Full steam ahead: Turbeville Allstars look for State Title

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The 11 and 12 year olds that make up the Turbeville Allstars Dixie Majors Allstar Team are pushing full-steam ahead hoping to snag the title for the Dixie League Championship.

The first games for those championships will begin July 16, the day after opening ceremonies, in Union.

Turbeville Allstars Coach Clark Barrineau has been coaching recreational baseball for 15 years. This is his first year, however, with the Allstars, as it's the first winning season under his leadership.

He is assisted by Jason Cook and Lee Gibbons.

"We are still playing for the championship, and I feel our team has just as much chance as any other team in the state to win the championship," Barrineau said. "You know, after scrimmaging Maple Park from Florence, several times at their home location, I feel that they are the team to beat this year."

Maple Park, Barrineau said, is "a very strong team, loaded with pitchers and some good hitters."

"We have faired well against them in the past scrimmage games, so that gives our team a good reflection of what might happen," Barrineau said. "They are a great ball club and a force to be reckoned with."

Barrineau said 2016 looks a lot like 2016.

"We made runner-up last year and went to state, and have the same privilege again this year, only we are hoping to go further this time," he said, noting the team is in District 9, which consists of four teams, including St. George, Lake Marion, Clarendon County and Turbeville.

During the District Championships in Manning recently, Turbeville defeated St. George in the first game, moving on to play Clarendon County, who defeated Lake Marion.

Clarendon County defeated Turbeville in the first game, 10-5, meaning both teams will move on to the State Championship in mid-July. Barrineau spoke highly of the in-county rivals.

"I can't take anything from them; they put the ball in play," he said. "It's not all about how hard they hit the ball, but more so their focus on consistency. They make the defense work."

Describing the make-up of his team Barrineau said that the Dixie Youth decided this year to take two teams to form the Turbeville district, the champions and the first runners-up.

Barrineau said his projection for 2016 for the Turbeville Allstars is "to go as far as we possibly can." He feels there is no limit to how far the team will go.

"They have practiced hard and are prepared," he said. "The team's short-term expectation was to make it to state and, so far, they are meeting that expectation."

Barrineau said he feels good about the team's chances in the upcoming state tournament. He is equally impressed with his team's bond and how well the kids work together.

He said the team had nine of the 13 home runs hit in the district tournament in Manning, four of which came from Grant Barrineau. He said Raulston McKenzie had three of them, while Blake Lee had two.