WESSON – Relieved!

That ‘s what numerous coaches and area baseball players feltafter four sweat-soaked hours of batting, catching, pitching, andrunning drills which saturated many of the 65 players who tried outfor the 2001 District Seven State Games of Mississippi team.

After working with each of the 65 players numerous times, a listof 18 standout players was drawn up torepresent the area with thehighest quality of respect and dignity. Hopefully they will bringhome a 2001 State Games gold medal.

The District Seven team includes standout players thoughoutsouthwest Mississippi who will compete in an eight team tournamenton the campus of Meridian Community College from this Thursday tonext Monday. The tournament is a double-elimination field, meaningif a district team loses two games before entering weekend quarterand semifinals action they are granted a trip home.

Last year the District Seven All-Stars claimed third placeoverall in collecting the bronze medals behind the coaching ofBrookhaven Panther coach Randy Spring and newly hired Amite SchoolCenter coach Stephen Cooksey.

This year’s team will be coached by The Daily Leader’sAll Lincoln County Coach of the Year in Ron Rushing of BrookhavenAcademy and first year Wesson coach Jerry Brewer. Serving asDistrict Seven State Games information director will be TheDaily Leader’s All Area Coach of the Year Ken Jackson ofrepeating Class AAAA champion Parklane.

This year’s team will be headlined by two strong-armed pitchers,in Loyd Star product Cass Brister and Adams County ChristianAcademy ace Chris Rayborn. Both Rayborn and Brister played on lastyear’s bronze medal winning State Games team.

Also on the team are five Parklane Academy standouts. They arereturning seniors Dooley Simmons and Kyle Ginn Jr., and Pioneerjuniors Dylan Roberts, Trent Smith, and Casey Ginn.

Elsewhere, Brookhaven High and Amite County School Center eachnetted three players. Making it from the highly touted Panthers aresenior pitcher James McCall and first baseman Ben Goza, and juniorhurler Justin Sykes. From ASC, Stewart Gordon, John Birdsong, andJeremy Perkins topped the list.

From Coach Rushing’s Brookhaven Academy Cougars are seniors AdamSmith and Jefferey Waycaster. Centreville Tigers making it werePatrick Kimmery and Ryan Fonte.

Concluding the list of District Seven All-Stars was Columbiastandout pitcher/first baseman David Clark.

The District Seven All-Stars will report to Meridian CommunityCollege on Wedensday morning for a brief team practice, beforeentering battle Thursday night against the hometown laden DistrictFive All-Stars of Meridian. First pitch is set for 7:05.