City's youth league champions enjoy winning the title

Days after winning Conway's youth baseball league tournament championships, local teams are still savoring the moment when they received their trophies last Friday.

Texas A&M, one of five teams that vaulted championship trophies in the air last week, put up one of the most inspired performances of the entire postseason. The Aggies beat previously undefeated North Carolina 17-4 in the Buddy League championship game. Texas A&M coach Mitch King was humbled by the title win that his team produced against the youth baseball program's only team that went through the entire regular season without a loss.

"First of all, let me congratulate Steve Scherrey and the North Carolina team on an outstanding season," King said. "They have played the whole season and tournament to this point without a loss. When you have 18 teams in your league this quite an accomplishment. I have a lot of respect for Steve as a coach and the quality of coaching he gives his kids. He is a great example to his team."

King noted that the two biggest plays of the game that changed the momentum early was in the first inning when short stop Nathan Childress made a catch on a line drive that was headed for the outfield. After snagging the ball in, he turned the double by throwing out the runner who left first. The Aggies plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning, which put them ahead 5-0 after one.

The second play that King referenced to was when Ethan Overturff made a great catch on a foul pop fly behind the plate. King said every person on their 12 man roster had a hit during the game. The Aggies had multibase hits from Terry Clardy Jr., Childress, Haydon King, Krishaun Watson, Thomas McNabb, Casen Modisette and Bennett Ellis. According to King, Alex Losten and Turner Holland added two singles apiece in the game, with Mack Rowe and Nicholas Brorman providing other singles as well.

"When you get multibase hits throughout the game by numerous kids, then it puts a lot of pressure on the other defense," King said. "Before the game we told the kids, 'Don't think of this as a first or second place game, just go out there and relax and have fun. You have been coached all year to know what to do in each situation, now go out there and just play as hard you can."

King continued his message to the team, "'Don't get caught up in trying to aim the ball, just rare back and throw it. If you make an error, no one is going to get down on you, just try that much harder on the next play."

The Aggies were more than just a baseball team. They were like a family. On Father's Day, the team hosted a fathers versus sons scrimmage. Many of the Aggies are best friends and they've spend time each other outside of the diamond.

"I am excited about what these kids have accomplished this year," King said. "We have had a great group of kids and a great group of parents. Our practices focused so much on defense this year. This was evidence in that all of our games this year, because we gave up 10 runs or more only once. The championship is the icing on the great season. I wanted this championship for the kids because they all worked so hard for it."