nov. 13, the Dirt Devils had to play the Wigley Cardinals once more, beating them 8-7 to secure their spot in the championship, They then took on the Williston Orioles in a hard fight, beating them 3-2 and taking home the fourth championship for Bradford. Pictured are: (front, l-r) Cody Cowart, Tyler Jackson, Koledon LeMire, Anderson Griffis, (middle, l-r) Stephen Reyes, Jensen Shuford, Blaine Smyth, Prestin McIntosh, Avery DeKorver, Gage Fischer and (back, l-r) coaches Brad Reyes, David Shuford, Jason Smyth and Randall Griffis.The 14U Red Hots (softball), as the number-two seed, went 2-0 in beating Keystone 7-2 and Dixie 6-0 on Saturday, Nov. 12. On Sunday, Nov. 13, the Red Hots took on Keystone again, beating them 10-4 to go to the championship, where they took on the Wrigley Blue Chargers. After a long, hard battle, they came up short to finish as runners-up. Pictured are: (front, l-r) Jayla Lane, Peyton Miller, Mya Lavane, (second row, l-r) Brylee Gibson, Kianna Conant, (third row, l-r) Maddie McCullough, Aley Crocker, Regan Adams, Aimee Haast, Shelby Cloutier, Brooklyn Underwood and (back, l-r) coaches Chris Olive, Krislyn (last name not provided) and Rob (last name not provided).
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