Madison County has always been considered a football community. Having had quite a few of the high school football players receive college scholarships and several advancing onto the NFL. However, in recent years, baseball has taken its grip on the youth in Madison. With the reigning American league championship series MVP and All-Star, Lorenzo Cain, being from Madison, the young men playing baseball here are actually buying into the fact that with hard work, they too can earn the chance to play baseball beyond high school. One group of kids in particular, the Madison STARZ, a 12U baseball team, has really bought into this belief. The Madison STARZ started their post season tournament training by first setting a goal of doing everything possible to make it to the World Series in Aberdeen, Maryland. The goal was set and the work began. The STARZ first had to compete and win their district tournament, which was held in Live Oak, Fl. The STARZ swept through the tournament winning every single game. This tournament win made the 12U Madison STARZ the Cal Ripken District 6 Champions. A title this particular group of boys has never lost. Since tee-ball, they’ve won the District Championship as 8U, 10U and now 12U ball players. Madison hosted the State Tournament from June 25 to June 29.
The STARZ opened the tournament with the team that knocked them out of the State Tournament two years ago, Fort Caroline from Jacksonville. The boys lost their first game and had to re-group and review their goals. After dropping their first game to Fort Caroline, and with their backs against the wall facing elimination, the STARZ came back to win seven straight games. The boys ruled six of the eight teams they played and outscored their last seven opponents with a combined score of 85-9. The STARZ won the State Championship in Madison on Monday, June 29, in front of over 100 home town fans. They recently competed in the Southeast Regional Cal Ripken baseball tournament in Live Oak, Fl. To play in the tournament, teams had to first win their State Championships in their respective states or host the tournament. Reigning state champions from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida, plus the host team, competed in the regional tournament. The Madison STARZ showed back up in Live Oak, the site for the Southeast Regional Tournament as the reigning North Florida 12U Cal Ripken State Champions. While this tournament would prove to be more difficult the STARZ jumped on the first team that took the field against them, Aiken, South Carolina and won 20-1. The boys lost their second game 9-8, but returned to conquer Hudson, North Carolina 7-3. This win earned the STARZ a slot in the semi-finals against West Raleigh, North Carolina. In true Madison fashion, not only did the STARZ show up the next morning, but most of the town of Madison showed up as well to support them.
With each team lined up on the their respective foul line, the national anthem played and it appeared to be a true David vs. Goliath match up. Several of the young men from West Raleigh were as big as the Madison coaches. West Raleigh took an early 2-0 lead, but Madison battled back to tie the game. Madison plays with a truly aggressive spirit so it was no surprise with a tie game 3-3 in the top of the 5th, with two out’s and two strikes on the batter, Madison stole home to go ahead 4-3. Madison blanked West Raleigh in the bottom half of the 5th, but failed to score themselves in the top of the sixth. Nevertheless, the STARZ had a one run lead and three outs were all that stood between them and their goal of the World Series. As fate would have it, West Raleigh manufactured one run to send the game into extra innings. There wasn’t a silent person in the ball park. Although Madison had five times the number of family and friends, making five times as much noise, when the dust settled West Raleigh defeated the Madison STARZ 5-4.
The sweat dripping from the boy’s noses quickly turned to tears as they realized they would not be playing in the 2015 World Series. This was truly a gut wrenching loss for the entire team. The boy’s names were never mentioned in this article because there was truly no where to start and stop talking about the accomplishments of each player. This is one of those teams that coaches truly dream of. For Manager Dan Rutherford, Coach Billy Tolar and Coach David Stephens, it has been a privilege to coach a team that every single player never gave up and the multiple moments where they turned the game in favor of the STARZ. The coaches have been blessed and would like to thank each player and their families for allowing them the opportunity to coach and watch in amazement as each one played the game. Madison 12U STARZ: #00 Wesley Borgert, Batboy #2 Vinsonta Allen #3 Bryce Stephens #4 Mitch Rutherford #5 Rhett Rutherford #6 Riley Borgert #7 Blaydon Plain #9 Brady Browning #10 Zarion Preaster #12 Brannon Tolar #13 Tyrece Pryor #22 Caleb Ginn #25 Brandon Martinez
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1.Photo Submitted. The 12U Madison STARZ won the state tournament on Monday, June 29. In the bottom row, pictured from left to right, are: Mitch Rutherford, Rhett Rutherford, Bryce Stephens, Wesley Borgert (batboy), Tyrece Pryor, Brannon Tolar and Riley Borgert. In the back row, pictured from left to right, are: Brandon Martinez, Zarion Preaster, Caleb Ginn, Vinsonta Allen, Blaydon Plain and Brady Browning. The boys are pictured with coaches (from left to right) Billy Tolar, David Stephens and Dan Rutherford.