Wooden Bat Classic this weekend

Old Creek Town Park will be the place to be this weekend for a lot of talent and a little bit of nostalgia.

The Wooden Bat Classic will take place this Saturday and Sunday at Field 8 of the park. Seventy of the best 15 and 16-year-old players in Dixie Baseball, including three players from Eufaula, will take part in the four-team tournament.

The players were nominated from across Dixie Baseball. According to Eufaula Parks and Recreation Director Keef Pettis, there will be players from as close by as Eufaula, Dothan and Auburn and as far away as Texas and South Carolina.

What makes the tournament unique can be found in the event’s name. Players competing this weekend will use wooden bats rather than aluminum bats, which are used from tee-ball to college baseball. Wooden bats are used in professional baseball, from Rookie League to Major League Baseball.

“Very seldom do these kids ever swing a wooden bat,” Pettis said of this weekend’s players. “But this gives them a chance to experience something they might not have experienced before.”

The three local players participating in this weekend’s tournament are Dakota Maldonado, Bryan Bratcher and Tyler Crouch. Maldonado participated in a similar tournament last year. EHS head coach Nathan Black will also be one of the coaches in this weekend’s tournament.

Pettis said players and their families will arrive Thursday evening or Friday morning. The four teams (North, South, East and West) will each have 90-minute practice sessions Friday before an evening cookout and home run derby.

The home run derby will be held at 8 p.m. from Old Creek Town Park. There is no cost to attend. Pettis said the players will be allowed to use aluminum bats.

Tournament games will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday when the South (which includes the Eufaula players) takes on the East. The South will also play at 7 p.m. against the North. Other games on Saturday will be held at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Sunday games will be held at 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. The championship game is at 3 p.m. Each team will play at least three games.

Admission for each day is $3 for adults and free for youth 17 and under.

“We’re excited about having the opportunity to host this,” Pettis said.

This weekend’s tournament is sponsored by Old Hickory Bats.

Dothan tournament

A similar tournament for youth ages 13 and 14 will be held this weekend in Dothan.

Several local youth are participating, including Jeffrey Thornton, Max Winkleblack, Luke Ates, Cody Dudley, Trey Johns, Kyle Morris, Joseph Bowick and Tray Mullis.