By Roderick Mitchell

The Selma Times-Journal

On any given evening at the Dallas County Sportsplex, you’ll find players in each group, at different skill levels. You’ll also find those players, who are a little older, getting a hold of the game for the very first time.

Justin Bufford, 11, is one of those players, who is picking up the game of baseball for the first time, playing in his first season in the Selma Parks and Recreation Youth Baseball league.

But, Bufford is no stranger to playing sports, having played the youth football season last fall in Selma.

A fifth grader at Ellwood Christian Academy, Bufford said the reason he wanted to play was to “just to stay active.” Though he is new to the game of baseball, he has enjoyed the challenge of learning an entirely new sport.

Bufford is playing third base and left fielder for his Lauderback team.

“I have learned to play baseball both mentally and physically,” Bufford said.

Bufford is just like any other boy his age. He likes to play video games and hang out with his friends and family.

Bufford would not be playing if it weren’t for his coach, Britany Johnson.

“She is nice and she explains things better,” Bufford said.

It is still up in the air on whether or not Bufford will play again next year.

“If I have the same coach then I will do it again,” he quickly said.