Whitaker’s no-hitter drives Selma youth to district
Published 8:16 pm Thursday, June 20, 2013
Above, the 9 and 10-year-old Selma National League team poses after winning the Dixie Youth sub-district tournament in Holtville Tuesday. The players are Matthew Free, Darrius Ellis, Jones Free, Osa Aghedo, George Turner, Cade Whitaker, Chad Parker, Chris Gardner, Fred Whitt, Kashif Norwood, Matthew Hand and Holt Utsey. The head coach is William Free. Nathan Ellis and Glen Whitaker are also coaches for the team.–Daniel Evans
By Daniel Evans
The Selma Times-Journal
The Selma National League won the 9 and 10-year-old Dixie Youth sub-district tournament Tuesday night behind one unbelievable performance and three incredible games.
Selma National League had already lost one game, so it had to win two games against Marbury to win the sub-district tournament. Pitcher Cade Whitaker was dominant in game one, throwing a no-hitter in a decisive 19-0 blowout that forced a second game.
“In the first inning, he was kind of nervous. He walked a couple of batters and I thought about pulling him in the middle of the second,” Selma National League head coach William Free said. “He looked at me and said coach ‘I know I can do it and I trusted him. He pitched so good. It was unbelievable. It was fun to be a part of to say the least. “
Whitaker pitched six innings, striking out nine batters in his no-hit performance. He also walked seven batters.
In game two, Selma National League again dominated in a 14-0 victory to wrap up the sub-district championship. George Turner pitched the second game, throwing five strikeouts and allowing only two hits.
Now, Selma National League gets to host the 9 and 10-year-old district tournament.
“The district [tournament] will be in Selma, starting Friday night at 6 pm,” Lebo Jones, Selma Recreation Department baseball and softball director, said.
The tournament will be held at the Dallas County Sportsplex.
Before the two games against Marbury that decided the tournament, Selma National League played a thrilling game against Selma Southern Dixie Youth Baseball in an elimination game.
“Jones Free got up to bat and it was 5-3, the other Selma team [Selma Southern Dixie Youth]. We were in the sixth inning, which is the last inning. He hit a triple to drive in the tying run, so we are tied in the sixth inning,” coach Free said. “Two batters later, Chad Parker came up and hit a two-run homerun. It has been three unbelievable games.”
Parker’s game-winning homerun was his first of the season.
In the 7 and 8-year-old age group, Selma Patriot lost to Marbury twice to settle for second place. They will play in Thomasville Friday night in the district tournament.
Selma Southeastern was also in the 7 and 8-year-old sub-district tournament, but failed to make the championship game and in turn did not make the district tournament.
