Dixie Majors/Pre-Majors state tourney coming to Chipley

CHIPLEY - The Dixie Majors and Pre-Majors state tournaments are headed for Chipley this coming weekend.

Chipley High Coach Andy Compton announced the opening brackets Thursday. The double-elimination tournament starts Saturday at the high school baseball complex.

Pre-Majors action (ages 17 and under) begins at CHS on Saturday, July 12. Marion County and Sebring open action at 12:30 p.m., with Hernando facing Sneads at 3:30 p.m. Volusia faces host Chipley at 6:30 p.m.

Winners and losers brackets will compete in 10 games every night through Wednesday, July 16. If a game 11 is necessary it will be played Thursday night, July 17.

Majors (ages 19 and under) also open on July 12. Host Chipley tackles Wahneta at 10 a.m. Crystal River meets Marion County at 1 p.m. and Polk County takes on Jacksonville at 4 p.m. The winner of the latter game will face Hernando (which has an opening-round bye) the next day. There will be 12 games in this double-elimination tournament, with game 13 on July 17, if necessary.

Winners advance to the World Series in Dyersburg, Tenn.
Compton said he expects plenty of excellent baseball this coming weekend.

"In Pre-Majors Chipley was third last year," Compton said. Marion County is usually very good and we beat Marion County last year. Sebring and Hernando are also traditionally good.

"In the Majors we were 1-2 last year." Compton noted that Polk County has won several World Series and was third last year. "Hernando is also good and they eliminated Chipley last year," Compton said.

Compton said the Chipley Majors team consists of high school graduates, with several players from Chipley and the rest from the surrounding area. The Pre-Majors team is of returning CHS players.