The 2016 Dixie Youth District 3 All-Star Tournament was held June 24–29 in Christiansburg.
The minor league tournament began with eight teams, Radford, Blacksburg, Pulaski County East, Pulaski County West, Giles County East, Giles County West, Montgomery County and Patrick County. Impressively, the Patrick County Minor League All-Stars finished the tournament 5-0 and brought home the championship crown on Wednesday, June 29, after beating Montgomery County 6-0.
The Patrick County Minors (9- and 10-year olds) started the tournament with a blowout win against Giles County East, winning 21-0. The second game of the tournament proved to be more difficult with the team falling into a deep first-inning hole against Montgomery County, down six runs heading into the top of the second inning. Patrick County slowly chipped away at the lead and scored three runs with two outs in the last inning to pull out the win 10-9.
In the third game of the tournament the team faced Radford. Patrick County won that game decisively 13-1.
Patrick County found themselves alone, unbeaten in the winner’s bracket, during the fourth and tournament semifinal game playing Giles County West. The team played another sensational game beating Giles 11-1.
The final game of the tournament resulted in a rematch of the nail-bitter game earlier in the week against Montgomery County. Behind the phenomenal pitching of Tucker Swails, the Patrick County Minors won the championship 6-0, bringing the crown back to Patrick County for the first time since 2004.
With the title, Patrick County advances to the 2016 Dixie Youth AAA State Tournament that begins July 22, in Buckingham.
Team members include Martin Sawyers, Benjamin Hiatt, Noah Jessup, Broc Taylor, Tucker Swails, Hunter Pendleton, Braedon Augustine, Nate Large, Bubba Taylor, Stuart Callahan, Miller Hopkins and Toby Perkins.
Martin Sawyers, son of Clay and Tanya Sawyers; Tucker Swails, son of Tal and Missy Swails; and Noah Jessup, son of Brian and Traci Jessup; were honored with First Team All-Tournament honors and Stuart Callahan, son of Stuart Callahan and Misty Hazelwood Callahan, was awarded Second Team All-Tournament honors.
Head coach of the team is Andrew Taylor and assistant coaches are Tal Swails and Sonny Swails.
